Practical Action
Vacancy
Announcement: Communications
Manager
ABOUT
US
We
are an international development organisation putting ingenious ideas to work
so people in poverty can change their world.
We
help people find solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems. Challenges
made worse by catastrophic climate change and persistent gender inequality.
We
work with communities to develop ingenious, lasting and locally owned solutions
for agriculture, water and waste management, climate resilience and clean
energy. And we share what works with others, so answers that start small can
grow big.
We
are committed to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment through all
our work.
This
includes programmes, knowledge sharing, advocacy, external communications, and
our own organisational development. At a minimum, we ensure that all our work
is gender sensitive, seeking
gender transformative approaches as our overall ambition and in accordance with
context.
We’re
a global change-making group. The group consists of a UK registered charity
with community projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America, an independent
development publishing company and a technical consulting service. We combine
these specialisms to multiply our impact and help shape a world that works
better for everyone.
OUR
AIMS
We
help people find solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems, made worse
by catastrophic climate change and persistent gender inequality. Our aims are
to:
· Make
agriculture work better for smallholder farmers, many of them women, so they
can adapt to climate change and achieve a good standard of living.
· Help
more people harness the transformational effects of clean affordable energy and
reduce avoidable deaths caused by smoke from indoor stoves and fires.
· Make
cities in poorer countries cleaner, healthier places to live and work.
· Build disaster
resilience into the lives of people threatened by hazards – reducing the risk
of hazards and minimizing their impact on lives and livelihoods.
PRACTICAL
ACTION IN KENYA
In
Kenya, Practical Action has a long history of addressing systemic barriers that
prevent people from accessing energy that transforms their lives, helping
communities and government make cities healthier and safer, making agriculture
and markets work better for small holder farmers and supporting communities and
government to become more resilient.
We
use a mix of programming with communities and consultancy services with shapers
of policy and practice to achieve our aims.
ABOUT
THE ROLE
This
is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative and forward-thinking
international development organization that puts ingenious ideas to work so
people in poverty can change their world.
Reporting
to the Head of Impact & Influence, this highly influential role will shape
Practical Action’s regional communication strategy and marketing approach with
the private sector in the region.
The
Communication Manager will take lead in designing and delivering innovative
communications and marketing strategies that inspire public and private
support, influence policy decisions and achieve Practical Action’s strategic
ambitions.
The
function will also be responsible for maintaining a positive public image of
Practical Action and be responsible for rolling out Practical Action’s recently
refreshed brand and new visual identity.
The
post holder will also be expected to build a team of sector experts to champion
Practical Action’s strategic partnerships with corporates and opportunities
with the growing private sector in Kenya and the region.
They
are also responsible for managing the regional office’s media-related
activities and ensuring that Practical Action in Africa and globally is able to
exploit the opportunities presented by Nairobi’s position as a regional media
hub.
SCOPE
Title:
Communications Manager
Reporting
to: Head of Impact & Influence
Direct
reports:
· Marketing
/ Corporate Engagement Officer (potential)
· Digital
& Graphics Assistant
· Communications
& Marketing Officer
Relationships
· Internally
within the Programmes and delivery team., MEL team
· Externally
with strategic partners relevant to expanding Practical Action’s brand and
partnerships.
Financial
scope: TBC
Location: Nairobi,
Kenya
Grade: 8
Travel: Moderate
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Leadership
and Strategic Alignment
· Lead
Practical Action’s ‘out-of-the-box’ communications and marketing strategies,
processes, products and tools, used to advance the organization’s strategic
ambitions, vision and impact through its work.
· Lead
the exploration of new in-country corporate fundraising markets, digital and
social media engagement based on market research and new trends in the sector
· Lead
development of gender sensitive and inclusive internal and external
communication protocols aligned to PA brand.
· Maintain
creative direction, including features/functionality and value propositions for
Practical Action’s work in the region.
· Serve
as a key member of the team providing strategic inputs into organizational
strategy, ensuring flows of information between management and relevant staff
member.
· Lead,
manage and motivate a team of communication & marketing experts, ensuring
that they have clear work objectives and individual/teamwork plans and receive
meaningful feedback on their performance.
Strengthening
Profile, Generating Funding and Managing Relationships
· Lead in
the development and nurturing of strategic relationships with the private
sector and corporates to advance Practical Action’s change ambitions,
contributing to Practical Action’s work externally.
· Lead
Practical Action’s advocacy and knowledge generation and management strategies
and initiatives to leverage maximum impact in line with our global change
ambitions and cross cutting themes of gender equality and climate change.
· Drive
for evidence and internal/external learning to support change ambitions and
widen our impacts in line with the Practical Action Framework for Change.
· Contribute
to the development of proposals ensuring that they align with our strategic
plans and will contribute to overall impact.
· Create
communications partnerships that can complement fundraising partnerships or
lead to fundraising partnerships in future.
· Lead
the development of our brand and external positioning by taking advantage of
national and international media based in Nairobi to bring the Practical Action
story to new audiences across Africa and worldwide.
Delivering
Quality
· Work
closely with the Impact Team to capture and communicate Practical Action’s
delivery impact aimed at enhancing visibility of our work.
· Lead
Practical Action’s brand roll out internally, working with staff to understand
and use the new brand.
· Continuously
work to enhance Practical Action’s brand guidelines, its utility within a
national context and with partners.
· Ensure
all communications are inclusive, avoid stereotypes and generalisations, and
promote gender equality.
· Ensure
effective implementation of gender responsive communication policies and
protocols in all organizational communication as per the guidelines outlined in
the PQD Framework
· Work
closely with project teams to ensure safeguarding guidelines and protocols are
adhered to in all organizational communication processes.
· Use
Nairobi’s strategically important location as a regional media hub to generate
relationships with key print, broadcast and digital journalists and generate
positive coverage of Practical Action’s work across Africa in line with context
specific engagement plans.
· Support
website maintenance with high quality content and aesthetics re-design
reflective of Practical Action approach and brand.
· Measure
and report back of all digital and social KPIs and provide strategic and
tactical recommendations based on insights gained.
· Ensure
social media is being used effectively and innovatively to engage and connect
public audiences with our campaign goals.
· Manage
PA East Africa social media platforms and take responsibility for content
sourcing, writing, editing and publishing.
· Manage
Practical Action’s communication and marketing external service providers such
as printers, translators, graphic designers, photographers, digital agencies
and video editors.
PERSON
PROFILE
To
be successful in the role, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:
Experience
& Knowledge
· Experience
and knowledge in ingenious marketing strategies.
Essential
· A
Degree in relevant field such as Mass/media Communication/ International
relations / Journalism
· At
least five years working experience in communications and documentation
· Experience
directly working in or with the private sector and on corporate partnerships.
· Strong
understanding of approaches for communicating information to a wide range of
audiences including media relations
· Advanced
proficiency in graphic design and photography
· Ability
to multitask, work under pressure and to meet tight deadlines, responsive to
external requests and strong team player.
· Excellent
communication skills with excellent command of the English language.
· Ability
to review and edit reports and products (in English) for dissemination and
publications.
· Experience
identifying target audiences and devising promotional and marketing strategies
to engage, inform and motivate current and potential partners
· Willing
and able to travel widely in country to support field teams.
· Experience
working in a multi-faceted organization and with shared goals across global
teams.
Desirable
· Fluency
in Swahili and English
· Excellent
skills in social media planning, strategy and measurement
· Demonstrated
experience of integrating gender and diversity in communications
· Proven
ability to communicate verbally with a wide range of actors and audiences.
· Post-graduate
degree in relevant subject
· Proven
experience in people management, performance management and supporting the
learning and development of individuals.
· Videography
and web design skills
HOW TO
APPLY
If
you are ready for an exciting challenge with an organisation whose mission and
values are particularly relevant in these rapidly changing times, please
forward your application, curriculum vitae and cover letter to: Practical
Action, Kenya Office by email :recruitment@practicalaction.or.ke no later than
20th February, 2023 indicating ‘Practical Action: Job Title Position’ in the
subject line of the email.
Your
cover letter should outline why you feel this is the position for you and you
are the right candidate.
Please
include the names of 3 referees in your CV.
Additional
Information
Practical
Action is an equal opportunities employer and we encourage applications from
under-represented groups.
We
stay committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse working environment and
believe that people from different backgrounds or cultures give us different
perspectives, and the more perspectives we have, the more successful we will
be.
By
building a culture where everyone feels heard, respected and valued we give
everyone working with us the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Practical
Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable
adults and as such candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks.
The
successful applicant must have the pre-existing right to both live and work in
Kenya.
Applications
will be reviewed on a rolling basis
Only
shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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