Regional Communications and Outreach Specialist at Feed the Children

Job Summary

• The Regional Communications and Outreach Specialist will spearhead the creation, curation, and dissemination of communications materials aimed at raising awareness and engaging both external and internal audiences across the African continent. This strategic role requires collaboration with stakeholders and teams within Feed the Children to amplify our mission and vision in the region. The Specialist will also manage outreach and media relationships, and drive communication efforts that support our core values and goals in Africa.
• Preference for candidates living and with citizenship in Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa.

Primary Role and Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning:

• Ensure that the strategies and plans specifically address the communication challenges and opportunities within the African context.
• Plan and produce content, including publications, articles, web content, social media content, media releases, etc.

Content Creation & Management:

• Manage national office communication channels.
• Support design and improvement of tools and forms, develop and manage communications consultants.

Events & Outreach:

• Support fundraising events and develop and nurture linkages with local radio/TV stations.
• Organize and participate in events, interviews, conferences, seminars, meetings, and workshops.

Compliance & Reporting:

• Produce analytical reports to identify and mitigate potential risks related to communications work.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Create communication messages, talking points, presentations, respond to inquiries, and collaborate with Program officers.

Research & Development:

• Conduct submission review process, track, research, and analyze information, and gather effective practices and lessons learned.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modeling Feed the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging personal and team goals, takes responsibility for own personal development, and encourages teams to do the same
• Widely shares personal vision for Feed the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with team, colleagues, Donors and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Qualifications, and Experience:

• At least a bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, social work, or any other related discipline. Additional qualifications in the same subjects will be advantageous.
• A minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in strategic communications planning, messaging, and monitoring, with a proven track record of executing successful communication campaigns.
• At least two years of full-time experience in journalism, writing, editing, digital and print media, video production, or broadcasting.
• Demonstrated hands-on expertise in graphic design, including the creation of visual content for various communication channels.
• Proficient in graphic design software, such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) or similar tools, with a portfolio showcasing previous work.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, working across platforms and channels, online and offline, with high-level skills in design for social media and PowerPoint.
• Strong understanding of different communication formats and channels and robust knowledge of current trends in digital/social media.
• A background in and comprehension of the humanitarian rights approach, children safeguarding, and protection.
• Experience in project management, including managing communications vendors and consultants (e.g., translators, videographers, etc.).
• Outstanding organizational skills, with the capacity to handle conflicting demands, meet tight deadlines, and adapt priorities as needed.
• A positive attitude and flexibility in managing work tasks in a dynamic, high-pressure environment.

Additional job responsibilities

• The job duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the post holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reason and in line with their level of skills and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Computer Skills –

• Tools Proficiency: Experience with design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) or other relevant design tools for creating engaging social media posts, infographics, and visual content.
• Media Management: Familiarity with and experience in managing websites, social media platforms, and blogs, along with strong knowledge of current trends in digital/social media.
• Development: Skills in creating various types of content, including articles, videos, infographics, and social media posts, using design tools as needed.

Technical Skillss

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Experience with design software and platforms specific to social media content creation.
• English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Oral Communication - Speak clearly, persuasively, and professionally in positive or negative situations; listen and gets clarification; respond well to questions; demonstrate group presentation skills; participate in meetings.
• Written Communication - Write clearly and informatively; edit work for spelling and grammar; vary writing style to meet needs; present numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
• Teamwork - Balance team and individual responsibilities; exhibit objectivity and openness to others' views; give and welcome feedback; contribute to building a positive team spirit; put success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; support everyone's efforts to succeed.
• Project Management – able to manage multiple projects, deadlines and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Innovation and creativity – ability to come up with innovative communications strategies or angles to communicate FEED stories.
• Ethics - Treat people with respect; keep commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.
• Reasoning - Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form; ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.