Communications and Outreach Specialist job opportunity at Lutheran World Relief

Job Title:  Communications and Outreach Specialist

Lutheran World Relief is a US non-profit organization that works with local partners to provide lasting solutions to poverty, injustice and human suffering.

Job Summary: The Communications and Outreach Specialist will be responsible for the overall success of coordination and communications activities among value chain, government, local media and international actors as a member of a team managing a pilot project to increase legume seed production, a five-year project designed to improve Ugandan farmers’ access to government certified legume seed varieties.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Take lead in the needs assessment, planning and formulation communication policies, strategies, and responses for the pilot project. Set and achieve measurable goals for communications activities,
• Create and share key messages that are appropriate and responsive to identified target audiences.
• Plan promotional and stakeholder consultation events for government representatives and other interested parties.
• Organize pilot participate recruitment activities and events;
• Support in the planning and facilitating advisory committee meetings.
• Document pilot successes and challenges for internal and external learning;
• Write articles, reports, news articles, and other content (e.g. for Twitter, Facebook, blogs, media articles) for outreach to global stakeholders and interested parties.
• Communicate and coordinate with LWR country, regional, and headquarters staff (including the Marketing and Creative Services team), as well as with donor.
• Take part as a member of the project team, including active involvement in planning and review meetings, ensuring project staff members are kept informed in all relevant communication and outreach issues.
• Perform any other communications duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

• The applicant should hold a good university degree in communications, business, marketing or relevant subject.
• Five or more years of management level experience managing communications and/or public relations projects and processes in Uganda.
• Demonstrated ability to establish, maintain and grow cooperative relationships with a variety of audiences through engaging and effective communications.
• Proven ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, manage time and complex tasks, adapt to changing priorities and deadlines, identify opportunities and challenges and propose appropriate responses or solutions.
• Demonstrated skill to develop, write and edit technical content for both print publications and web-based products. Some Photography and videography skills are desired.
• Excellent skills in communication, problem solving, networking, facilitation and strategic thinking.
• Proven ability to develop relationships of mutual respect and trust to achieve common goals.
• Past exposure and experience planning and directing development and communication of informational programs to maintain favorable public and stakeholder perceptions of an organization’s accomplishments and agenda.
• Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating outreach and learning events and activities).
• Past exposure in the agriculture and with public sector actors is an added advantage
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office applications; mastery of publication software, graphic design, and other written and visual communications skills a plus.
• Fluency in English, with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to speak at least one Ugandan language preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of his/her time within Uganda.
• Show deep commitment to LWR’s core values and ability to model those values in relationships with colleagues and partners.
• Existing authorization to work in Uganda; Ugandan national preferred.

How to Apply for the job: 

All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their applications via email to: info-ug@lwrearo.org with the job title for which you are applying in the subject line. Include in the body of the email the following information:

NAME:

HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION:

NUMBER OF YEARS OF RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:

MINIMUM SALARY EXPECTATION (monthly, gross):

Also, include as attachments a cover letter and CV. Do not include copies of diplomas or certificates. Applicants for the Communications and Outreach Specialist should include a one page writing sample relevant to the responsibilities described.

Deadline: 1^st December, 2014 by 5:00PM Ugandan Time

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