Communications Officer, USAID Nuru Ya Mtoto Project – Programming at PATH

Tracking Code

11412

Job Description

PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships, and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges.

PATH is implementing a 5-year USAID Nuru Ya Mtoto (NYM) project, a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) project that is funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The project seeks to empower local and county-level stakeholders to strengthen the formal and informal HIV and child protection systems and services and the linkages between them, including cross-sectoral service referrals and coordination to ensure quality service delivery for AGYW, OVC and their households. This project is County led, County owned and hence this position is key in fostering the co-mandate of co-creation, co-implementation, co-monitoring, and co-evaluation to realize PEPFAR strategy of Journey to Self-Reliance (J2SR).

The Communications Officer will take a dynamic approach to developing and executing the USAID Nuru Ya Mtoto project communications strategy. S/he will build relationships across the project portfolio with staff and take a proactive approach to identifying stories and messaging that communicates the project’s learning and key results to various stakeholders, especiallyUSAID.

Job Responsibilities:

• S/he will lead both internal and external communications efforts, contribute to content– development of project outreach materials, including learning, success stories, digital stories, presentations, photography, videography, events management, and media relations.
• S/he will liaise between project partners, beneficiaries, key project staff, and local service providers to build a strong bridge for the exchange of information and incorporate the project’s learning, results and findings into the overall communications and outreach activities of the project.
• Develop and support implementation of the project’s communication strategy aligned to the USAID’s branding and marking standards.
• Contribute to the professional presentation and execution of communications products and services and contribute to systems that track metrics/indicators that will translate the effectiveness of these efforts.
• Maintain a clear understanding of the project’s portfolio and structure, as well as the communications objectives and communicate this information appropriately and effectively.
• Be part of implementing partners’ communication network and provide feedback to the project.
• Work with project staff to document the key activities and success stories and ensure that appropriate consent for use of photos and videos is obtained and filed
• Plan and implement staff communication capacity building activities.
• Interpret complex, technical language and make it understandable for different audiences.
• Create systems to remain updated on important news and developments in the field of coverage by engaging in social listening or subscribing to relevant news alerts or e-newsletters or other sources
• Tailor content to various audiences, as required, within the field of coverage
• Collaboratively support co-creation with USAID and implementing partners
• Participate in and contribute to presentations at periodic coordinating, strategy, and performance review meetings
• Be a part of the editorial and creative process, bringing new and creative ideas to the table based on expertise and research.
• Facilitate compliance with the project’s approved branding and marking plan within the project and implementing partners.
• Coordinate all photo and video coverage across local implementing partners, project staff and consultants, reviewing for quality and completeness
• Develop escalation protocols for managing communication crises, should they arise.
• Take, produce, and take custody of the project’s senior management meeting minutes.
• Support the preparation of programme abstracts and policy briefs from programme related activities, progress reports and documents
• Review and clarify partners’ external communication materials to ensure they deliver the correct information and conform to set guidelines and regulations.
• Contribute to PATH Kenya’s overall communication strategy.

Key Competencies required:

• Partnership
• Accountability
• Stewardship
• Integrity
• Communication               

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience in communications, reporting or a related field.
• Experience working with a USAID funded project in a communication role will be an added advantage.
• Solid computing skills, including photo editing and desktop publishing.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Swahili is required
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a team player.
• Understand the best practices of main social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc.
• Experience in packaging messages (annual reports, case studies, one pager, webinar, tweets etc.) to disseminate learning and results to different stakeholders specifically USAID, local implementing partners and the Government of Kenya.
• Ability to independently deliver a range of compelling communications content from the field including success stories targeting various audience.
• Strong ability to identify and frame stories
• Excellent writing, proofing, and editing skills in English and Kiswahili
• Experience working with video, photography, and audio content.