Communications Officer Non-profit Jobs – Development Initiatives (DI)

Organisation: Development Initiatives (DI)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda or Nairobi, Kenya
Reports to: Head of Communications
About DI:
Development
Initiatives (DI) works to end extreme poverty by 2030 by making data and
information on poverty and resources transparent, accessible and useable. Our
mission is to ensure that decisions about the allocation of finance and
resources result in the end of poverty, increase resilience and security of the
world’s most vulnerable people, and ensure no one is left behind. We work to
make sure these decisions are underpinned by objective and transparent data and
evidence, and lead to increased accountability and sustainable long-term
outcomes. DI works to support decision makers and others to make sense of both
existing data on poverty, vulnerability and crisis, and the resources available
to address them. We create innovative technical solutions to improve data
quality, make it more accessible and useable, and build the capacity of others
on data collection, publication and use.
Job Summary: The Communications Officer will be responsible for
identifying and pulling out key messages across projects and outputs and ensuring
colleagues are creating inspiring content across all formats. The incumbent will
also write engaging copy such as regular e-newsletters and targeted mass
mailings. The incumbent will also involve building and maintaining good media
contacts and ensuring the day-to-day running of regional digital communication
channels.
Key Duties and Responsibilities: 
1. Technical Duties:
  • Develop and implement communications plans
  • The incumbent will draft press releases and
    proactively engage with media contacts to obtain coverage for DI’s work
  • Use digital communications to gain traction
    for DI’s content and buy-in for the organisation’s work and objectives
  • Plan and manage production of corporate
    branded materials, ensure brand integrity, quality and consistency by
    adhering to the set brand guidelines and templates
  • Plan and execute key communication
    activities, including launch events and national and regional roundtable
    forums
  • Create and maintain a contact database for DI
    in the region, including a media contacts list
  • The incumbent will draft and lay out mailings
    (including newsletters and updates) and coordinate their review and
    approval
  • Offer support the delivery and maintenance of
    good internal communications and information sharing internally
  • The Communications Officer will coordinate
    website content development in a timely manner and ensure focused, highly engaging
    written materials
  • Package and communicate key messages in a
    creative and engaging way for diverse audiences that include a range of
    stakeholders at the sub-national, national, regional and global levels
  • Identify key moments and maintain a calendar
    of DI activities and external events
  • Work closely with the Head of Communications
    to ensure integrated and coordinated working across regions, and to
    support the delivery of corporate communications objectives
  • Evaluate the impact of key communications
    tools through good monitoring, evaluation and impact processes
2. Organisational
Responsibilities:
  • Implement and manage projects and activities
    in line with DI’s vision, mission, values and goals
  • Render support in the development of new
    projects and identify new and emerging opportunities where the
    communications function is relevant.
  • Develop and maintain effective systems and
    processes for communications activities ensuring these are consistent with
    DI’s operational requirements and policies
  • Support the development and implementation of
    the organisational strategy
Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 
  • The ideal candidate for the Communications
    Officer should hold an Undergraduate degree (ideally in a related field e.g.
    communications, journalism, international relations, economics, politics
    or development studies). A Master’s degree in related field is desired
  • A minimum of three to five years of hands-on
    experience in communications and PR, preferably in a not-for-profit
    organisation or a development organisation
  • The Communications Officer will be a
    creative, dynamic and smart working individual with exceptional
    copywriting skills and excellent attention to detail. They will have
    demonstrable experience in writing impactful communications materials and
    using digital communications to drive interaction with content, as well as
    engaging with the media
  • Initiative, sound judgement and the ability
    to work harmoniously with individuals of different national and cultural
    backgrounds
  • Working knowledge of, or keen interest in,
    development and poverty eradication
  • Excellent communication skills, including
    experience of working effectively with diverse audiences, both verbally
    and in writing
  • Ability to work under pressure yet deliver on
    time with attention to detail and accuracy
  • Ability to work independently with minimal
    support as well as in a team environment
  • Excellent written and spoken English, as well
    as a critical eye for editing and proofreading
  • Ability to write a range of communications
    materials, including press releases, web stories and newsletters to a very
    high standard and in an engaging way
  • Skilled in developing and delivering messages
    for a range of audiences, including translating technical and complex
    content into non-specialist language
  • Previous experience working with journalists
    to secure media coverage
  • Experience using social media tools in a
    professional context to drive user interaction online
  • Previous experience in delivering digital
    mass mailings (preferably using a platform such as MailChimp or dotmailer)
    and managing contact lists
  • Proven experience in developing and
    delivering communications plans
  • Experience of event organising
  • Professional experience in copyediting and
    proofreading is desirable
  • Previous experience of using website content
    management systems such as WordPress is desired
How to Apply: 
All
suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their updated CVs (no
more than 3 pages) and covering letter which should detail your skills and evidence
of experience and how it relates to the job description via E-mail to: HR.Africa@devinit.org,
quoting ref: Comms officer, East Africa, in the email subject line. The cover letter
should also include your salary expectations, notice period/available start
date and where you saw the job advert i.e. theugandanjobline.com website.
Deadline: Wednesday, 4th May, 2016
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