Communications are a core part of HEKS/EPER’s humanitarian and development work. Effective communication ensures that stakeholders in Ethiopia and beyond are informed, engaged, and supportive of the organization’s activities. Under the Bridging Borders Project, the Communications Officer will play a central role in ensuring visibility, outreach, and knowledge-sharing in line with donor requirements and organizational standards. 

 1. Content Development and Visibility (30%) 

• Design and deliver a wide range of communications products, including fact sheets, briefing materials, learning briefs, program success stories, human-interest stories, photos, videos, interviews with beneficiaries, blog posts, and presentations. 

• Develop illiterate-friendly communication materials (visuals, infographics, audio-visual content) to ensure accessibility for diverse audiences. 

• Ensure consistent branding and quality across all communication materials, in line with HEKS/EPER and donor visibility guidelines. 

• Travel to remote project locations to document interventions, gather human-interest stories, take photos and videos, and highlight community voices. 

 2. Digital and Media Engagement (30%) 

• Manage and grow HEKS/EPER Ethiopia’s social media accounts (primarily LinkedIn, but other accounts like facebook or Twitter/X are possible) and produce regular posts with input from field teams. 

• Lead the “Youth for Peace” social media campaign under the Bridging Borders Project. The campaign will use positive storytelling with photos and videos to highlight the contributions and experiences of women and youth in conflict transformation, while actively opposing disinformation and hate speech. 

• Monitor, analyze, and report on the performance of digital content and campaigns. 

• Maintain positive relationships with media outlets and support media coverage of HEKS/EPER’s work 

3. Support proposal development work (40%) 

• Support drafting, editing, and formatting of concept notes, proposals to institutional and private donor 

• Ensure proposals are aligned with donor requirements, templates, and guidelines 

• Facilitate proposal development meetings and track deliverables 

• Support networking and institutional engagement 

 4. Events and Partnerships (ad-hoc) 

• Provide communication support for events, workshops, trainings, high-level visits, and forums, including preparing agendas, visibility materials, and minutes. 

• Contribute to the development of joint communication platforms and initiatives among partners and networks, including the ACT Ethiopia Forum. 

 5. Strategy and Capacity Building (ad-hoc) 

• Develop and refine the HEKS/EPER Communication strategy, and communication plans for projects, ensuring compliance with HEKS/EPER global guidelines and donor standards. 

• Train and coach program staff on communications, storytelling, ethical content collection, and the use of social media. 

• Guide staff in spotting and sharing relevant information and data that highlight the impact of interventions. 

   Final Provisions 

The employee may be asked to perform duties and tasks not covered in this job description within the remit of their expertise as well as to provide support to other areas when necessary. 

Job Requirements

   Qualification and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (communications, journalism, public relations, development/humanitarian studies, or related). 

• Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in communications, journalism, media relations, or documentation, preferably in an international organization or company. 

• Demonstrated experience in managing social media accounts (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter/X) including campaigns and audience engagement. 

• Proven experience in producing written, visual, and digital content such as fact sheets, learning briefs, press releases, human-interest stories, and visibility materials. 

• Experience with graphic design, layout, and digital publishing tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) is highly desirable. 

• Understanding of the development and humanitarian contexts in Ethiopia. Knowledge of Ethiopia’s regions would be an advantage. 

• Experience in conducting training, workshops, or capacity building in communications an asset. 

• Experience in writing / reviewing reports, factsheets and project proposals is highly desirable. 

• Excellent command of written and spoken English, and fluency in one or  more Ethiopian national languages, is required. 

 Skills and Capabilities 

• Strong writing and editing skills with the ability to tailor messages for different audiences (including donors and the wider public) and make complex information accessible and understandable. 

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with ability to meet tight deadlines. 

• Proactiveness and spirit of initiative.  

• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook). 

• Experience with photography, videography, and basic video editing an asset. 

• Experience with AI-supported tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or similar platforms for drafting, editing, or content creation is highly desirable. 

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multicultural and gender-sensitive environment. 

• Strong interpersonal and networking skills, with ability to maintain positive relationships with media, partners, and stakeholders. 

• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to field locations, including remote and hard-to-reach areas, for documentation and communication purposes. 

• Commitment to working in accordance with HEKS/EPER’s core values and principles. 

How To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply through THIS LINK by submitting:

• A cover letter( Application letter)

• An updated CV (maximum three pages with contact details of three professional referees)

Note:

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• Phone inquiries are not permitted.

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.