Senior Lead – Media & Communications

Red Sea is partnering with an international human rights NGO to recruit for the position of Senior Lead, Media and Communications.

The Senior Lead, Media & Communications will provide leadership in designing, planning and implementing communications and advocacy strategies for our client’s programs in Ghana. S/he will ensure publications/broadcasts and coordination of all media activities to promote the key issues addressed by the organization. The incumbent in this position works with all departments and outcome leads in our client’s country office in Ghana to generate much-needed support and raise voices that will push for justice as well as create a platform for collaboration between these voices and the media. The position is based in Accra, Ghana and reports to the Director in Management.

Key Result Areas:

The success of this role is measured by the following KRAs:

• Lead in the designing, development, planning and implementation of a Communications and Media Engagement Strategy & Plan for our client’s country office in Ghana, including directing content creation and oversight of social media channels.
• Take lead in the preparation and development of communication materials to support media, policymakers, and constituency engagement including periodic reports for external sharing on our client’s research activities and learning.
• Establish, maintain and strengthen strategic relationships with external stakeholders, local and international media representatives and journalists.
• Support the executive in speech writing and content development for external engagement.
• Responsible for the delivery of information, stories and content to our client’s global teams for communication of program activities to supporters.

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategy & Knowledge Development & Implementation:

• Work with the program and outcome leads to design, develop and implement the Communications and Media Engagement Strategy and its implementation Plan.
• Provide strategic and technical communications leadership to the Field Office and ensure consistency of messages at all levels of the organization, coordinating with regional and global marketing and communications teams to ensure brand consistency.
• Track the Communications and Media Engagement Plan, adapting to emerging trends and changes that impact the program theory of change and overall program activities.
• Work with our client’s Ghana office program teams, partners and other stakeholders to develop timely, strategic and effective communication interventions to mobilize public social demand in support of justice system reform.

Networking & Partnership:

• Establish, maintain and strengthen strategic relationships with external stakeholders, local and international media representatives and journalists to drive positive media coverage through proactive and innovative approaches including press releases and creative media events.
• Prepares media briefs, develops external communication to media and serves as a liaison with media houses, journalists and other media personnel to sustain positive media engagement while sharing the same within the organization on timely basis.
• Develop media monitoring mechanisms to ensure the successful tracking of media mentions for our client’s Ghana office and key partners, as well as significant events impacting on program work, analyzing trends and impact, and recommending reactions and responses.
• Build our client’s Ghana office’s media presence by proactively planning the approach, developing key messaging and recommending the most strategic interventions.
• Develop / reignite and sustain a media (mainstream and social media) campaign to our client’s Ghana office and its partners.
• Oversee the development and routine updating of a media contact list/database for both local and international media.
• Develop partnerships with key organizations for opportunities to cross promote in the digital community platforms.

Policies and Procedures:

• Create, maintain and execute a Communications Strategy for our client’s Ghana office and global office for the program.
• Maintain global brand standards and local nuancing in all collateral produced in the Ghana office.

Communication:

• Identify and develop stories and news items on program activities for our client’s Ghana office and global audiences.
• Lead the preparation and development of communication materials to support media, policymakers, and constituency engagement, including key messaging briefs, newsletters and publications.
• Work closely with program teams, departments and all outcome leads to develop program specific communication materials to support government partner engagements, legislative lobbying efforts, church speaking engagements, community activities including preparing PowerPoint presentations, and speeches.

Training and Development:

• Conduct regular trainings with our client’s Ghana office team on global communications policy and brand standards.
• Coordinates media activities, trainings and workshops to increase the number of journalists who specialize in reporting on the organization’s areas of focus.
• Organizes journalists and media cluster meetings regularly and provides year-round media coverage of activities organized by partners; collaborates to ensure unity of messaging on key issues.
• Provide media training and support to partner organizations when requested to improve their engagement with media and increase public awareness and knowledge of the human rights issues the organization is focused on, and the public justice system response.

Documentation, Reporting & Data Management:

• Work closely with the Program Unit and MERL to prepare periodic reports for external sharing on our client’s programming and research activities and learning.
• Document the success of the program including case studies, success stories and best practices and collaborate with outcome leads, supporting them to develop strategies for when and what to publish.
• Support program teams in review of appropriate and relevant IEC materials for use by the FO and work with outcome leads to develop position papers, presentations and materials for presentation in international, regional and national conferences e.g. compendiums, best practices documents, research fact sheets & briefs.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, preferably journalism, communication/public relations (Master’s degree preferred);
• At least seven years’ relevant experience in media broadcasting, public relations or communications (experience working in media reporting within the justice sector preferred);
• Strong experience in development, analysis and implementation of communication and media strategies, and tracking of media trends;
• Demonstrated active involvement in social media channels (including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Blogging and Snapchat) with verifiable digital presence;
• Must possess strong working knowledge of trending industry topics, events and media happenings;
• Must have good editing, writing, communication and event management skills;
• Experience developing and managing social media publishing and monitoring software;
• Proficient in group facilitation, with demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with partners, staff and colleagues with a high level of tact, diplomacy and confidentiality;
• Demonstrated ability to respond effectively and with an appropriate degree of urgency to the needs of a dynamic team, internally and externally.

Technical Competencies:

• Proven ability to present complex data and information in a clear and compelling manner to a wide range of stakeholders;
• High Level tact, diplomacy and confidentiality;
• Valid certificate of good conduct and driving license; and
• Computer literate – highly proficient in Microsoft Office programs and publishing software packages.

Non-Technical Competencies:

Requirements related to the behaviors, traits, or attributes that enable success in the role.

• Mature orthodox Christian faith;
• Collaborative;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English;
• Exceptional organization skills and attention to detail;
• Exceptional ability to work independently and autonomously;
• Decision Making;
• Interpersonal skills.

SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT

You must affirm intent to abide by our client’s Safeguarding Policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) Policy and Code of Ethics, as they are a leader in the global effort to safeguard vulnerable people. In compliance with International Safeguarding Standards (UNICEF, IASC 6 core principles on PSEA, IASC Minimum operating standards on PSEA and CHS), all employees, contractors, suppliers, and sub partners must commit to a zero-tolerance policy and to take measures to prevent and respond to sexual abuse, exploitation and all forms of harm. Therefore, you acknowledge, agree, and commit that you will abide by the organization’s Safeguarding Policy and related procedures.

APPOINTMENT DETAILS

Location: Accra, Ghana

Salary and Benefits: Competitive national salary and package

Contract length: Permanent

We thank you for your understanding. Any questions about this recruitment process can be addressed directly to Becky Snead, Director-Africa, who is leading this search, via applications@redseasearch.com

How to apply

Closing date: 1st September 2024

Please click on the link here to be redirected to the Red Sea site. As part of the application process kindly submit your CV and a cover letter, preferably in MS Word. All application documents (cover letter and CV) should be submitted in English.

Please name your submitted files with the following reference: SMCL

Red Sea takes our responsibility towards protecting your personal data very seriously. The data you provide is processed in line with relevant data protection legislation. For the purposes of this recruitment, and as defined under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Red Sea is defined as the Data Controller.

Red Sea is committed to meeting the standards set out in our Equality and Diversity statement, acting in line with the UK Equalities Act 2010 and building an accurate picture of the make-up of the workforce in encouraging equality and diversity.