Overview
The Communications Manager will be responsible for the creation, coordination, and effective delivery of localised communication products and initiatives. The role will focus on raising awareness of local humanitarian and development issues, crafting compelling stories that advocate for change, and contributing to ForAfrika’s global communications and marketing objectives.
The ideal candidate will be an accomplished storyteller with exceptional written and verbal communications skills, capable of gathering, editing, and producing content in challenging environments. They will support country specific media relations and establish and manage relationships with in-country freelancers and technical experts, such as professional photographers and videographers.
The Communications Manager will play a key advisory role to the country office leadership and collaborate closely with programme and development teams. Furthermore, the role will maintain strong communication with the Global Support Office’s Marketing and Communications division to ensure alignment with the broader marketing and communications strategy.
Key roles and responsibilities:
1. Strategic Leadership & Plan Execution:
- Provide strategic leadership for ForAfrika’s communications activities in Angola, ensuring alignment with global marketing and communications objectives.
- Design, implement, and monitor a country-specific communications plan that addresses programmatic and advocacy needs, amplifying ForAfrika’s mission and impact.
- Act as the primary point of accountability for communication activities, ensuring high standards, timely execution, and alignment with ForAfrika’s core values.
- Lead and manage relationships with in-country communications staff (if applicable) and freelancers, including photographers, videographers, and other technical experts, ensuring quality and accountability in their contributions.
- Collaborate with the Country Manager, country office programmatic staff, and GSO Senior Communications Manager to align local communication efforts with global strategy.
2. Content Creation:
- Gather, produce, and edit high-quality written, photo, and video content that highlights ForAfrika’s programmatic achievements, challenges, and humanitarian responses.
- Create compelling human-interest stories and case studies that emphasise the impact of ForAfrika’s work, increasing donor visibility and engagement.
- Oversee the quality of content gathered in challenging environments, ensuring consistency in messaging and alignment with organisational branding standards.
- Package content for multiple platforms, including social media, reports, donor communications, and media releases, ensuring it resonates with diverse audiences.
- Actively contribute to the ForAfrika Global Communications Network meetings and establish and maintain a culture of creativity and excellence in all communications outputs.
3. Advocacy & Media Engagement:
- Elevate ForAfrika’s profile by pitching compelling stories to local and international media outlets, positioning the organisation as a leading voice on humanitarian and development issues in Angola.
- Develop and maintain relationships with local and international journalists, media houses, and key stakeholders to ensure ongoing engagement.
- Prepare country leadership and staff for advocacy and media engagements, including interviews and public platforms, by equipping them with effective talking points and messaging.
- Monitor and report on communications trends, news angles, and emerging issues in Angola to identify opportunities for advocacy and international media pitches.
- Support the Organisation’s crisis communication efforts by supporting the GSO Senior Communications Manager in media relations and ensuring clear, timely responses during emergencies.
4. Capacity Building and Support:
- Mentor and coach field staff and focal points on content gathering, storytelling techniques, and visual documentation to build internal capacity.
- Provide training and guidance to ensure consistent messaging and high-quality communications outputs across all materials and platforms.
- Foster a proactive approach to communications by equipping staff with the tools and resources needed to share programmatic successes effectively.
- Build and maintain a network of skilled in-country freelancers and technical experts to support communication needs, especially during crises.
- Act as an advisory partner to the country office leadership, supporting staff to become bold advocates for ForAfrika’s mission and work.
5. Brand Representation & Visibility:
- Act as the brand ambassador for the country office, ensuring all visibility outputs are aligned with ForAfrika’s brand guidelines and core values.
- Maintain and elevate the visibility of the country office by producing and promoting content that reflects its impact and aligns with global branding.
- Ensure consistency and quality in messaging, visual identity, and tone across all visibility materials and platforms.
Required skills, qualifications, and experience:
- Minimum 3 years of experience in journalism and/or humanitarian communications.
- Degree in journalism or communications is highly regarded but experience, motivation and/or demonstrated ability is more important.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify trends and opportunities.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Proven interest in humanitarian and development issues in Africa.
- Extensive technical knowledge and experience in content collection including filmmaking and photography with full proficiency in Adobe’s Creative Suite.
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively to all areas of the country where the programme will be implemented, on a regular basis.
- Willingness to learn and grow as a communications professional.
How to apply
Applicants who fulfil the above mentioned requirements are invited to apply for the position by following the link:
https://webapp.placementpartner.com/wi/vacancy/?id=multiform&VacRef=JHB000213&preview=0ac2541ae674a70b3c7b81513bff844f
For more information, an email may be sent to n.vermeulen@forafrika.org