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The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organization that carries out high quality, policy relevant research on population, health and education issues facing sub-Saharan Africa.
Due to an expansion of the Policy Engagement and Communications (PEC) Division, the Center is seeking to recruit two communications officers to join the PEC team.
APHRC is looking for individuals who are creative, organized, highly motivated, results-oriented and are great communicators to join a dynamic team and help bring lasting evidence-based change in Africa.
1. Communications Officer – Media and Web Content
Responsibilities
The Communications Officer will be charged with ensuring clear and consistent messaging is delivered to all key internal and external stakeholders in a timely manner.
In particular, they will primarily be responsible for driving the Center’s media engagement as well as developing web content for the Center’s website.
In liaison with the Center’s Policy Engagement and Communications team, they will:
- Implement communications strategies focusing on bringing research evidence to decision-makers;
- Primarily be tasked with developing strategic relationships with key national and international media, to ensure comprehensive coverage of APHRC research;
- Develop press and communication materials for media events to disseminate key research study findings;
- Organize events for public stakeholders, implementing partners and journalists to sensitize and create awareness on APHRC’s research;
- Work with researchers to develop opinion editorials for local and international print media;
- Seek and secure opportunities for the Center’s researchers to write regular columns in high profile local and international print media as well as ensure they are regular expert contributors in local and international television stations;
- Write and edit web-based information materials in order to daily maintain and update APHRC’s online communication (website and social media). This includes writing and editing blog articles;
- Work with the Policy Engagement and Communications team to communicate Center’s research findings in creative and engaging ways.
Qualifications and Competencies
The ideal candidate should be a team player with the following qualities:
- A first degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or related field; a Master’s degree will be an added advantage;
- At least five (5) years of post-qualification, increasingly responsible work experience in communication, writing and content creation, public relations and media relations;
- Demonstrable track record in media engagement;
- Familiarity with communications approaches for planning, executing, and monitoring communications strategies;
- Excellent written and verbal communication;
- Ability to work independently in mobilizing media coverage and producing quality communication material;
- Demonstrated willingness to work as part of a team;
- Networking, interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills coupled with resourcefulness, initiative and maturity of judgment.
2. Communications Officer – Publication Production
Responsibilities
The Communications Officer will be charged with ensuring clear and consistent messaging is delivered to all key internal and external stakeholders in a timely manner.
In particular, they will primarily be responsible for managing the production of the Center’s publications and other written material.
In liaison with the Center’s Policy Engagement and Communications team, they will:
- Research, write and edit in-house publications including the APHRC newsletter and other articles; speeches, report summaries, case studies and human interest stories;
- Lead the production and dissemination of communication materials, including brochures, posters, info-graphics, audio-visuals and policy documents;
- Implement communications strategies focusing on bringing research evidence to decision-makers;
- Support in any writing and or editing tasks that may arise at the Center outside the scope defined above;
- Work with the Policy Engagement and Communications team to communicate Center’s research findings in creative and the engaging ways.
Qualifications and Competencies
- First degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or related field; a Master’s degree will be an added advantage;
- At least five (5) years of post-qualification, increasingly responsible work experience in communication, writing and content creation and public relations;
- Excellent written and verbal communication;
- Excellent skills in structural editing as well as proof reading with a keen eye for detail;
- Demonstrable ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines;
- Familiarity with communications approaches for planning, executing, and monitoring communications strategies;
- Ability to work with printers and designers to produce high quality communication material
- Demonstrated willingness to work as part of a team;
- Networking, interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills coupled with resourcefulness, initiative and maturity of judgment.
Interested candidates are invited to send via email, their letter of application, portfolio of their design work and CV, which should include current and expected remuneration requirements, and contact details of three referees to jobs@aphrc.org.
Please, indicate ‘Communications Officer (Media/Web Content) or Communications Officer (Publications)’ on the subject line of the email.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Applications will be considered until 24th October 2014.
