Title: Communications Manager
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Start date: As soon as possible
Contract duration: 2 years contract (with possible extension)
Travel: Sporadic travel is required
Working Hours: Full time – 40 hours per week
Main Roles and Responsibilities
- Lead the execution of communication programs from start to finish, leveraging internal and external support, driving collaboration across teams, and ensuring alignment with regional development goals.
- Create a variety of engaging written and visual communications, ensuring quality, accuracy, and compelling storytelling that resonates with African audiences and aligns with the organization’s messaging.
- Coordinate and oversee storytelling projects, including identifying impactful stories, brief development, content gathering, and overseeing production processes like photography, videography, writing, and publication.
- Contribute to the creation, editing, curation, and design of content for news items, articles, editorials, newsletters, websites, publications, factsheets, brochures, and infographics tailored to the African context.
- Develop and implement a social media strategy, including content creation, campaign ideation, scheduling, effective community management, and performance reporting, with a focus on engaging African audiences.
- Manage and nurture relationships with social media influencers, ensuring authentic engagement and alignment with the organization’s mission.
- Maintain a content production calendar with a well-organized schedule of messaging needs, ensuring consistent and timely delivery.
- Drive a continuous feedback loop to refine social media campaigns, assess effectiveness, and implement improvements to achieve communication goals in the African market.
- Lead the production of videos and podcasts for social media and other channels, from script development to final asset delivery, ensuring relevance to local audiences.
- Additional tasks as agreed with the Communications Programme Manager.
Qualification, Experience, and Skills
Education and Training:
- University degree in communications, journalism, digital communications, marketing, or a related field.
Working Experience, Style, and Skills:
- At least 6 years of professional experience in communications within reputable organizations, ideally with experience in the African development sector.
- Strong understanding of communication principles, methodologies, tools, and platforms relevant to the African context, including social media, publications, campaigns, and web content.
- Experience communicating complex, challenging, or sensitive themes, with an understanding of safeguarding requirements and content production best practices in the NGO sector.
- Demonstrated experience managing or creating content for social media channels that resonate with diverse African audiences.
- Proven ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced communications environment, with a focus on impact.
- Experience managing an in-house briefing and production process: creating schedules, setting deadlines, distributing work, and adjusting workflows as needed.
- Experience leading a team, particularly in the African context.
- Self-starter with the ability to work independently and as part of an international team.
- Strong collaborator with a natural ability to drive results through teamwork.
- Service and solution-oriented with a proactive approach.
- Deep commitment to responsible forestry, environmental sustainability, and broad development goals in Africa.
Communication Skills:
- Proven, high-quality communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to create and deliver clear, concise messaging to diverse audiences in Africa.
- Excellent copywriting skills, with experience in writing, editing, and proofreading content for web, media, and other digital channels.
- Open-minded and communicative personality with a strong orientation towards stakeholder engagement in the African development sector.
- Ability to develop strong, positive relationships with external and internal stakeholders that align with the organization’s mission.
Languages:
- Fluency in English (spoken and written).
- Proficiency in an African language or French is a plus.
Computer Skills:
- High competence in Microsoft Office suite.
- Familiarity with social media monitoring tools and email marketing systems like MailChimp.
- Competence in Adobe Creative Suite is a plus.
How to apply
The updated CVs should be submitted on the following link: https://drs-jobs.developmentaid.org/jobs/7743/communications-manager. Due to the high number of applications received via the DevelopmentAid website, we can reply to shortlisted candidates only. Please note that the above requirements can be modified during the recruitment process according to client’s procedures.