Manager, Communications & Partnerships at Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP)

Responsibilities

Communications Strategy and Content

• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of ITDP Africa's external and internal communications strategy in alignment with ITDP's global communications framework and set and monitor the annual objectives and key results for communications.
• Develop and oversee high-quality written content including blogs, op-eds, project reports, policy briefs, press releases, donor communications, and social media content across all ITDP Africa platforms (Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube).
• Oversee the ITDP Africa website, publications, fact sheets, newsletters, knowledge products and multimedia content, including video stories, photography, infographics and data visualisations, working with the communications team and external designers so that everything published is current and consistent with ITDP's brand standards.
• Ensure all communications materials are technically accurate by working closely with transport planning, policy, and electrification teams before publication.
• Manage ITDP Africa's media relations, maintain proactive relationships with journalists and editors across print, digital, television, and radio platforms in East Africa and beyond, and serve as a spokesperson where appropriate.
• Provide strategic communications support to the Regional Director and senior leadership, including speeches, talking points, presentations, media preparation, and high-level correspondence.

Partnerships and External Engagement

• Identify, cultivate, and manage strategic partnerships with peer organisations, research institutions, professional associations, civil society networks, and advocacy groups working on sustainable transport and urban development across Africa.
• Represent ITDP Africa at conferences, forums, panel discussions, and stakeholder events, building ITDP's reputation as the leading voice on sustainable urban transport across the continent, and build a network of African city officials, researchers, and transport practitioners who champion and amplify ITDP's work.
• Design and lead integrated communications campaigns around major policy moments, launches, the United Nations climate change conference (COP), World Car Free Day, donor announcements, and organise the workshops, webinars, launch events and car free days that support them.
• Liaise with ITDP's global offices (New York, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, China) and ensure African perspectives and project case studies are well represented in global knowledge products.
• Support donor relations by preparing compelling programme narratives, impact stories, and visual documentation for grant reports and fundraising proposals.

Team Leadership & Administration

• Supervise, mentor, and support the professional development of the Associate and Senior Associate, Communications, and guide staff across country offices on external communication standards, messaging, and ITDP brand compliance.
• Manage the ITDP Africa communications budget, including procurement of design, media production, and event services.
• Perform any other related tasks within the communications and partnership

Qualifications

Education

• Master's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, development communications, media studies, urban policy, or a closely related field. Candidates with a bachelor's degree and exceptional professional experience will also be considered.

Experience required

• At least seven years of relevant professional experience in communications, with at least two years in a senior or managerial role.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing external partnerships with civil society, media, or research organisations.
• Track record of managing teams and developing junior communications staff
• Demonstrated experience managing media relations, including acting as a spokesperson or preparing senior leaders to speak to the media.

Skills required

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English. Ability to translate complex technical transport content into concise, compelling messages for non-specialist audiences across multiple formats.
• Ability to brief, direct and quality assure design and multimedia work produced by the communications team and by external suppliers, with enough working familiarity with Adobe InDesign and Illustrator to review files and make light edits.
• Proficiency in WordPress or similar content management system for website management.
• Familiarity with social media analytics, scheduling tools (e.g. Buffer, Hootsuite), and campaign management.