Associate - Communications and Media

Position: Associate - Communications and Media

 
Deadline to Apply: 19th June 2014
Start Date: ASAP
Location: Nairobi, Kenya with regular travel to the field

 
About Us:



We are a new organization working in partnership with an existing non-profit organization (Innovations for Poverty Action, IPA) to scale proven interventions to improve the lives of the poor in Africa and Asia. Rigor, evidence, and action are all part of the organizational values.
While we continue grow the pipeline of proven-interventions to bring to scale, its current programs in the Africa Region include:
Deworm the World Initiative (DtWI) actively supports the scale-up of school-based deworming programs worldwide to improve children’s health, education, and long-term development.
Dispensers for Safe Water is an entrepreneurial program scaling the chlorine dispenser system – a proven innovation that dramatically expands access to water treatment at an extremely low cost.
DtWI provides technical assistance to National School-Based Deworming Programme (NSBDP), which is implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) in and 22 Counties and 143 Sub-Counties across Kenya.
In the first year of the programme (2012-2013), 5.9 million children were dewormed in over 13,000 schools in Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, Coast and parts of Central regions.
We are looking for a dynamic, engaged individual to join our team as an Associate, Communications and Media working within organization’s Programme Implementation Team.
The successful candidate will have a passion for communications, public relations, and media and driven by a mission to increase the presence of the NSBDP to all of its relevant partners.


Job Purpose: To strengthen the communications and media work of the Kenya National School-Based Deworming Programme by engaging the broader Kenyan public (including rural communities where the programme focuses treatment) through media outlets to raise NSBDP’s profile and objectives, primarily through communication tools, media/public relations and stakeholder events.


Management Responsibility


Description of Duties


Programme Communications:


•Develop, design and review, in collaboration with the Programme Implementation team, non-technical programme materials, including: PowerPoint presentations, briefing materials, fact sheets, marketing materials, reporting templates, media materials, and other documents as assigned
•Manage final layout and design of programme training materials, reports, and other documents as assigned
•Support the process of drafting, editing and updating programme-specific donor and programme reports
•Conceptualize and develop creative communication actions and tools for NSBDP
•Assist in development and implementation of NSBDP’s communication strategy and report on the progress of implementation



Media/Public Relations


•Coordinate programme engagements with media (specifically radio) for community sensitization and mobilization for deworming, including:
•Identifying appropriate national and local radio stations within treatment areas
•Developing radio messages for use pre-Deworming Day
•Developing and packaging media briefs and media packets
•Participating in sensitization meetings with partner radio stations as directed by supervisor
•Build and maintain relationships with various media houses within all treatment areas and maintain communication lines at during relevant moments during implementation
•Provide updates/reports on media relationships to NSBDP governance structure
•Support the development of programmatic media engagement protocols and guidelines and build the programme’s capacity on engagement with media
•Support and strengthen internal and external communication and media work of NSBDP
•Oversee, monitor and document media coverage of the NSBDP and press around deworming, child health/education, and other relevant areas
•Develop communication messages, draft documents relevant to NSBDP’s work and disseminate to pertinent audiences via SMS platform, email, and other communication channels
•Assist in organization and planning of meetings and events with relevant programme stakeholders, including Government of Kenya personnel, NTD experts, and media
•Liaise with communication teams at Evidence Action to ensure NSBDP/DtWI is featured in the organization’s online and print documentation platforms (e.g. newsletters, brochures, blog) and social media outlets (Facebook and Twitter)


Accountability



Decision Making:


•Guidance will be provided by the Senior Associate communications and media on any relevant decisions relating to the tasks within this portfolio.


Responsibility over data or information:


•Has access to important and sometimes confidential programme data and information.

 
Responsibility over assets:


•Computer, printer, office equipment, office furniture, media equipment within the programme


Required Qualifications


Professional qualifications


•Bachelor’s degree (and additional work experience) in communications, public relations, media, or related field
•Relevant Experience and Key skills:
•A minimum of 3 years work experience with developing media plans, working with media to (e.g. developing press kits, writing press release, managing media-focused events).
•High-quality professional writing skills (ability to develop technical pieces and able to translate technical information into lay language)
•Relationships with national and local media (within and outside of Nairobi) or ability to develop continuous relationships to maximize NSBDP visibility
•Experience designing and editing documents and presentations using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher), Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop/Acrobat, and other editing/design software.

Personal Attributes


•Quick to learn and capable of proactively developing new ideas to reach out to the programme’s various audiences
•Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to work effectively within a fast-paced work environment
•Proven skill in negotiation and managing complex relationships
•Excellent networking skills
•Strong organizational skills


To apply:


Please send a cover letter and detailed CV, 3 references, daytime phone number(s), and email address.
Your CV should include details about your academic qualifications and any relevant work experience.
Applications can be submitted by email.
please ensure that the subject line reads:“Associate - Communication and Media” REF NO: Evidence Action-2014-05-03.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted by phone and email for an interview.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications will be reviewed on a ROLLING BASIS