John Snow, Inc.
Strengthening Ethiopia’s Urban Health Program (SEUHP)
Job position Description
Job title: Communications Specialist
Duty station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with frequent travel to the field.
The John Snow, Inc. (JSI) implemented, USAID-supported Strengthening Ethiopia’s Urban Health Program (SEUHP) is seeking a highly qualified Communication Specialist. The goal of SEUHP is to improve the health status of the urban population in Ethiopia by reducing HIV/TB-related and maternal, neonatal and child morbidity and mortality and the incidence of communicable/non-communicable diseases. SEUHP envisages achieving its goals by supporting the Government of Ethiopia’s Urban Health Extension Program (UHEP) through improving the quality of community–level health services, building the institutional and technical capacity of Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs) and promoting inter-sectoral collaboration to address urban health challenges.
Job Summary: The Communication Specialist is a full time position based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with frequent travel to program sites throughout Ethiopia. The major roles and responsibilities of the position include providing technical support in the development and implementation of communication and documentation needs of the program including serving as a key person to appropriately utilize local media to promote urban health. This position reports to the Communication Advisor.
Overall Roles and Responsibilities:
The communications specialist follows the execution of SEUHP’s communication strategy, in collaboration with the communication advisor assesses the communication needs in the program and designs plans accordingly. The specialist collaborates with the Communication Advisor, Senior MER Advisor, technical team, government offices, partners and field teams to organize and disseminate information to fulfill regular reporting as well as other communications requirements. He/she is expected to establish strong link with local media and to provide the appropriate data and information to support the program outreach efforts. The Specialist will deliver knowledge management and communication activities for the dissemination of SEUHP successes, lessons and best practices to its key audience through various communications mechanisms. The Specialist will support SEUHP program staff and partner institutions in designing and implementing effective communication plans.
Specific Duties, Tasks and Responsibilities
Communications:
· Work closely with the communication advisor and other technical team to ensure effective implementation of SEUHP’s communication strategy;
· Contribute in conceptualizing and developing creative communication actions and tools for SEUHP targeting its various audiences;
· Document and disseminate experiences and lessons learned;
· Prepare success stories, newsletters and other deliverables and disseminate on a regular basis,
· Support the production of all program publications and deliverables, internal knowledge management and the external outreach efforts of the program;
· Provide support for preparing response for inquiries for information from SEUHP partners, donor, higher learning institutions, NGOs, etc., as well as help with organizing special visits for government partners and donors to SEUHP implementation cities/towns and implementing partners;
· Ensures that publications and marketing materials abide to branding and marking guidelines as defined by USAID and PEPFAR.
Media engagement
· Establish contacts with media networks and key actors for effectively promoting urban health matters including hygiene and sanitation practices;
· Provide support for SEUHP regional team and governmental partners in media engagement and production;
· Support for production and mainstreaming of various SBCC materials including radio productions;
Knowledge Management:
Other
· Provide support in the production of program reports: edit, proofread and format documents to be submitted to; government, USAID/Ethiopia, JSI/Boston, and published for internal use among SEUHP staff;
· Manage knowledge sharing across program and regional offices; conduct regular visits to SEUHP implementation regions and cities/towns and cover events related to SEUHP success;
· Develop media communication, including drafting press briefings, and press releases, and their distribution to the target groups;
· Accomplish other activities as requested by the organization.
Experience and Knowledge:
· Excellent English writing and editing skills and excellent ability to move freely between Amharic and English;
· Advanced Degree (MA or equivalent) in Communications or Journalism or related Social Science with 5-7 years of professional experience;
· Experience working with health and development programs in the area of communications and/or knowledge management;
· Knowledge of and experience with public health and/or USAID projects and with USAID/PEPFAR branding and marking;
· Proven ability to develop, write and edit technical content for both print publications and on the web;
· Experience in implementing knowledge management and communications strategies, organizing, packaging, producing, and disseminating information;
· Proven experience working with media on health or related subjects.
Skills
· Excellent communication, networking, and inter-personal skills;
· Innovative and creative thinking in relation to communication,
· Proven excellence in writing and editing skills in English;
· Good knowledge of computer tools, in-design and Photoshop skills an asset.
Personal Qualities
· Independent professional to contribute to the overall goal of the organization;
· Managing all relationships inside SEUHP and with its partners constructively,
· Capacity to work in a multi-cultural environment;
· Ability to meet deadlines under pressure;