Senior Communications Specialist

Overall Responsibilities

The Senior Communications Specialist will provide strategic leadership and direction for project communications to the Project Director and technical staff to strengthen program implementation. The Senior Communications Specialist will also lead development and implementation of a strong brand identity for the project, and produce brochures, fact sheets, posters, and other communication vehicles, with lead role for writing text and coordinating the editing, design, lay out, printing, as needed.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Increase the profile and disseminate the project’s work and messages through planning and implementation of all project communication activities, including fact sheets, success stories, publications, press releases, press briefings, op-ed articles, letters to the editor, etc.
2. Actively participate in defining the project mission, vision and identity as well as the strategy to achieve results.
3. Prepare project communication strategy and relevant activities to support project mission.
4. Provide day-to-day management and coordination of communication activities.
5. Manage the production and dissemination of project work plans, annual reports, success stories and other communications products.
6. Develop content for publication on MSH’s and other web sites.
7. Contribute content for project newsletters in both electronic and print formats.
8. Provide training to stakeholders on communications strategies and media relations and work to increase communication products developed and dissemination.
9. Write and edit regular and ad hoc reports to USAID. Liaise with MSH home office on final report preparation and submission. Perform other duties as assigned.
10. Supervise consultants and companies engaged for outsourced products.
11. Spearhead articles/news items for media and magazines.

Qualifications

• Degree in  public health, education, communication, public policy, international      development or related field and 8-10 years of relevant experience.
• Excellent writing and editing skills for a variety of mediums.
• Excellent  interpersonal and public communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects      simultaneously.
• Experience in work that relates to government relations.
• Experience in international development and global health preferred, knowledge of    international programs, strategies, donors and organizations.
• Ability to  network and facilitate strong working relationships between partners.
• Understanding  of knowledge management and experience adopting, adapting, and applying  knowledge to communicate more effectively.
• Ability to work  both independently and as part of a team.
• Experience in  organizing and implementing events and programs.
• Fluency in English required.
• Ability to work both independently and  as part of a team.
• Experience in organizing and  implementing events and programs.
• Fluency in English required.

Background Information

The BLC project currently operates from the regional office in Pretoria, South Africa and country operations in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland, implementing a portfolio of projects clustered around four focus areas; capacity building, HIV prevention, care and support for orphans and vulnerable children and provision of community based care.

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