Job Purpose/Summary
Reporting
to the Dean, the Communications Specialist works as a key member of the GSMC
team to plan and develop communications that raise the school’s profile and
support its marketing and business development. Using a keen understanding of
GSMC’s targeted internal and external audiences, the incumbent brings
initiative and consistency to all communications efforts. The Communications
Specialist provides sound communications advice to GSMC administrative and
academic staff and collaborates with communications professionals throughout
AKU to align and coordinate communications priorities and
messages. The Communications Specialist brings exceptional
innovation and creativity, time management and organizational skills,
resourcefulness, team spirit and an entrepreneurial mindset to the role.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
- Developing an overarching communications
strategy for the school.
- Managing the GSMC website and growing its
online/social media presence.
- Coordinating the development of videos
and podcasts for GSMC promotional work, capturing various activities, and
working closely with programme leads.
- Developing and curating lively web
discussions and content relevant to the school’s work and the interests of
the East African Media and Communication Community.
- Cooperating with the AKU and GSMC teams
to shape corporate strategy, message development, client pitches, and
events management.
- Responsible for procuring all GSMC
branded merchandise, tracking and distribution.
- Occasionally support the delivery of the
Professional Development Program.
- Develop, implement, evaluate, and
maintain a social media/web strategy.
- Help grow the GSMC brand.
- Manage GSMC’s social media presence
across relevant channels – Facebook, YouTube, Twitter – ensuring
consistent and well-curated content.
- Support the development of a
media-relevant platform and assist GSMC faculty to communicate their
teaching, writing, and research.
- Develop a regular newsletter on GSMC’s
activities, as well as media topics of special relevance to regional media
and communications professionals.
- Act as the voice of GSMC in our own and
other social media communities.
- Monitor trends, applications, and new
developments in traditional and social media.
- Curate the GSMC website, creating rich
and creative content from the region that is optimized for search engines.
- Curate articles on hot topics or ongoing
important issues.
- Develop, maintain, and improve the GSMC
website, including drafting, editing, and posting content.
- Develop and execute internal and external
communication plans and promotional material in collaboration with the
Dean and senior GSMC Management
- Develop dynamic marketing and promotional
campaigns to raise public awareness, recruit students, and assist in
fund-raising.
- Create compelling messages and stories
about GSMC for potential clients and donors.
- Create stakeholder maps in developing
communication strategies, refreshed regularly based on internal and
external feedback.
- Collaborative with AKU’s Office of
Strategic Communications in messaging and strategy, particularly the
design of promotional materials
- Contribute to internal AKU newsletters
and reports, profiling GSMC activities.
- Work effectively with Aga Khan
Development Network affiliates.
- Help organize public events and seminars
to raise GSMC’s public profile.
- Understand the latest media trends to
advance the priorities of the school.
- Writing speeches and/or developing
talking points for team members, where necessary.
- Work with regional media houses to
showcase the school’s activities; book, the school’s experts for
interviews, TV and radio appearances, and conferences that raise the
school’s profile.
- Monitor and report monthly on
communications performance metrics and personal objectives.
- Manage fast-response or crisis
communications.
- Actively seek opportunities to leverage
GSMC faculty expertise (e.g., media interviews, web chats, etc.)
- Write media releases and produce content
that publicizes GSMC’s work.
- Build relationships with media groups,
tech hubs, NGOs, and other interested communities to enhance the brand and
identity of the GSMC.
- Help develop innovative, original, and
strategic partnerships with corporate, governmental, and non-governmental
partners.
Relevant Experience and Qualifications
- A master’s degree in communications,
Public Relations, or a related field from a recognized university is
required.
- Professional qualification in a related
field (e.g., Chartered Institute of Marketing, International Association
on Business Communicators) is preferred.
- At least five (5) years of experience in
communications, media, corporate and/or strategic communications, or
public relations.
- Demonstrated experience with digital and
print marketing and communications (including writing and editing).
- In-depth understanding of marketing and
communications value and use of popular social media platforms major (e.g.
LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, SlideShare).
- Demonstrated experience creating
successful communications strategies.
- Knowledge of web content management.
- Understanding of stakeholder/community
engagement.
- Events management experience.
- Knowledge of Audio-Visual editing
software.
- Professional experience in curating
digital/social media is required; radio or TV experience is highly
desired.
- Experience managing an agency or
contractors is desired.
- Deep knowledge of the Kenyan and East
African media industry with contacts within various media organizations.
- Issues management and crisis
communications.
- Experience in teaching and training
practicing professionals is desired.
- Knowledge of the AKU/AKDN is desired.
- Excellent writer and critical thinker –
an innovative and creative “thinker-doer” with a flexible, entrepreneurial
approach to the job
- Digital native, detail-oriented,
polished, and diplomatic
- Highly energetic self-starter able to
build relationships and work collegially and effectively with colleagues
and clients.
- Superior multi-tasker who enjoys
pressure, able to work quickly and independently.
- Understanding of today’s media and
communication landscape and best practices – from strategic communications
planning and proactive messaging to reactive communications and crisis
mitigation.
- Understanding of audience segmentation
and how to anticipate and target communications to a variety of audiences
– general public, corporate, higher education, media, NGOs, and government
– both online and offline
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of
social media platforms and their participants (Facebook, Digg, YouTube,
Twitter, Flickr, etc.)
- Experience in brand-building online and
offline.
- Commitment to AKU’s vision and values.
How To Apply