Project - Regional Communications Officer

In partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ICAP is conducting Population-based HIV Impact Assessments (PHIA) in up to 20 PEPFAR-supported countries. Each PHIA will define the status of the national HIV epidemic, guide global and local allocation of funding and resources based on evidence, and integrate capacity building of country stakeholders in the design, conduct, analysis, and use of PHIAs.

Under the supervision of the Regional Director, PHIA Project, and working with the Senior Communications Manager and the PHIA Project staff at ICAP Headquarters in New York City, the Regional Communications Officer, PHIA Project (based in Pretoria) will develop and oversee communications strategies to support the planning and implementation of the PHIA surveys at the country-level, from launch to completion and results dissemination. Assists country teams with the development and implementation of country-level communications strategies and work plans and support materials development and media engagement. Guides teams in use of communications tools and strategies to inform community mobilization strategies critical to the effective conduct of surveys and collaborates with the PHIA Communications Officer at ICAP headquarters to inform all project-level, global communications.

More details on ICAP’s PHIA Project may be found at:

http://icap.columbia.edu/global-initatives/the-phia-project/

This position is grant funded.

Location: Pretoria, South Africa

Major Accountabilities

• Work with individual PHIA country teams to support strong positioning of the surveys at multiple levels in each country.
• Assist each country team with development of a country-level communications strategy at the beginning of each survey and guide implementation of this strategy as the project evolves.
• Support teams in hiring country-level communications focal points and oversee work plans of country-level PHIA communications staff.
• Guide and ensure effective project branding, messaging, logo use, and donor and partner recognition for surveys in all countries.
• Oversee the development of all materials, products and tools written and created at the country-level, including: speeches, fact sheets, brochures, radio spots, social media content, and other public communications. Provide editorial oversight and quality assurance, including copy editing and fact checking; branding and logo compliance; and support in presentation and production (formatting, layout, design, printing, packaging).
• Guide teams on effective use of communications tools and strategies to support community mobilization strategies that are essential to successful conduct of the surveys. Serve as focal point for communications knowledge management/information, templates and strategies to support community mobilization. Develop toolkits and templates that can be replicated in new countries as surveys begin.
• Support country teams in effective media engagement that drives support at multiple levels for the surveys. In consultation with ICAP HQ and CDC, respond as needed and appropriate to publicity related to the project or surveys.
• Evaluate, plan and support the effective use of mobile (SMS) communications and social media for individual country-based surveys.
• Support and guide the country-level dissemination of PHIA survey results, at multiple levels.
• Work in collaboration with PHIA Communications Officer at ICAP headquarters to inform and support global-level communications about the PHIA project, including the PHIA Project website and other key products. Synthesize each country team’s weekly reports into an overall PHIA Project Communications Report and share these reports, as directed.
• Perform other related duties as directed.

Education

• Requires a first degree in communications, marketing, international development or public health-related field. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience, Skills & Minimum Required Qualifications

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in international development or public health organization.
• Demonstrated communications experience, in roles of increasing responsibility, and significant project management skills.
• Previous experience implementing a multi-country campaign or initiative; knowledge of community mobilization for engagement and data collection, preferred.
• Excellent writing and copy editing skills, proven ability to present content for diverse audiences and platforms (print and online). A strong sense of visual presentation and ability to do basic graphic layout.
• Strong interpersonal and coordinative skills.
• Fluency in English required; fluency in French preferred.
• Working knowledge of the operational and programmatic requirements of recipients of United States Government funding preferred.

Travel Requirements

• Requires international travel up to approximately 30% time, primarily to PHIA assessment countries.

HOW TO APPLY:

NOTE: This is a local hire position and the successful candidate will be an employee of ICAP in South Africa and subject to the local terms and conditions of employment which includes a competitive salary and benefits package.

Please send an application letter and CV by email with a subject title “Regional Communications Officer, PHIA Project” to icap-jobs-southafrica@columbia.edu

Please include your communications experience in your cover letter. Also, please submit 2 short samples of materials that you have either written and/or laid out, such as release, brochure, newsletter, or web copy.

Only short listed applicants will be contacted.