Vacancy Announcement:
COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
BACKGROUND
The Peace Corps is an independent U.S. Government agency that sends American volunteers around the world to aid countries to fulfill their development needs. The Peace Corps has programs in 65 countries with approximately 7,000 American volunteers of all ages and backgrounds.
The three goals of the Peace Corps are:
- To help the people of interested countries in meeting their needs for trained men and women;
- To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of peoples served;
- To help promote a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans.
Peace Corps originally opened its program in Rwanda in 1974, working for 20 years before closing its offices in 1994. It reopened its program in 2008 and Peace Corps Volunteers currently work in Health and TEFL Education, responding directly to the Government of Rwanda’s priorities. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual who is a team player and self-starter with moral integrity and a spirit of continuous improvement to fill this vacancy.
The Communications Coordinator reports directly to the Country Director and is responsible for raising awareness about Volunteers’ success working in collaboration with their communities to address needs identified by the Government of Rwanda and host communities in the areas of Education and Health.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic
- Information technology skills and a keen interest in learning more about IT systems.
- Excellent English language skills – writing, reading, and speaking.
- Three or more years’ experience in communications and marketing with tangible examples of high impact multi-media content – including social media platforms
- Bachelor’s or equivalent degree in a relevant field;
Required:
- The Communications Coordinator will develop an excellent understanding of Peace Corps’ mission, goals, and program – both globally and in the context of Rwanda. He/she needs to be capable of effectively using a wide range of social media platforms, basic publishing tools/programs, and basic photography and video tools/practices. The Communications Coordinator also must have experience with successful communications and marketing, and a demonstrated ability to create or enhance the positive awareness of an organization to diverse audiences via a variety of communications channels. Based in Peace Corps Rwanda Kigali office, but will need to travel to the field to gather stories and photos.
Qualifications
- Backup IT Specialist at PC Rwanda (10% time during the week, 50% time when IT Specialist is out of the office)
- Familiarity with GIS and computer mapping.
- Technical ability to exploit the full capacities of electronic media for assembling, organizing and managing information.
- Manage media submissions from staff and Volunteers
- Website design and maintenance, for example a portal for Volunteer/staff communication
- Experience with media and communications, including photography and video production. Ability to deliver a complete and polished product
- Knowledge of software applications appropriate for media and communications are current and skills at an intermediate level of proficiency (examples: design and photo-editing software, social media applications, etc.)
- Manage website and social media components of communications strategy/plan
Technical Responsibilities
- Drafts press releases and informational notices in Kinyarwanda and English for review by the Country Director; disseminates approved press releases and notices to media and partner agencies as appropriate
- Capable of representing Peace Corps competently to Rwandan national and local authorities, academic and non-governmental organizations, the media, Volunteers and the public.
- Ensure that Government of Rwanda and Local Officials are informed, and approvals obtained if required, when asset gathering activities are undertaken
- Work with staff, Volunteers, Partners, and Peace Corps External Affairs, to design, develop and publish compelling content regarding Volunteer work
- Coordinate appropriately with the US Mission Public Affairs Office to amplify Peace Corps Rwanda’s work via Embassy social media;
Relationship Management and Influence
- Drafts, edits and formats quarterly updates and annual reports in English and Kinyarwanda and assures that these reports are developed, printed and distributed on time; uses Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Publisher and other relevant software to create reports, brochures, videos, logos, and so on in collaboration with the Monitoring, Reporting Evaluation & Grants Specialist
- Plan and execute diverse and complex events
- Plan and implement public outreach efforts, including public speaking appearances, press briefings and special events
- Create compelling case studies and stories highlighting Peace Corps collaboration with our NGO partners, and Rwandan counterparts and communities.
- Develop and disseminate via any/ all relevant channels compelling content regarding Volunteers’ work with their communities and counterparts;
- Design and publish annual reports – soft and hard copies – targeting Rwandan partners.
- Manage multiple projects under tight deadlines with the highest level of accuracy and efficiency.
- Negotiate, implement, manage, and evaluate media placements
- Manage content and platforms (on-line, print, radio, etc.) to effectively reach all diverse stakeholder groups: Communities in which we serve, Government of Rwanda, Local Non-Governmental Organizations/Embassies, Rwandan citizens, Staff, current and former Volunteers, and constituencies in the U.S including the general public, policy-makers, influencers, Peace Corps headquarters to tell the Peace Corps Rwanda story and to satisfy Peace Corps’ Second and Third Goals.
Project Management
- Work with other Peace Corps Africa Posts to incorporate best practices and new strategy elements for PC Rwanda
- Screen Peace Corps Trainees/Volunteers (PCT/V) Social Media posts to ensure that content is in compliance with Peace Corps’ global social media guidance, and is respectful of the Rwandan government and people.
- Maintain current knowledge of communications and public relations in the context of Rwanda.
- Effectively communicate and work productively with Volunteers, staff, and other stakeholders of all ages and capacities and people of diverse cultures.
- Maintain familiarity with a wide range of issues relating to management of Peace Corps Rwanda, including an in-depth understanding of the organization’s strategic direction.
- Create and implement a comprehensive communication strategy and plan for Peace Corps Rwanda.
- Knowledge of Kinyarwanda;
- Experience with international community development efforts.
- Experience working in an inter-cultural environment to meet complex goals and objectives in a timely manner.
Abilities and Skills:
- Research, write, develop and publish content across different media
- Work both independently and as member of a team in an inter-cultural organization to provide deliverables in a timely manner
- Communicate effectively with diverse colleagues.
Short-listed candidates will be required to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities described above in a proficiency test. Examples include:
- Pass a Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and/or Outlook proficiency test
- Demonstrate the ability to draft a clear, concise memo
- Demonstrate the ability to create a social media post
How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit via email ONLY CV/resume and a cover letter to the “Apply” button bellow not later than by September 14, 2022.
The title of the position should be clearly marked in the subject line of the email message. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
The Peace Corps is an equal opportunity agency.
