Position: Communications Manager - USAID DRM Activity

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Addis Abeba - Ethiopia

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years of experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 6,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI's Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI's experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth worldwide.

SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders in the workforce, address climate change, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTI’s work is helping foster stronger food systems, build resilience to climate and man-made shock, and engage the next generation of local leaders. RTI is currently partnering on nearly 30 projects in East Africa, including activities focused on private sector-driven agricultural growth in Rwanda and market systems development in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Project Description

The USAID Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Activity in Ethiopia is a five-year USAID-funded program implemented by RTI International. The purpose of the DRM Activity is to strengthen DRM planning and preparedness capacity, improve DRM coordination, enhance resource mobilization and management, and enable timely implementation of anticipatory actions to preempt crises and reduce the impacts of shocks. The activity will also strengthen gender in emergencies (GiE) capacity, increase private sector engagement in DRM, and expand local organizations’ capacity to engage in DRM. The Activity will provide strategic support to DRM institutions in implementing Ethiopia’s new Disaster Risk Management Policy and Disaster Risk Finance Strategy.

Position Description

RTI is seeking a Communications Manager for the USAID DRM Activity. The Communications Manager will be responsible for establishing a vigorous communications strategy and annual plans, using media relations including web-based, social media, and printed publications, to raise public awareness, build demand for local innovations, and increase motivation within the private sector and local governments. The Communications Manager will conduct a dynamic and robust media outreach campaign to raise awareness of the project and strategic activities.

This position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and will report to the Deputy Chief of Party – Operations.

Responsibilities

• Establish and advise on communications strategies as part of technical activities. This may include organizing television/radio talk shows on public and private broadcasting services.

• Support awareness raising of the program and the support provided by USAID via activities such as a media outreach campaign or news releases to radio, television, and electronic media.

• Lead activities to showcase project work with an emphasis on results, including human interest and measurable impact examples.

• Provide updates on the progress of communications deliverables against project activities.

• Strengthen RTI’s network for communications and advocacy with relevant partners to optimize and prioritize the decentralization of DRM.

• Develop, write, and edit case studies, briefs, announcements, and other project-related documentation.

• Support coordination of project-hosted events, including logistics, writing speeches, developing collateral, and posting on social media.

• Develop and regularly update an annual plan of communication products that covers project deliverables, reports, success stories, blogs, social media, and other products.

• Update the project’s website and/or social media profiles.

• Work with technical managers to write success stories, lessons learned, and activity reports. Draft and disseminate media releases and project success stories to strategic stakeholders.

• Support project activities that include communications products such as radio, television, and events.

• Engage and manage communications vendors such as photographers, videographers, graphic designers, editors, and writers.

• Ensure client and project branding guidelines are adhered to.

• Train staff and partners on branding and marking requirements and ensure that guidelines are adhered to.

• Request and obtain signed consent forms for all interview, photograph, and video recording subjects, as well as relevant geotagging.

• Create and expand a project visual library of relevant and visually impactful edited images and/or videos.

• Develop other communication tools (newsletters, pamphlets, project briefs) as needed.

Job Requirement

• Bachelor's Degree and 8 years of experience, Master’s degree and 6 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• A degree in Journalism, Public administration, International affairs, or a closely related field.

• 5 years of experience designing and successfully implementing communication strategies and media outreach events.

• Demonstrated experience working with USAID or other major donors preferred.

• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills. Writing samples will be required as a part of the interview process.

• Ability to accurately and concisely convey complex and technical information.

• Excellent management, coordination, and organizational skills.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability to work in a team.

• Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands.

• Strong attention to detail.

• Verbal and written fluency in English is required.

• Ability to travel and work throughout Ethiopia in difficult terrain/conditions at times.

How to Apply

Register using the following link CLICK HERE