Communications Officer, BID Initiative and Global Health Security Partnership

PATH is an international organization that drives transformative innovation to save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platforms—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations—that harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health.

PATH’s Global Health Security (GHS) Partnership aims to strengthen disease surveillance, laboratories, and information systems in Senegal, Tanzania, DRC, and Vietnam. As one of several global partners supporting the US CDC's Global Health Security Agenda to prevent, detect, and effectively respond to infectious disease threats worldwide, PATH partners with international and US Government stakeholders to leverage a core technical platform within and across countries, facilitate cross-national learning networks, and catalyze health systems improvement through hands-on field support in high-risk districts.Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the BID Initiative’s strategy is to work in partnership with the Ministry of Health Community Development Gender Elderly and Children to enhance immunization and overall health service delivery through improved data collection, quality, and use. The BID Initiative will develop and deploy a holistic and scalable approach that focuses on information system products, data management policies, and the practices of people that use them in order to enable evidence-based decision making.

We seek to recruit a Communications Officer to develop and implement communication strategies related to health systems innovation and delivery with a particular focus on the BID Initiative and Global Health Security (GHS) Partnership in Tanzania.Working under the management of the global Communications Manager, direction of the BID Initiative Tanzania Director, and in close relationship with the BID and GHS communications staff based both in Lusaka, Zambia and Seattle, WA, USA, the Communications Officer will provide technical support to assigned project teams, with a specific focus on communications needs within Tanzania.

Specific Duties And Responsibilities Include
Develop and implement country-specific communications plans that align with BID and GHS strategies.
Contribute to the broader BID and GHS advocacy and communications strategies through planning, writing, and information design, related to print and online communication products. Support PATH’s global advocacy and communication agenda and the consistent use of communication messages.
Develop and manage communication materials from concept to completion through research, writing, editing, and proofreading content—e.g. fact sheets, project documentation such as presentations and reports, and web copy.
Liaise with broader BID and GHS communications staff to consistently integrate country-specific messages, updates, and priorities into organizational communication strategies and content (e.g. newsletters, blog posts, etc.) Engage with other partners and external stakeholders as appropriate.
Work with technical teams to gather content and stories for project, partner and donor communications. Conduct interviews with project staff and partners, gather photos and other assets from the field and other project events.
Liaise with in-house and external expert reviewers to ensure accuracy and clarity of technical content.
Ensure that PATH quality standards and design norms are met for materials by helping team members comply with established procedures and processes.
Manage outreach to diverse audiences and respond to informational inquiries, including coordination of national and regional media relations.
Liaise with other communications staff at PATH to share information, resources, and lessons learned.
Support and maintain project related knowledge resource center through SharePoint sites, inclusive of all presentations and communication materials, project briefs developed by PATH and its partner organizations.

Required Skills

Required Experience
Bachelor’s degree, plus a minimum of five years of directly related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience working in health communication, advocacy, media work, behaviour change communications, and policy development in the realm of public health preferred.
Experience of working with national or state press and media will be highly preferred and prior exposure to working in the development sector, government and/or international organization will be an added advantage.
Demonstrated ability to translate scientific, technical, and implementation evidence for effective communication to donors, policymakers, media and general audiences.
Fluency in English and Swahili, with exceptional written and verbal skills.
Experience in website and social media management.
Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Strong self-starter and ability to work independently, but also team-focused with the ability to interact with diverse colleagues, and facilitate strong working relationships between partners.
Demonstrated proactive and creative thinking in identifying communications and outreach opportunities.

You must currently have legal authorization to work in Tanzania.

PATH is dedicated to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.

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