Information and Communications Officer

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Information and Communication Officer

ROLE PURPOSE:

The Information and Communication Officer role will work closely with the USAID Chief of Party and the Communications and Media Manager to leverage programs success and operations by positioning USAID Advancing Nutrition and Save the Children as a lead source of information about Multisector Nutrition and  children .

In this role you will work closely with colleagues within USAID Advancing Nutrition to support the provision of excellent information and communications on our USAID AN programmes for both internal and external audiences. You will work with colleagues across the organisation to prepare for communications needs for USAID AN and help raise visability through rolling out updated communications toolkits and creating plans to overcome gaps in communications capacity. The Information and Communication Officer will monitor the communication implementation strategies envisaged by USAID AN.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Communications and Media Manager with a dotted line to the USAID Advancing Nutrition Chief of Party.

Staff reporting to this post: None

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Communication and Information:

• Support in the development and preparation of communication materials, fact sheets, brochures, newsletters and other publications.
• Maintain a database of available success stories from the countries
• Support in the development of USAID Advancing Nutrition annual reports and profiles
• Develop, edit and disseminate case studies and success stories and maximize their use;
• Participate in communication planning and briefings as well as implementation.
• Assist in planning and implementing new communication initiatives
• Support in managing media visits and member office requests
• Editing media-related materials that will effectively communicate the work of USAID Advancing Nutrition.
• Support in content to be used in speech writing for media and external engagement
• Support the Communications and Media Manager in drafting press releases and feature articles, success stories, selection of pictures, and preparation for trainings related to activities/events
• Work with project teams to create and regularly update project profiles
• Work closely with the program teams on the design and production of campaign materials for maximum impact
• Identify new innovative ways to communicate with advocacy, operations and programme colleagues to identify information gaps on the ground
• Ensure all information for external use presents accurate information and appropriate images, and does not put USAID and Save the Children at risk
• Available for travel to the field sites to collect case studies and undertake photography commissions

Capacity Building

• Provide support to the country USAID AN staff as required
• Build the capacity of USAID AN staff in story gathering (for case studies to be shared with donor partner), photography, media training and information management as required.

Multi-Media

In coordination with line manager, undertake multi-media commissions to a high standard, to accompany compelling case studies particularly on USAID AN work around child protection, health and nutrition, food security and livelihoods, education. Facilitate film/photo commissions in liaison with response teams and global film/photo team.

BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)

Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

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

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members 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

Contract Duration: 10 months

Number of Vacancies: 1

Work Location: Nairobi with frequent travel to project sites in Kitui, Kisumu and Kakamega

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Degree in relevant field such as mass/media communication/international relations/journalism, social sciences or any relevant studies.
• At least 4 years’ experience in a similar role or in media and communication position.
• Proven experience of developing and managing the production of communications materials for INGOs or other similar organisations.
• Can produce accurate, clear and consistent information and communication outputs relating to both programme support – including key messages, Q&A’s and factsheets, case studies, press releases, media statements, briefs amongst others
• Evidence of excellent English verbal and written communication skills for a wide range of different audiences including donors, journalists and the ‘general public’. Ability to strategically target a wide range of audiences is essential.
• Excellent relationship-building skills in order to work across all field offices
• Understanding how to manage strategic media engagement in politically-sensitive environment.
• Proven ability to work with communities and partners to gather case studies, testimonies and information on programmes and activities.
• An initiative-taking, proactive, inspiring attitude with the ability to manage and prioritise an unpredictable workload and solve problems quickly with limited support;
• Ability to draft materials, fact check, proofread, and edit;
• The ability to support the team in high-pressure situations, with changing deadlines and priorities
• Excellent media relations with an ability to flawlessly pitch stories to the media
• Event management

Desirable

• Prior experience working with USAID or an INGO
• Photography (taking and editing) and graphic design skills. Experience with design and audio-visual software is an advantage;
• Experience of delivering training, presentations and other capacity building activities to varied audiences

THE ORGANIZATION

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. 

 We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• .No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated