Job Description

As an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations, the federally owned Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the German Government in achieving its development policy objectives. GIZ promotes reforms and change processes. In Ethiopia, GIZ has been working for more than 50 years in bilateral cooperation on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and on commission of the Ethiopian government and international donors.

The Sustainable Land Management Program (SLMP) is one of the Flagship programs of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the Ethiopian government. It has been designed under the long-term (2009-2023) Ethiopia Strategic Investment Framework for Sustainable Land Management (ESIF) and the Agricultural Sector Policy and Investment Framework (PIF). Both are designed to strengthen domestic and foreign support as well as planning of investments that contribute to Ethiopia’s agricultural growth and development agenda for addressing issues related to the existing challenges related to land and water resources.

GIZ has been supporting the implementation of SLMP since 2008 in different forms in Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regions. Starting from 2015, GIZ SLM has increased its geographical coverage and included three additional regions, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella and Southern Nations Nationalities Peoples’ Region.

GIZ-SURED (Sustainable Use of Resources Economic Development 2018–2020) focuses on the economic development and sustainable utilization of rehabilitated areas. Against this background, GIZ SURED Program is looking to recruit a project communication officer.

Responsibilities:

• The project communication officer will support communication and PR tasks at project level, in close coordination with the Communications & PR Unit (Comm Unit) at the GIZ Office. S/he will contribute to the implementation of the communication strategy by ensuring that planned/assigned activities are put into concrete actions at project level. The appointed staff member will act as communication focal point and will actively participate in the country communications network

Tasks

• Strategic tasks: - Supporting the programme’s objectives by developing and implementing communication measures in close cooperation with partners. Developing a concept for the programme’s internal and external communications including the systematic planning of communication measures with partners (incl. defining target groups, drafting key messages, choice of channels, budgeting, impact analysis)
• Cooperation with Communication unit (GIZ Office Ethiopia) Following the guidelines and toolkits provided by communications Unit, adhering to contribute to the country-wide communication strategy, Addressing internal and external communication-related queries within the given deadlines…
• Coordination with external service providers at programme and liaising and coordinating with communication-related service providers, including providing technical inputs and dealing with any required administrative procedures (e.g. consultants, agencies, photographers, trainers, writes and undertaking quality assurance of their service).
• Media work at programme/project level: - Coordinating project’s/programmer’s press activities on site in cooperation with local partners 
• PR activities at Programme/project level Further developing appropriate communication instruments for PR work (e.g. brochure, flyers, factsheets, banners etc.) 
• Internal communication: - Actively contributing to generate content for internal communication channels or activities aiming to improve information exchange, actively supporting information exchange and dialogue between different staff groups, including those outside the project team such as office staff, other…

Job Requirements

• Nearly native speaker’s command of English
• High analytical ability, fast comprehension
• Ability to compose flawless PR texts (written exam will be administered)
• Ability to produce flawless, print-ready information material
• Good conceptual grasp of corporate communications, PR
• Self-starter, highly organized work style, high level of engagement
• Proven experience in content development, writing and/or editorial work
• Works as part a team as well as on own initiative, flexible, enthusiastic individual who is used to working under pressure to achieve desired result, quick learner who is capable turning his/her skills to any tasks.
• Experience in supervising the production and quality of communication products and tools, including web content
• Basic knowledge and experience in media management and monitoring, knowledge management, social media, graphic design, video editing
• Experience working in an international & intercultural context/organization
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in communication, marketing, public relations, journalism or a related field
• At least 2-3 years years of experience working in a position that requires frequent and results-oriented communication to various stakeholder groups

How to Apply

Application procedure:

Interested and qualified candidates shall submit their motivation letter along with their non-returnable recent CV via Email: hreth@giz.de 

Please make sure you mention the Vacancy Number “Communications Officer #154/2020” in the subject line of your email application. Due to large number of applications we categorize applications with the vacancy numbers.

Applications without vacancy numbers in subject lines might not be categorized in the appropriate folder and could be disqualified.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted

We encourage persons with disabilities to apply for the position. In case of equal qualification, persons with disabilities will be given preference.

Applications from qualified women are encouraged.

“Please refer to our brochure to learn more about GIZ’s attractive benefit

package.”