Communications Officer NGO Job Vacancies – Lifewater
Job Title: Communications Officer
Organisation: Lifewater
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Director of Programs
About US:
Lifewater is a Christian water development organization dedicated to effectively serving children and families by partnering with underserved communities to overcome water poverty. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, we serve the least and last as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. Lifewater International serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
Job Summary: The Communications Officer (CO) will support the communications needs for both donor and regional/national engagements. Responsibilities include gathering stories, photos, and videos from the field, managing additional writing contractors/consultants as needed, disseminating regular communications to program teams, public relations with local and national media/publications, and government communications as needed.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Documentation of (‘capturing voices from the field’) stories: Develops and follows a systematic program documentation plan for the country’s program activities. S/he is responsible for gathering need and transformation stories (along with photos) to support donor engagement and reporting based on agreed plans and deadlines. Coordinates Area Programs to ensure periodic collection and compilation of success stories and articles in line with Lifewater guidelines.
- Field Videos. Responsible for gathering and uploading video clips in liaison with the Communications and Content Editor.
- Publications. In coordination with the Country Director, Director of Programs, and Area Program Managers, the CO produces popularised content and materials and coordinates their publication. These may include reports, emails, e-cards, posters, newsletters, and other communication materials.
- Media engagement and liaison. Liaises with WASH journalists and other media houses in print and electronic to cover Lifewater success stories for strengthening stakeholder engagements and advocacy. S/he writes press releases and articles in support of various campaigns, collaborates and monitors media coverage, and attends both internal and external events.
- Compliance: Takes the lead in ensuring alignment and compliance with the visibility requirements of Lifewater and donors (where applicable) including ensuring that branding is done appropriately with the right logos, appropriate positioning sizes, and other branding best practices.
- Communications Strategy: Contributes to the development and alignment of the Country Communications Plan/Strategy to the Global Communications Strategy.
- Organization Visibility and Participation: Works closely with the Director of Programs, Program Teams, and relevant sector coordination mechanisms to identify opportunities for increased participation, show-casing of Lifewater contributions, shared learning, and advocacy on WASH issues.
- Support to website updates: Contributes content for website updates to increase Lifewater presence and visibility on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or blogs etc.
- Communications administrative support: Assists with scheduling meetings, preparing presentations, gathering materials for conferences, supporting the procurement of communication materials.
- Any other assignment: Undertakes any other assignment related to gathering stories and or in training and supporting consultants or communications work within and out of the country as may be required.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The Communications Officer should possess a Degree in Journalism, Mass Communication or other media, public relations, and marketing-related training
- At least three years’ experience in a similar position in an NGO/Media house
- Photography and interview skills. Successful applicants must have good photography skills and understand composition, lighting, etc. They must also have demonstrated understanding of the basics of interviewing and gathering quotes, facts, and relevant answers to questions.
- Computer skills. Familiarity with Google Docs, email tools. Skilled and experienced in transferring files via cloud-based hosting services (such as Box, DropBox, etc).
- Language Skills. S/he must be fluent in English, conversational, and have a basic understanding of local languages. He/she should also have written oral communication skills, with good content editing and proofreading abilities to ensure materials are of high quality and accurate.
- Committed Christian, active in a local church
- Commitment to the mission, vision, and core values of Lifewater International
- Honest and dependable in all areas including finances
- Willing to travel. Lifewater villages are in remote, rural areas. Applicants must be willing and able to travel significant distances on dirt roads to reach project areas. They must be willing to travel on foot or by motorcycle at times. Applicants must also be able and willing to travel within the region and internationally as required.
- Well organized. Fieldwork comes with its challenges, including changing plans and last-minute needs. The person should be willing and able to adjust his or her schedule as is necessary. They should be capable of solving problems, taking feedback, meeting deadlines, and communicating well with others.
How to Apply:
All candidates should apply online at the link below.
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