Communications Manager at Amref Kenya

Position Summary

The Communications Manager leads a multi-partner and multi-country programme communications to ensure that impact, progress, and learning are clearly, accurately, and consistently communicated to donors, consortium and implementing partners, communities and other key stakeholders. The role translates complex programme work into credible narratives that strengthen trust, support policy regulation and legislation, and programme reputation across multiple countries.

By aligning programme narrative with evidence and delivery realities, the Communications Manager strengthens programme credibility, supports systems-level change, and positions the programme as a trusted platform for partnership, learning, and scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic and change communication leadership: Develop and implement programme-wide strategic and change communications frameworks and plans aligned to programme priorities and objectives, articulating the programme narrative, supporting transformation efforts, and reinforcing shared understanding across diverse stakeholder groups. Translate programme vision, progress, and learning into compelling narratives that demonstrate impact and influence decision-making among policymakers, donors, and institutional partners.
• Programme narrative and messaging: Design communications approaches that support change, enabling stakeholders to understand why change is needed, what is changing, and how the programme contributes to sustainable livelihood and health system outcomes; shape clear narratives around youth employment, gender equity, community health systems, and programme impact.
• Stakeholder engagement: Support donor communications requirements, working closely with Programme, MEL, and Grants teams; contribute to donor reports, proposals, learning products, and visibility materials; translate technical programme and MEL information into accessible, credible communication products; and ensure messaging reflects programme realities and avoids overstatement or misrepresentation; ensure communications build donor confidence and partnership relationships.
• Content development and channel/platform management: Oversee development of high-quality content across appropriate channels (reports, briefs, digital platforms, media, events); maintain quality standards, editorial control, and approval processes in line with the programme’s overarching communications strategy; support country teams to adapt content to local contexts while maintaining consistency.
• Reputation, risk and governance: Identify and manage communications risks, including sensitive messaging, reputational exposure, and alignment with donor and/or Amref policies; ensure communications practices are ethical, accurate, and aligned to Amref values; and maintain institutional memory of programme messaging and positioning.
• Capacity building and collaboration: Strengthen communications capability across country teams through guidance and coaching; work closely with MEL, Finance, and Grants to ensure alignment between evidence, compliance, and narrative; and reduce dependency on central communications by building country-level capability over time.
• Crisis Communication: Work with the Amref Crisis Management Committee and programme stakeholders to manage programme risks, enabling timely, coordinated responses to issues that may affect programme delivery, integrity, donor confidence, or community trust. Establish clear escalation pathways, roles, and decision rights (RACI) for media and external engagement. Work closely with Programme, Global Communications, MEL, Legal, and senior leadership to shape appropriate narratives, assess potential operational, reputational, legal, and financial implications, and ensure communications support effective decision-making during periods of heightened risk or uncertainty.
• Branding and Visibility: Strengthen programme visibility and coherence through consistent application of a unified programme brand identity, narrative, and purpose across all communications outputs. Develop and maintain clear brand and communications guidelines, ensuring effective cascade to country programme teams. Establish and steward a structured communications knowledge repository to support institutional memory, learning, and consistent use of approved messaging and assets across the programme lifecycle.

Kep Performance Indicators (Success Measures) – Building the right platform and creating lasting impact

• Clear programme narrative established: Communications actively support programme positioning, funding continuity, and partnerships; programme messaging is consistent, accurate, and aligned across countries and stakeholders; and communications reflect programme progress and evidence.
• Strategic influence & stakeholder impact: Leadership relies on communications insight for stakeholder engagement and decision-making; communications contributes demonstrably to policy dialogue, stakeholder collaboration, or partnership outcomes; and programme narratives are referenced or used by policymakers, donors, or ecosystem partners.
• Donor & Stakeholder confidence: Donor communications requirements are met on time and to quality standards, and communications contribute positively to donor relationships and visibility; stakeholders demonstrate clear understanding of why changes occurred and how to engage going forward.
• Risk-Aware communications practice: Communications risks are identified early and managed appropriately, and no major reputational issues arising from inaccurate or misaligned messaging.
• Cross-functional alignment: Strong working relationships established with Programme, MEL, Finance, and Grants teams, and communications are integrated into planning and reporting cycles; country teams receive practical guidance that enables confident local adaptation.  
• Institutionalised standards & continuity: Communications tools, guidance, and narratives are institutionalised, entrepreneurial, opportunity-oriented communications practices are embedded into planning and review cycles, and transitions in staff or leadership do not disrupt programme messaging.
• Continuous improvement: Communications products increasingly reflect learning, adaptation, and impact, and lessons from communications performance inform ongoing improvement

Qualifications

• Seven (7) to Nine (9) years of experience in strategic communications, public relations, journalism or international relations with at least three (3) years of leadership experience within development, social enterprise, or mission-driven organisations;
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Studies, Development Communication, or a related field. A Postgraduate qualification in Communications, International Development, Public Policy, or a related discipline is an advantage;
• Membership in an accredited local, regional or international professional body such as International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK), Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), Media Council of Kenya (MCK), etc.
• Proven track record in media relations, stakeholder engagement, strategic and change communication leadership;
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies and plans aligned to programme goals;
• Exceptional storytelling, content development, editorial and interpersonal communication skills;
• Experience translating technical and MEL data into accessible narratives;
• Experience in strategic advisory, crisis communication, digital communications, media relations, and communication risk management in regulated or donor-driven environments; and
• Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and other data visualisation or graphic design software is an added advantage.