Job Vacancy: Communication Officer
Number of vacancies: 1
Reports to: Communication and Public Relations Manager
Opening date: August 20, 2021
Closing date: September 03, 2021
About Maison Shalom (MS)
Maison Shalom (MS) is an international, non-profit humanitarian organization established in 1993 and working in Rwanda since 2015 (www.maisonshalom.org). It exists for every person to live with dignity and flourish fully in every society by promoting human development trough psychosocial, educational, and economic support to those most in need, in order to empower them to become agents of positive change in their communities.
Purpose of the role
The Communication Officer will assist and contribute to high profile communications for Maison Shalom programmes in collaboration with various project staff. The Communications Officer will act as a liaison between MS, partners and different stakeholders, to ensure high level information delivery and visibility.
Major Responsibilities:
- Write and post high-profile content and Human-Interest Stories that highlight programme activities, featuring stakeholders’ interaction and experiences with the project.
- Assist in Communication tools management, keep updated website, social medias ensuring regular posting of information; maintain online presence by updating, revising, and developing website resources and by developing social media content.
- Contributes to MS reports and general communications to support communication of programme progress to relevant stakeholders, both locally and internationally.
- Provide communication support to overall day-to-day programme management related to all project activities for effective delivery of the programmes.
- Synthesize programme information in support of effective communications on programmes.
- Plan and implement information gathering activities with education
- Assist to generate programme information both for media sharing and for reporting.
- Edit materials (papers, briefs, power point presentations, etc) in English and French.
- Develop, write and edit communications materials, including press releases, blog posts and social media content.
- Ensure that all communication material aligns with MS communications standards.
- Maintain digital media archives including photos and videos as part of programme documentation.
- Assist programme team members to conceptualize and implement communications strategies and campaigns.
- Communicate clearly and in a timely fashion with external audiences, face-to-face, through email and telephone; conferences where appropriate, and other forms.
Qualifications and skills required
- Bachelors’ degree, preferably a Masters’ degree in communications, international relations/public affairs, journalism, Social Sciences, Education Literature or other related field) and 2 years of proven experience in a similar role.
- Experience in narrative, analytical writing from a range of perspectives.
- Significant experience in and/or demonstration of broad, in-depth proficiency in content development, including editing communications products for structure, clarity of ideas, and the logical presentation of content.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French, editing skills, and interviewing skills. The role requires a high degree of facility in writing for different audiences (MS staff, programme stakeholders, local administration staff , students, refugees,…) and for different media (website, social media, annual reports, brochures).
- Solid knowledge of communications approaches, tools, and
- Understanding of the best practices of main social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc
- Exceptional writing skills and be able to compose engaging and accurate content.
- Good IT skills including proficient knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator is an asset.
- Understanding of communications, public relations and programme promotion best practices.
- Must be resourceful and take initiative even when given minimal direction.
- Ability to identify and anticipate communications-related risks and opportunities at the country and international levels.
- Journalistic and analytical writing and presentation skills.
- Demonstrable skills in writing Human Interest Stories is an added advantage.
- Demonstrable skills and experience in project communications, producing communications papers or equivalent with a proven ability to synthesize large amounts of information into concise reports.
- Ability to clearly accurately articulate complex information to a wide range of audiences.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to enthuse and engage a diverse range of stakeholders internally and externally.
- Able to analyse and evaluate complex information, including statistics.
- Able to schedule work effectively and meet deadlines.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
- Personal and professional integrity, dynamism, creativity and proven ability to work under minimal supervision.
- Ability to prioritize, work well under pressure and capably handle/juggle multiple tasks within tight deadlines.
- Good presenter with experience of presenting complex ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- Trustworthy, ethical, and authentic in all situations.
- Self-motivated, ambitious, goal oriented.
How to apply
Interested candidates should send their application file (CV, Academic certificate and cover letter) via the ” Apply for this job” button not later than the September 03, 2021
Important Note:
- ONLYwrite “Communication Officer” as the subject of your application email. Failure to observe this instruction will lead to disqualification.
- ONLY shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews
