Senior Communications Officer at The Center for International Health, Education and Biosecurity (CIHEB)

Overview of the Job Description

The Senior Communication Officer will play a crucial role in supporting the development and implementation of effective communication strategies for Ciheb-Kenya projects including CONNECT, ENTRENCH, PACT Imara, TRACK, KENPHIA II, and providing cross cutting support for other Ciheb Communications needs. This role requires a dynamic and creative individual with experience in strategic communications, graphics design, media relations, and content creation to enhance the visibility and impact of Ciheb Kenya’s programs.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Developing and implementing effective communications strategies to guide implementation.
• Documenting Ciheb-Kenya programs through photos and videos.
• Conceiving, developing, and distributing online, print, and digital communications materials, including project briefs, fact sheets, publications, slide decks, infographics, and presentations.
• Researching, writing, and editing announcements and news articles to report ongoing and upcoming work and achievements.
• Creating and posting content to the website, developing social media posts, and managing social media content.
• Creating, managing, and distributing online communications through email and internal and external communications platforms.
• Developing media schedules for radio and tv content and ensure timely engagement and airing of the media content.
• Develop and implement a monitoring plan to monitor all media activities such as social media, print, audio, and TV.
• Assisting with the planning and execution of events.
• Cataloguing and managing creative assets, including photo libraries, publications, signage, event collateral, and other materials.
• Copy editing and proofreading materials for internal and external distribution.
• Ensure that all communications and marketing material align with brand standards.
• Maintain digital media archives, including photos and videos.
• Respond to media inquiries and perform media outreach to achieve brand placement in publications.
• Develop escalation protocols for managing communication crises, should they arise.
• Supporting Ciheb-Kenya teams with communications needs and requests.

 Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in strategic communications, media, communication or related field. Masters degree is a plus.
• Three years of experience in Communications, preferably in an international development or public health organization.
• Demonstrated experience in project management for communications.
• Excellent writing, editorial and project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex technical/scientific language for the web and other audiences/platforms.
• Understand the best practices of main social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc
• Strong communicator who works well independently and with a team.
• Superior time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator is a requirement.
• Strong presentation skills and ability to do graphic layout and designs.
• Understanding of communications, public relations, and marketing best practices.
• Ability to think strategically and identify ways to improve communication efforts.
• Strong interpersonal and coordinative skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.