Knowledge Management and Communications Officer 1334 views

Knowledge Management and Communications Officer

Region: Hivos Southern Africa

Office: Harare, Zimbabwe

Apply before: November 4, 2018

Job context

Hivos Southern Africa Hub, aims towards an open and green society, inspired by humanist values such as freedom, dignity, responsibility and curiosity. Our objective is that every person can live in freedom and dignity on a planet that is sustainable. We pride ourselves as upholding the principles of Social innovation of generating new ideas and approaches that resolve existing social, cultural, economic and environmental challenges for the benefit of people and planet.

The Strong in Diversity, Bold on Inclusion programme, is a consortium of partners, bringing together African LGBT+ networks, research institutes, international NGOs and linking pins to multinational corporations. The programme aims to ensure that LGBT+ communities are more resilient and experience greater socio-economic and well being with people and institutions that acknowledge and respect the human rights of LGBT+ people and societal leaders that safeguard and ensure the socio-economic inclusion of LGBT+ people.
Hivos Southern Africa leads a consortium that brings together African LGBT+ networks, research institutes and international NGOs who co-designed this program. In five African cities the programme supports LGBT+ organisations directly, while it also works to create a critical mass of allies for human rights and inclusion of LGBT+ persons. To help us finalize the co-design phase of the program and lead it when the pending funding agreement is signed, Hivos Southern Africa is looking for a:
Knowledge Management and Communications Officer (Fixed term contract-full time)
Aim of the job
The Knowledge Management and Communications Officer will be addressing the communications needs of the programme including knowledge management.

Functional context

The Communication Officer:

The Communication Officer develops communication strategies, organises online and offline communication activities (e.g. conferences, events, meetings), develops and disseminates communication materials and enables the Hivos community and the Consortium members to communicate effectively.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as the programme’s knowledge management focal point in coordination with PM. He/she will be working closely and in partnership with all coalition partners in the promotion and dissemination of advocacy materials relating to the programme areas;
• Development/production of communication and advocacy instruments and materials for creating visibility of the programme and organize awareness-raising campaigns, including briefing materials and press releases as and when required by the programme in coordination with the PM and PC;

• Conducting communications needs assessments for the programme;
• Promotion and maintenance of public information campaigns on programme activities under the supervision of the Program manager and Program Coordinator;
• Coordination, identification, development and dissemination of knowledge products and lessons learned;.
• Develops and implements the communication dimension of the programme/project. Conceives communication strategies, organizes communication activities and develops and disseminates communication materials that contribute to the programme/project results.

• Identifies, researches and writes news stories, press releases, case studies and other materials to promote understanding of the programme through compelling, data-driven storytelling across all media.
• Helps build the digital media presence and capacity of the programme through direct creation and training for assigned program/practice team members.
• Conceptualizes, originates content, scripts and produces video, multi-media, web and audio products.
• Knows what happens and is going to happen in the project environment; provides the framework in which management and professionals can deal with programme and project communication; coordinates the external positioning agenda of a programme/activity and provides the interventions for realizing the agenda.

• Coaches and advises staff in their external positioning activities (risks and opportunities).
• Stays abreast of the national, regional and global media to identify and pitch new stories that illustrate programmatic priorities and objectives, makes visible issues of strategic importance and extends the work of the program.
• Participates in reflection and teaching on both the project and the institutional level.
• Brings the full complement of communications tools to bear – traditional, digital, graphic, social, and event management – to create and deliver content that is visual, consistent and integrated for maximum reach to desired audiences.
• Builds and maintains professional relationships with relevant stakeholders in the project environment, creates a platform for co-creation and partnership in key global positioning events.

Qualifications

• A relevant Bachelor or Master’s degree in Communication or another relevant discipline.
• Should be creative go-getter who is able to communicate information clearly and concisely.
• Knows how to manage relationships with people on all levels of an organization.
• Excellent communication and social interaction skills, both verbally and in writing in English Should be tech-savvy and very familiar with all kinds of online communication.
• Should be an experienced project manager with excellent coordination and facilitation skills.
• Experience of managing social media in a professional capacity
• Excellent communication and writing skills, and a good command of English
• Experience of using or the willingness to learn how to use email marketing tools such as Mailchimp
• Experience of using content management systems (desirable)
• A good understanding of the issues LGBT+ people face
• Experience in co-creation and managing multi-stakeholder projects
• Experience as a process manager, sensitive to social and political environment and trends on the African continent
• Most of all, we are looking for a team player who is reliable, enthusiastic and committed.

What we offer

Hivos offers a challenging position in an international environment. This position will be based in Hivos Southern Africa in Zimbabwe. Hivos welcomes International & Regional applicants but can only offer a position to only those with a valid work permit for Zimbabwe. Candidates who identify as part of the LGBT+ community are strongly encouraged to apply. Hivos can only offer employment on local terms and conditions.
Contingent upon funding

If you meet the above mentioned qualifications, send a letter explaining your motivation and your CV to:

[email protected] by 4 November 2019. Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.