We are hiring a Communications Manager – East Africa
ABOUT SPARK MICROGRANTS
Spark MicroGrants believes in a world where everyone lives with dignity and determines their own positive future. Decades of prescriptive aid have sidelined the poor from the very programs meant to uplift them. We believe in local solutions and catalyzing rural villages facing poverty into action.
At the heart of Spark’s model, the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), are ‘town-hall’ style weekly meetings, in which women, men, young, old, plan together for their community’s future. Each village elects a leadership committee, establishes a village savings account, and launches a project of their choice. Members receive training on financial management, transparency, leadership, village planning, and advocacy. Each village then receives US$8,000 in seed funds and additional management support to turn their project ideas into reality.
Spark trains partner organizations and works with governments to scale the FCAP as the model of choice to advance social and economic development, improve lives, and secure lasting change. Spark is now active in 500+ villages in 6 countries, improving the lives of over 230,000 people.
As a team, we share a set of common values that shape ‘how’ we work. These are:
- Facilitators. We don’t impose; we enable others to generate impact.
- Community-driven. We are motivated by what is best for the community.
- Process-centered. The how of what we do is just as important as the what.
- Our vision and values live in everything we do.
- We seek opportunities and are willing to take risks to serve our community partners better.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Spark seeks a highly motivated and entrepreneurial candidate to help grow its communications capacity, mobilize resources, and advance its mission. The ideal candidate is a seasoned storyteller, creative thinker, and motivated self-starter, with demonstrated experience in digital communications and global development or humanitarian aid.
The Communications Manager will report to the Senior Communications Advisor and work as an integral part of a distributed but highly effective team. They will support the execution of Spark’s communications strategies in East Africa and North America through content creation, public relations, and first-class collaboration and coordination.
The Communications Manager will be responsible for developing and managing written and visual content, directly and through the support of external vendors, that supports fundraising goals and raises Spark’s public profile. They will conduct media/press and stakeholder outreach in local markets, contribute to donor cultivation and stewardship, and provide support on Spark’s owned channels (web, social, email). Through improved coordination and collaboration, the Communications Manager will create additional communications capacity.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Content / Editorial – 60%
- Draft and publish original written content about FCAP participants, communities, and partners from across Spark countries that positions Spark as a thought leader and supports institutional donor cultivation.
- Generate and manage a regularly updated database of high-quality photos of Spark program participants and partners for use as video, blog, website, email, and social media content.
- Support Spark colleagues to develop capability statements, policy briefs, case studies, research previews, videos, and general presentations on programs.
- Support the creation and execution of multi-channel digital campaigns by providing audience insights, liaising with relevant stakeholders, and implementing campaigns locally when appropriate.
Public relations – 25%
- Conduct research on relevant publications and journalists in East and West Africa and maintain detailed records to inform media outreach.
- Field media requests in East and West Africa, cultivate and build relationships with journalists, and package and pitch stories to secure earned media placements and build Spark’s audience and reach.
- Liaise with Spark colleagues abroad to coordinate press launches and ensure contextually appropriate messaging for various campaigns.
- Support the development of proposals, speeches, talking points, and presentations for conferences and speaking engagements.
Capacity-building – 15%
- Coordinate regularly with communications staff internationally to ensure brand alignment and cultivate a culture of knowledge-sharing and exchange within the Spark family.
- Facilitate communications workshops for colleagues across the Spark family that support efforts to enhance our reputation, empower international colleagues to communicate effectively about their country programs, and broaden and democratize the voice of Spark.
- Liaise regularly with fundraising leads in East Africa and the US, providing communications support in the form of talking points, presentations, etc.
REQUIREMENTS/WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Qualifications, skills, and experience:
Required Qualifications/Competencies
The ideal candidate for the Communications Manager will possess a verifiable set of core communications skills. S/he should have a real interest in new approaches to international development, strong track record of developing and executing compelling communications, and firm understanding of brand identity and good storytelling.
Additionally, they will have the following attributes:
- Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Communications, Journalism, International Development, or other related field.
- A minimum of five to seven years of work experience in communications or a related field is necessary, or a Master’s Degree with three to five years of work experience. The candidate should also have demonstrated experience with an international organization.
- Excellent written communication and editing skills are required along with an ability to break down complex arguments and present them in a clear and succinct manner to various stakeholders. The candidate should bring evidence of strong writing skills for a variety of audiences.
- Proficiency with digital photography is required. The candidate should have demonstrated experience using DSLRs in remote locations, editing images with Adobe Creative Suite or similar software, and at least working knowledge of video production.
- Familiarity with WordPress, MailChimp, and other content management systems.
- Ability to work with team members in the US and East Africa is imperative, particularly at all levels of an organization. The candidate should also have experience working across cultures. Experience working with rural, economically underdeveloped communities is a plus.
- Strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines for multiple projects simultaneously, and well-versed in using project management tools such as Slack, Asana, etc.
- Familiarity with AP style preferred
OTHER INFORMATION
Job Location: East Africa
Start Date: As soon as possible. We are looking for someone who is committed to this role for
at least 3-4 years.
Probation period: 3 months probation period with learning and performance objectives
Application closing Date: 28th February 2022
How to Apply: Follow this link to apply
Attach your resume, cover letter, and a writing sample
Your cover letter should explain why your experience and background make you the ideal candidate for this position, and should be no more than one page. Please also include a sample of writing relevant to this position’s responsibilities.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with preference given to early applicants. No calls, emails, visits, or recruiters associated with this position, please.
Please do not contact Spark Microgrants to inquire as to the status of your application. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Equal Opportunity
Spark Microgrants provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals. Employment decisions at Spark are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Spark does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by the law. Spark will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship to daily operations.
