Communications Specialist at International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI)

Job Summary

The Communications Specialist, based in Nairobi, will focus on communications related to the ADVANCE program. The purpose of the Communications Specialist’s work is to help raise the profile of ADVANCE among target audiences and inform and engage stakeholders about ADVANCE’s scope, activities, and impact, as part of IAVI’s broader work. The Communications Specialist will contribute to and help implement a communications strategy developed by senior staff in conjunction with program teams.

Responsibilities

• Conceive of, draft, and design materials for stakeholders and public audiences about ADVANCE’s work and impact. Gather information from staff, partners, funders, and others. Craft material and presentations that are informational, engaging, and inspiring, using both data and narrative.
• Ensure that ADVANCE partners deliver consistent messaging about the program, by developing, updating, and sharing messaging and useful tools.
• Keep abreast of work across the ADVANCE program to identify stories, information, and content that illustrate the program’s value and impact; capture those stories, and proactively identify venues and platforms to share them for maximum impact, both as part of the broader ADVANCE communications plan and on an ad-hoc basis.
• Identify journalists in Africa, India, Europe, and the U.S. who can help raise the profile of ADVANCE as part of IAVI’s broader work; build relationships with target journalists and secure coverage.
• Draft media materials, including op-eds, fact sheets, press releases, and other material, that can help ensure accurate media coverage of ADVANCE that can help inform and engage target audiences.
• Contribute to the Global Editorial Calendar to identify opportunities and news hooks to raise the profile of ADVANCE connected to broader communications work about IAVI’s programs and impact. Help ensure that a steady stream of high-quality content about ADVANCE is communicated via IAVI and partners’ social media channels.
• Function as part of an integrated, global communications team. Complete other tasks as assigned.

Skills and Experience:

• At least five years of communications, marketing, or public relations experience, preferably at an NGO or in a global health setting.
• Commitment to advancing IAVI’s mission.
• Excellent storytelling skills (both written and visual), with a demonstrated ability to identify and convey information in a way that is inspiring, engaging, and informational.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex, technical information in a manner that is both accurate and accessible for broad audiences.
• Familiarity and working knowledge of media and social media landscape in Africa and globally.
• Interest and capacity in graphic design, including social media content, presentations, and simple publications.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate and build relationships at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Good news sense and track record of media placement.