Programme Communications Advisor. Na Competency level 2

Transcription

1 Programme Communications Advisor Location Dhaka, Bangladesh or Yangon Myanmar Department International Reports to (Job Title) Programme Communications Manager Salary Band D Matrix manager (if applicable) Na Competency level 2 Role definition Role purpose The Programme Communications Advisor works with colleagues internationally to deliver ambitious and fast-moving communications plans and initiatives ensuring that Christian Aid programmes and areas of work are communicated effectively to our key audiences through a range of activities and channels. S/he plays a key role in the development and execution of strategic programme communications, sharing responsibility for the oversight of communications activities and budget across several large donor funded programmes and responsibility for ensuring that we meet the visibility commitments made to institutional donors. S/he shares responsibility for communications input and support for new bids and tenders where communications is of strategic importance to the programme design. The postholder will provide strategic and hands-on communications support for Christian Aid's country teams around the world as they develop and strengthen their communications, build profile around the impact, innovation and achievements of specific projects and highlight teams broader thematic expertise, and engage with key stakeholders, including donors, government and other development agencies. S/he will assist them, as appropriate: in the development of communications plans, activities and materials; communications capacity building and training; local media Key outcomes & Responsibilities Plays a key role in Christian Aid's international communications programme. Supports Christian Aid's country programmes to develop, strengthen and evaluate their own communications aligned with country programme objectives, identifying target stakeholders and audiences, messaging and communication activities. Helps country programmes to produce local communications collateral to support communication and programme activities. Shares responsibility for providing communications advice and support for Christian Aid s portfolio of key contract and institutional funded programmes. Gives strategic input for tender and application processes by developing communications frameworks, strategies, plans and budgets. Develops and implements communications and visibility plans for programmes and projects supported by institutional donors. Contributes to team objective to develop and share engaging and creative communications and content - through established and emerging channels - which demonstrate Christian Aid's expertise 1

2 and experience in our key focus areas and locations to highlight the scope and scale of our work and help secure future funding from institutional donors, and which demonstrates the impact of our work on people's lives, best practice and learning, to position Christian Aid as a credible and influential organisation to the development sector and wider audiences. Support and work with colleagues in the Media, Content and PR team as content from institutionally funded work is increasingly mainstreamed into supporter-facing communications, media and fundraising in the UK Support moves towards using more authentic and direct content from partners and country programmes in all communications. Play a key role in ensuring Christian Aid honours and fulfils its organisational commitment to the Agenda for Humanity that emphasises the need to promote the role of local actors/partners in any communications with the media or general public. Play a key role in exploring, developing and embedding communications for development approaches at Christian Aid to strengthen our work, be accountable to communities, and close the gap between donors and the people we work for. Shares learning from communications projects and innovations contributing to Christian Aid s expertise in the area of programme communications. Contributes to the running of the Programme Communications unit and supports the team s major goals and initiatives, existing and future Role agility Expected travel per annum Up to 50 days On call/unsocial hours Yes, in event of Christian Aid response to humanitarian emergency. Surge capacity for emergency responses Yes - could be required to to travel for more than 75 days p.a. and for a period of up to 3 months but for no more than 6 months p.a. with no less than one month s interval between postings unless in extreme circumstances. In order to respond to ever changing demands within the environment, Christian Aid operates within an agile framework (both in workforce and operational) that requires from all employees, a high level of responsiveness and adaptiveness to processes and structures making flexibility and a project based working approach the norm. To sustain this system, managers may/will agree further details of specific tasks and duties as part of the performance agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility, and employees may be required to change the focus of their role from time to time. Role context The Programme Communications team leads strategic communications for Christian Aid s institutionally funded programme portfolio and other high value projects from proposal through to delivery. We support Christian Aid s country teams around the world to strengthen their communications and build in-country visibility and profile, including strengthening Christian Aid s global communications 2

3 capacity and considering the implications for communications, brand and identity as Christian Aid moves towards becoming a global partnership Through established and emerging channels - including the Programme Practice and Policy website and CA_Global twitter handle, printed and audiovisual communications materials - we strive to demonstrate Christian Aid s expertise and experience in our key focus areas and locations to highlight the scope and scale of our work and help secure future funding from institutional donors. We also seek to demonstrate the impact of our work on people s lives, and share best practice and learning, to position Christian Aid as a credible and influential organisation to the development sector and wider audiences. The Programme Comms team is responsible for ensuring Christian Aid honours and fulfils its organisational commitment to the Agenda for Humanity that emphasises the need to promote the role of local actors/partners in any communications with the media or general public. We are also currently exploring ways to develop and embed communications for development (C4D) approaches at Christian Aid to strengthen our work, be accountable to communities, and close the gap between donors and the people we work for. Overseas travel The PCA is expected to be willing and available to travel to areas of instability. Overseas travel is not expected to exceed 40 days in any one year and can be much less than this in years where there is a limited travel requirement or other corporate priorities. Role requirements Relationships External: Builds relationships with Christian Aid partners as required, particularly those working with Christian Aid in consortia delivering large donor-funded programmes. The PCA will also need to work alongside freelance filmmakers, photographers, designers and other creative professionals and suppliers to produce communications materials for programmes and projects. Occasional contact with vulnerable adults and children may occur during visits to country programmes and project locations.. Internal Particularly close working relationships with colleagues across the International Department, particularly in-country communications staff, country programme managers and their teams, teams working in-country and in the UK on large donor-funded projects, as well as geographical heads of division, colleagues in Programme Funding and the broader PIF group, and in InspirAction US and InspirAction Spain. The PCA will have close relationships with other teams in the Fundraising Communications and Campaigns Division, particularly colleagues in Media, Content and PR, Creative and Digital. The Research Evaluation and Learning and Policy teams are key internal contacts too. Decision making Budgetary/savings responsibility TBC 3

4 Makes frequent decisions that impact on realisation of objectives and leads communications work which impacts the public profile of Christian Aid country programmes, including Christian Aid relationships with the development sector, government, donors and media. The postholder is responsible for the quality of advice on communications provided to Christian Aid country teams and on institutional donor-funded programmes. Encourages and supports programme staff to engage, contribute to and own their communications plans and activities. Maintains oversight of country programme communications and signs off communications materials, ensuring that they are accurate and consistent with the Christian Aid brand. Makes quick decisions during overseas trips to respond flexibly to realities of the situation on the ground and security issues - working to ensure the safety of self, partners, Christian Aid staff and others Analytical skills The role is complex, working across a wide variety of topics, contexts and stakeholders (geographic, issue and political). It requires the postholder to assimilate and analyse detailed information and to make strategic recommendations about communications plans and activities, are aligned to Christian Aid organisational and programme priorities. Initiative and judgement needs to be applied regularly in the course of day-to-day work. Expected to share experience and learning with others, and make direct contribution to improved performance, whether through own area of work or participation in cross-disciplinary projects. A key requirement of the post holder is the skill to read communication needs months in advance along with the ability to interpret, develop and operationalise communications plans in complex and diverse contexts. Developing self and others Number of Direct reports 1 Overall people management responsibility 15 to 20 including volunteers and community mobilizers The postholder is expected to work in an advisory capacity, providing specialist communications guidance, coaching and hands on support for programme colleagues. S/he is also expected to maintain a broad understanding of Christian Aid international programmes, policy thinking and the beliefs and values underpinning our work. S/he should be capable of quickly assimilating significant amounts of information on country programmes and contexts. Role related checks Child protection clearance Not required Counter terrorism screening Not required Person specification Applied skills/knowledge and expertise Essential Educated to degree level or equivalent. Qualifications in communications, marketing, journalism 4

5 or development (or equivalent experience obtained at a senior level). Substantial experience in marketing communications, and in developing and executing multidiscipline communications strategies. Previous experience of communications planning, stakeholder mapping, messaging, brand management and publishing. Previous experience of working in global development including experience gained overseas, and an excellent understanding of the development sector, its issues and challenges. Experience of working with, coaching and influencing colleagues across a large or complex organisation and significant evidence of training and coaching others to improve their communications. Experienced in the development of communication plans and production schedules, and a proven ability to project manage multiple communication outputs. Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills. Proven ability to handle complex and sensitive information. Fluent spoken and written English. A confident multi-tasker, the postholder is able to juggle a range of competing projects and priorities. Self-motivated, resilient and persistent. Exhibits high levels of confidence, is able to cope with criticism and demonstrates an ability to work calmly under pressure and to deadline while remaining respectful to the work, deadlines and targets of others. Able and willing to adapt worked hours to work across time zones when appropriate. Good understanding of NGO audiences and funders, and the issues that they respond/relate to. Excellent knowledge of development issues. Knowledge of humanitarian principles and the Red Cross Code of Conduct for agencies working in disaster relief, accompanied by a sound understanding of international current affairs. Sensitive to and able to champion diversity issues. Has a strong awareness of faith issues in development and confidence in using language that supports the values / beliefs underpinning Christian Aid s work Digital/IT competencies required Word, Excel, PowerPoint Intermediate Web content design & development Intermediate Internet based collaboration tools and video calling Data Visualisation Intermediate Social Media Basic Basic DATE CREATED 12/02/2018 5