Title: Communications Manager
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Start date: As soon as possible
Contract duration: 2 years contract (with possible extension)
Travel: Sporadic travel is required
Working Hours: Full time – 40 hours per week

Main Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of communication programs from start to finish, leveraging internal and external support, driving collaboration across teams, and ensuring alignment with regional development goals.
• Create a variety of engaging written and visual communications, ensuring quality, accuracy, and compelling storytelling that resonates with African audiences and aligns with the organization’s messaging.
• Coordinate and oversee storytelling projects, including identifying impactful stories, brief development, content gathering, and overseeing production processes like photography, videography, writing, and publication.
• Contribute to the creation, editing, curation, and design of content for news items, articles, editorials, newsletters, websites, publications, factsheets, brochures, and infographics tailored to the African context.
• Develop and implement a social media strategy, including content creation, campaign ideation, scheduling, effective community management, and performance reporting, with a focus on engaging African audiences.
• Manage and nurture relationships with social media influencers, ensuring authentic engagement and alignment with the organization’s mission.
• Maintain a content production calendar with a well-organized schedule of messaging needs, ensuring consistent and timely delivery.
• Drive a continuous feedback loop to refine social media campaigns, assess effectiveness, and implement improvements to achieve communication goals in the African market.
• Lead the production of videos and podcasts for social media and other channels, from script development to final asset delivery, ensuring relevance to local audiences.
• Additional tasks as agreed with the Communications Programme Manager.

Qualification, Experience, and Skills

Education and Training:

• University degree in communications, journalism, digital communications, marketing, or a related field.

Working Experience, Style, and Skills:

• At least 6 years of professional experience in communications within reputable organizations, ideally with experience in the African development sector.
• Strong understanding of communication principles, methodologies, tools, and platforms relevant to the African context, including social media, publications, campaigns, and web content.
• Experience communicating complex, challenging, or sensitive themes, with an understanding of safeguarding requirements and content production best practices in the NGO sector.
• Demonstrated experience managing or creating content for social media channels that resonate with diverse African audiences.
• Proven ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple projects in a fast-paced communications environment, with a focus on impact.
• Experience managing an in-house briefing and production process: creating schedules, setting deadlines, distributing work, and adjusting workflows as needed.
• Experience leading a team, particularly in the African context.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and as part of an international team.
• Strong collaborator with a natural ability to drive results through teamwork.
• Service and solution-oriented with a proactive approach.
• Deep commitment to responsible forestry, environmental sustainability, and broad development goals in Africa.

Communication Skills:

• Proven, high-quality communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to create and deliver clear, concise messaging to diverse audiences in Africa.
• Excellent copywriting skills, with experience in writing, editing, and proofreading content for web, media, and other digital channels.
• Open-minded and communicative personality with a strong orientation towards stakeholder engagement in the African development sector.
• Ability to develop strong, positive relationships with external and internal stakeholders that align with the organization’s mission.

Languages:

• Fluency in English (spoken and written).
• Proficiency in an African language or French is a plus.

Computer Skills:

• High competence in Microsoft Office suite.
• Familiarity with social media monitoring tools and email marketing systems like MailChimp.
• Competence in Adobe Creative Suite is a plus.