Strategic Communications Manager

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 31,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Employee Contract Type:

Local - Fixed Term Employee (Fixed Term)

Job Description:

Job-Purpose

This position leads World Vision Afghanistan’s (WVA) Communications Unit and must establish good practice in grant communications, strategic communications, partnership communications and internal communications. Investing effort in connecting each of these functions to a coherent communications strategy, aligned with the National Office brand, identity and mission, the Communications Unit will become increasingly effective, reliable, and creative. The position will oversee the Communication Unit’s support for project teams and the wider the production of key communications resources for donor and public engagement; position the ministry of WVA with in-country and international media; lead external communications on a range of development issues; oversee communications in emergency and reputation risk issues; and manage internal and employee communications processes which support and advance the strategic goals of WVA and its core ministry functions. Effective grant communications, as part of an overarching strategy for advancing World Vision Afghanistan’s brand and reputation, is a particular priority. The position holder should provide leadership to the Communications Unit to ensure its successful operation in compliance with all WVI and National Office policies and standards.

Strategic Leadership

Lead the construction of World Vision Afghanistan’s communications strategy and workplan aligning it to the overall WVA Country strategy etc. .

b. Work collaboratively with relevant teams in in the National Office and throughout the Partnership towards the realisation of WV Afghanistan’s mission.

Ensure communications activities are prioritised according to a clear strategic vision, processes of coordination with other teams are simplified where possible, and overlaps avoided.

Resource programme-grounded content creation such that it conforms to, expresses, and advances the overall strategic vision

Supporter and Community Engagement

Oversee the consistent incorporation of communications deliverables, and adequate budget allocations, into grant project design

Collaborate with Business Development Unit to provide support throughout the grant prepositioning, acquisition and management cycle.

Manage the planning and production of on-brand, compelling evidence-based and issues-oriented fundraising, advocacy and publicity materials (web-based, digital, print and video) for effective donor and public engagement – both in-country and internationally, and in collaboration with other World Vision Offices, as appropriate.

Oversee the consistent and timely offering and development of social media content, maximising engagement within an agreed risk appetite.

Managing the quality of content, commensurate with the audience requirements, and appropriate for informing, educating and engaging donors and publics via partnership websites, magazines, adverts, donor appeals, media releases and other communications channels and outlets.

Support partnership resource gathering visits and media visits.

Coordinate public events to best share WV’s messages and branding.

Establish good practice for the emergency communications readiness, in response to both slow- and rapid-onset emergencies, and ensuring that the WV Partnership is quickly provided with quality stories, photos and media interviews from the field response.

Ensure that the communications team is equipped for rapid deployments to, and communications from, the field.

Ensure the external communication resources use correct WV identity and branding.

Collaborate with in country advocacy colleagues to define key issues, messaging, and communications channels for public advocacy initiatives (e.g. the ENOUGH campaign).

Staff Engagement

Support NO leadership in communicating areas of their work that create unified identity across the programme, contribute to a shared understanding of strategy and goals, and facilitate change management.

Ensure information about all aspects the NO ministry and operations are accessible to the WV Partnership.

Establish systems and safeguards for the appropriate and effective flow of relevant information to and from WV staff when required.

Media reputation and influence

Position WVA in mainstream and social media to mobilise publics for social and policy change.

Ensure NO designated spokespeople and technical experts are identified, trained and offered to media for proactive, positive public engagement.

Ensure World Vision staff are aware of, and adhere to, media relations protocols.

Support the monitoring of national media and establish the overall capacity of NO to initiate and respond to media contacts with required speed and skill.

Effectively utilise Meltwater analytics.

Manage reputation and risk issues.

Serve as media advisor to relevant staff members.

Engage media to gain exposure and credibility and increase public discussion. Organisational positioning in mainstream and social media to mobilise publics for social and policy change

Support the development of contacts with international media via Support Office colleagues to increase uptake of World Vision external-facing products.

Capacity building

• •In collaboration with the People & Culture (P&C) Department improve the capacity of the Communications team and work towards talent identification.
• •Build capacity of NO staff in Comms-related issues

Identify and train NO and ADP staff that can provide information on their projects for use through local and international communication channels, if required.

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• •Adhere to WV Child and Adult Safeguarding policy and standards.
• •Adhere to WV accountability standards.
• •To be aware and prepared to implement WV Afghanistan Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs plan
• •KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND EXPERIENCERequired Education, training, license, registration, and/orCertificationA degree in journalism or communications/public relations/marketing or equivalent professional experience
• •Required Professional ExperienceAt least five years professional experience in journalism or public relations Experience in project management, including the production of diverse communications resources such as publications, multi-media, websites/pages, photo and video reports, social media, etc Demonstrable ability to create content sensitive to the Afghanistan context, taking account of risks Cross-cultural communication skills
• •Required Language(s)Dari Persian, English
• •Required travel and/or work environment accommodations Approximately 20% time traveling in the field A full commitment to World Vision’s core values and mission statement. Full adherence to World Vision Child Protection, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest policies. Full Adherence to security protocols Willingness and ability to continue to function during a crisis situation, including during a World Vision response to a manmade or natural disaster Position’s physical requirementsrequirements Ability to travel and work in the field as an essential function of the position Preferred Experience, Knowledge and/or other Qualifications Skills in photography and/or video production Past experience of marketing departments or media agencies Experience developing or contributing to the development, execution and reporting on strategies, preferably as part of a cross-functional team Fluency in Dari and/or Pashto

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