Communications Manager

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier research-to-policy institution, generating evidence, strengthening research and related capacity in the African research and development ecosystem, and engaging policy to inform action on health and development. The Center is Africa-based and African-led, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and a West Africa Regional Office (WARO), in Dakar, Senegal. APHRC seeks to drive change by developing strong African research leadership and promoting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) across sub-Saharan Africa.

APHRC seeks to recruit a Communications Manager to join the Policy Engagement and Communications (PEC) Program. The position will be based in the Synergy Unit – which contributes to and collaborates with researchers on the translation of research evidence into different formats for technical and non-academic audiences. It also positions our evidence and experts, contributing to raising the profile of the Center.

Duties and Responsibilities

The ideal candidate will be an outstanding mentor, able to both supervise and delegate with authority and be a nimble and innovative user of knowledge to drive change. The role is responsible for delivering technical communications support in external and internal communications including content generation, storytelling, writing and editing, media engagement for mainstream and digital media, formal and informal training in various communications skills, to help highly technical and specialized research professionals improve their ability to effectively reach a variety of lay audiences.

The ideal candidate should be able to think creatively and have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. He/she will be expected to guide and mentor a team of communications professionals. Additionally, the candidate should be able to translate large amounts of evidence and data into products and formats that are easy to consume for lay audiences.

Internal Communications

• Serve as an editor, supporting copy and content editing for a variety of products emanating from programs/projects and/or a variety of corporate communications products.
• Direct and/or facilitate in-house training on public speaking, communications and media engagement for program staff.

Content Generation and Knowledge Translation

• Develop and implement communication and campaign strategies for various programs.
• Lead the development and conceptualization of products/outputs that communicate findings from various programs.
• Contribute to the development of reader-friendly knowledge translation products such as briefs and fact sheets.

● Contribute to policy discussions and events with both internal and external audiences.

• Lead, organize and facilitate events, webinars and knowledge translation for various teams at the Center and stakeholders while sometimes working with communication teams from partner organizations.

Additional Responsibilities

• Lead on wider partner and stakeholder management and engagement, as well as mapping external audiences for APHRC content.
• Contribute to the development of new branded assets to meet the needs of the Center -liaise with designers and external suppliers to ensure assets are produced on time, in budget, and to the required standard.
• Commission design work and asset production while supervising consultants.
• Produce reports for partners and donors.
• Oversee the management APHRC’s digital photo library, and ensure the correct details are included (proof of consent, photographer credit, etc.) when they are uploaded.
• Support the coordination of specific events and represent the organization externally when relevant.
• Perform any other tasks required to advance the Center’s communications objectives.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing or a related field.
• Ten to twelve (10 – 12) years’ post-qualification work experience in communications, writing, and content creation, preferably at an international organization in a communications role.
• Excellent editing and writing skills, as well as ability to translate complex scientific facts into accessible messages for general audiences.
• Knowledge of multimedia skills, including photography and videography.
• Experience in social media and community management, and of adapting a message to different audiences.
• Excellent existing network of media contacts.
• Excellent verbal communication and ability to train and mentor.
• Demonstrated willingness to work as part of a team.
• Networking, interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills coupled with resourceful initiative and maturity of judgment.
• Knowledge of graphic design and desktop publishing, including Microsoft Publisher, and Adobe or Corel suites.
• Knowledge or understanding of project management is an added advantage.