Marketing Officer

We produce literature. African Literature. Contemporary African Literature. We have a variety of audiences ranging from the urban, contemporary msanii reader of Kwani? 01 back in in 2003, to the Kwani? 04 one finding answers on a new Kenya and busy acquiring social and economic mobility only to be caught out by the post election violence.

We are now on to Kwani? 06, made up of writers under 30, and in the beginning stages of putting Kwani? 07 together.

Our journey since 2003 has meant interacting with all kinds of writers and readers, young and old(er). You are an entrepreneurial and intellectually curious person who is challenged by ways in which we can communicate with all these diverse groups of people.

Sure you read Ngugi and Achebe in school like all the rest of us, but this was not the last time you read an African writer’s work. You are a self-starter who is highly familiar with social networking sites, and the many ways in which books can be made available to a wider public, including digital and other applications.

To succeed here, you will need to be able to combine a high level of creativity with some strong organizational skills, working on a number of projects at a go.

You need to be a team player who contributes to all the exciting ventures we wish to go into this year, including the creation of a commercial unit.

You will possess a quick grasp of our set-up; we have products (book and other projects) and we have events; the sum total of these two things is the Kwani Trust brand. The brand beyond products and events also involves marketing as an 'idea' of something- part developmental aspects of literature, part literary community, and part arts institution that is indigenous.

There is therefore a high research component involved, as this position is part of a team that is building a viable publishing house that is commercially sustainable and that develops titles and products of world class literary quality.

You have some experience with new media, a BA/BS in Marketing or a related field, and have had at least 3 years hands-on experience at a small to mid-size organization. You will be detail-oriented, have an ability to manage projects from inception to execution, and top all this with excellent communication skills, both written and oral. We also appreciate a hunger to learn and an ability to flourish in a dynamic environment.

More detailed information on the position is below.

Job Title: Marketing Officer

Reports to: General Manager, Managing Editor, Executive Director

Job Purpose

• To serve Kwani Trust in creating, strengthening and supporting linkages with all stakeholders, including but not limited to authors and poets, art & cultural institutions, media houses, project partners, academic institutions, public galleries/ libraries and others
• To develop and implement a Marketing Strategy/ plan informing marketing and public relations activities and initiatives

Job Objectives

The Marketing Officer is responsible for the success and seamless operations of marketing, public relations and external communications. He/She will endeavour to ensure that Kwani Trust and its activities remain relevant to the community by communicating effectively with a range of stakeholders, via a wide range of sources.

The post holder will carry out all Marketing & PR related administrative duties as required. This will include the development and recording of departmental budgets & costs, weekly and monthly updates to the Executive Director, quarterly reports to the Board of Trustees, & assembling and circulating publishing-related material as required.

Kwani Trust is a young and dynamic operation and the Marketing Officer will be expected to build systems and processes that make their respective department functional and effective.

Accountabilities

1. Marketing Plan & Budget

• Design, implement, and facilitate annual marketing plan
• Coordinate Marketing Committee of Board of Trustees and issue relevant reports, plans and Board involvement proposals according to the Marketing Plan
• Prepare quarterly marketing calendars that draw from the overall marketing plan and facilitate the development and implementation of section marketing plans
• Plan and administer The Trust’s Marketing Operations budget
• Coordinate fundraising / commercial campaigns to supplement institutional marketing budget through planning of events and other activities

2. Oversee External and Internal Communications and Systems Activities

Social and other Media

• Coordinate the maintenance of Kwani Trust’s social media networks (LinkedIn, facebook & twitter)
• Maintain a database of contacts and key constituents in media houses; institute a system of regular press updates, and advertisement of Kwani Trust-related activities
• With direction from Managing Editor, negotiate with media agents to secure agreements for translation of materials into other media
• Assist in the preparation of media packs & press releases and present information verbally and / or in writing, with guidance from Editorial Department & Managing Editor
• Undertake regular monitoring of newspapers, magazines, radio and television output, and other published material on Kwani Trust, making preliminary assessments and archiving material for reference

Kwani Trust Stakeholders

• Compile quarterly departmental reports for stakeholders; Funders, Trustees, Partners ‘friends of Kwani?’, larger networks and Kwani Trust management and staff
• Maintain a regularly-updated database of all contacts key to the Trust’s operations, including but not limited to ; writers and poets, performers at events, media contacts, larger stakeholders, editors , other publishers and institutional partners

Publishers

• Develop a Communications & PR Publishers Strategy specific to the development of Kwani Trust titles;

1. Systematic sending of manuscripts, proposals, and book titles to foreign publishers and agents, audio houses & paperback publishers as per instructions from Editorial Department
2. Coordinate co-productions and partnerships with other publishers & publication houses
3. Maintain relationships with other publishers and stay up to date with causes of consequence to writers ( i.e. PEN International Writers’ grants, book fairs, writers’ festivals), and support Kwani Trust’s writers to utilise these opportunities.

3. Public Relations – develop and administer a marketing database for;

Public and Private Libraries

• Develop relationships with key stakeholders in the development of programmes and services for public consumption
• Regularly inform mentioned stakeholders of developments within Kwani Trust and its publications, and identify opportunities for partnership / collaboration in development of programmes & services
• Develop library-based activities involving Kwani Trust’s network of writers ; book launches and readings, debates, symposiums that further profile Kwani Trust, its writers, and projects
• Proactively seek to secure orders of Kwani Trust’s products in libraries and maintain good relations to this effect
• Provide a preliminary assessment of material obtained from libraries, seek out potential writers and contributors to Kwani Trust’s activities, and contribute suggestions to Editorial department
• Act as main point of contact between all libraries and Kwani Trust’s servicing departments, briefing all appropriate team members on activities and opportunities in libraries, and maintaining the lead in exploring these

Universities, Colleges & other learning institutions

• Identify, establish and maintain collaborations, partnerships and relationships of a commercial and literary nature, with key contacts within learning institutions (both International and local); Literature Professors, Librarians, Student unions, Literature Departments, etc
• Maintain a database of faculty and appropriate students available to review and critique Kwani Trust’s publications in University or other review journals, magazines, e-zines and other publications, and consistently avail material to them for review
• With guidance from the Editorial Department, establish a series of reading forums, creative writing workshops and other literary activities involving Kwani writers in learning institutions

Arts & Cultural Institutions

• Establish linkages with other Arts, cultural and Literary institutions; building networks for information sharing, partnering opportunities in event production, publishing and other core Kwani Trust activities
• Establish and maintain well-set out systematic communication, collaboration and overall synergy with existing partners

Government, Public Bodies, CSO’s & Foreign Embassies

• Maintain links with appropriate bodies above and other institutions involved in policy-making for the Arts, lobbying for Arts-related legislation, or mandated with developing the Arts & Culture sector in Kenya, regionally or internationally;

1. Government bodies, Parastatals and Public Bodies: Kenya Ministries of Information, Culture, Education and Tourism. Kenya Film Commission, Kenya Cultural Centre, National Theatre and other bodies
2. Civil Society Organisations
3. Embassies and their bodies: Alliance Francaise, Goethe Institute, Japanese Cultural Centre, Italian Institute, etc

Public

• Establish and maintain public networks through formal / informal channels such as social clubs, professional networking clubs/ groups, and sports clubs for promotion of Kwani Trust publications and activities through initiatives such as book clubs and book signing sessions
• Seek new markets ( ie informal sector) for the marketing of Kwani Trust publications and other merchandise

4. Manage Marketing Department

• Supervise Assistants within the marketing department, as well as the Sales & Distribution staff and interns
• Make staffing and hiring decisions within marketing department
• Build and develop a marketing team which is competent, commercially astute, dedicated and efficient
• Manage day to day activity with PR, press and marketing communications agencies as need be

5. Development of Business Unit

• Develop and deliver insightful presentations and strategies for the development of the business unit and executive committee where appropriate
• Translate business unit objectives and strategies to develop brand portfolio objectives, strategies and plans to facilitate business unit growth
• Ensure the integration of the business unit marketing function within that of the greater Kwani Trust, and ensure that the business unit optimizes its use of shared and support services

6. Event Management

• Oversee the production of literary events including regular features ( Open Mic and Sunday Salon), book launches and others
• Maintain a monthly-updated database of performers /readers at regular events
• Liaise with Editorial department in selection of performers and readers at events, or any other duties that may arise
• Kwani Literary Festival: Act as the fist point of contact between the Festivals’s organising team and other Kwani Trust staff
• Assist the online production team with the preparation and sending of the Service’s e-mail news service to subscribers, e-mail information services to partner sites and similar tasks under journalistic supervision.

We would be looking for you to start as soon as possible.

Your cover letter (not more than 1 page) with an accompanying CV should be sent to jobs@kwani.org by 5pm Tuesday 31st May 2011, marked clearly as ‘Application for Marketing Officer Position’.