Communications and Advocacy Specialist

Job Description

Title: Communications and Advocacy Specialist

Company Name: Helen Keller International (HKI)

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Cox's Bazar

Employment Status: Contractual

Educational Requirements:
∎ Masters' degree in Social Sciences (preferably Communication, Media, Information Services, and Development Studies).

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 5 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ Helen Keller International (HKI), Action Against Hunger (ACF) and implementing partner (IP) will work in the proposed project area to ensure the vulnerable households are adequately covered while avoiding overlapping. HKI with ACF and IP will take initiative to identify gaps in livelihood recovery efforts and collaborate with other projects to minimize the gaps. At the end of the proposed project, HKI together with ACF &IP will try to explore avenues for linking the project beneficiaries to next level of development programs such as short-term economic recovery in order to support them for longer-term economic growth. Furthermore, the project will coordinate with Food Security Sector (FSS) and Cash Working Group (CWG) in Cox`s Bazar as well as government authorities on a regular basis.
∎ HKI is seeking qualified candidates for the following positions for its FFP.
∎ Reporting to : Deputy Chief of Party - FFP Project
∎ Duration : The expected project period is through March 2021; start date in November/ December 2019.
∎ Scope of Work
∎ Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP), the Communications and Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for the development of the FFP project communications and advocacy strategy and directly manage the implementation of the strategy. Ensuring the integration of a broad range of public relations activities and materials relative to the strategic direction and positioning of the project. Assist in the development of internal communication and advocacy protocols to ensure smooth and open communication and advocacy within the consortium and IP partners. S/he will guide all communications and advocacy activities, publications, reports, website and social media to consistently articulate FFP`s programmatic objectives and results. Ensure compliance with the project`s marking and branding policies. Responsible for the overall quality control and final production of FFP`s varied and integrated communications products and services, including newsletters, success stories etc. At times, the Communications and Advocacy Specialist may serve as the spokesperson for the project in which s/he may attend meetings and/or conduct presentations.
∎ The Communications and Advocacy Specialist will work closely with a senior peer group within the project to ensure that the programmatic objectives and overall vision/mission of the program, as well as its funding source, are communicated and understood at all staffing levels within the FFP partners and among the various stakeholders.

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications and advocacy plan
∎ Oversee the day-to-day activities of the communications and advocacy functions, including budgeting, planning and implementation
∎ Promote open communications within the FFP partners through developing protocols, hosting meetings and disseminating information
∎ Broaden awareness and increase overall understanding of the FFP project objectives, program activities and results within the team and externally
∎ Increase the visibility of FFP across key stakeholder audiences
∎ Work with leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications and advocacy opportunities and solutions, and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them
∎ Serve as communications and advocacy counselor to leadership
∎ Assist in report writing, writing of success stories and writing of content for social media, newsletters, etc.
∎ Oversee development of all print communications and manage relationships with associated vendors
∎ Exercise good judgment to prioritize media opportunities, and prepare talking points, speeches, presentations and other supporting material as needed
∎ Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis
∎ Manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all print and electronic materials
∎ Track and measure the level of engagement of the project's social media
∎ Other communications-related activities as assigned by the supervisor.

Additional Requirements:
∎ Minimum 5 years' experience in communications and advocacy field including media, outreach, journalism, etc.
∎ The ability to take knowledge and transform it into exciting and useful messages, and disseminate it to the right audiences through the best distribution channels
∎ Experience developing communication's tools and materials and implementing communications and advocacy strategies
∎ Extensive successful, demonstrated writing and editing experience (externally focused) with a variety of print and online communications and advocacy media
∎ Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing a comprehensive strategic communications and advocacy, media relations, and marketing program to advance an organization's mission and goals
∎ Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution skills

Application Deadline: October 24, 2019

Company Information:
∎ Helen Keller International (HKI)
∎ Business : Helen Keller International (HKI), an International NGO, has been working in Bangladesh since 1978. HKI implements different projects in partnership with national and international NGOs, development partners, academic and research institutions, and the private sector. HKI takes a gender-sensitive approach to improving nutrition, food security and eye health. Current program areas include Dhaka, , Khulna, Barisal, Sathkhira, Nilphamari, Sylhet, Chittagong, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) districts of Khatgrachari and Bandarban.
On September 30, 2015, USAID`s Office of Food for Peace (FFP) awarded HKI a five-year cooperative agreement to lead the `Sustainable Agriculture and Production Linked to Improved Nutrition Status, Resilience, and Gender Equity` (SAPLING) program with the overall goal of improving gender equitable food security, nutrition and resilience of vulnerable people within five upazilas of the Bandarban District of CHT. To achieve this objective, HKI is working in partnership with CRS, CARITAS Bangladesh, five local implementing partners, individuals, communities, traditional institutions and the Government of Bangladesh to affect enduring positive change by addressing immediate needs while investing in the future of food security and resilience.

Category: NGO/Development