The Communications and Knowledge Management Manager is responsible for crafting success stories and communications products that inspire, influence action, and show how this project is saving lives and improving people’s health. The Manager collaborates with project leadership, technical staff, USAID, MSH communications colleagues, and key stakeholders to develop and implement communications strategies that promote visibility, convey project achievements to target audiences, and contribute to project success and organizational growth. The Manager ensures state-of-the-art communications approaches and systems are integrated across multiple project initiatives, develops compelling content, and promotes a culture of quality across various project elements. The Manager contributes to donor deliverables including Monthly, Quarterly and Annual Reports and Annual Work Plans and collaborates with USAID and other USAID implementing partners on issues related to communications. Working in collaboration with project staff, the Manager will develop a knowledge management plan and establish systems to facilitate knowledge capture and exchange in relevant national and global forums. In addition, the Manager will facilitate coordination across multiple USAID-funded projects in Ethiopia to enhance donor engagement and support unified messaging across MSH corporate channels that reflects the organization’s country-wide impact.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead development and implementation of audience-focused, results-driven communications strategies for the project, in collaboration with project leadership, technical staff, partners, and MSH’s communications department.
- Develop and maintain relationships with donor clients, project staff, partner communications staff, and within MSH. Work closely with USAID and implementing partners to define and implement communication priorities and activities. Liaise with donor communications officers to align strategies and enhance visibility within donor audiences.
- Drive the production of a wide range of creative and compelling communication materials from concept to deliverable, conveying technical information in a clear and accessible manner to a range of technical and non-technical audiences. Examples include case studies, fact sheets, technical briefs, success stories, blogs, website content, presentations, press releases, op-eds, webinars, videos, and talking points. Work closely with colleagues in MSH’s communications department to review and coordinate final production of content.
- Manage distribution and dissemination of project materials in hardcopy and online; coordinate with MSH communications and knowledge management teams to maintain a system of information sharing and to establish digital and appropriate hard copy files for all publications and project communications.
- Ensure that the project’s identity, brand, and strategic messaging is in accordance with donor requirements and organizational strategies, and that all communications materials comply with the relevant USAID branding and marking requirements and review and approval processes.
- Provide thought leadership and vision to communication activities – steering event conceptualization, campaigns, and product creation.
- Advise, support, and prepare project staff for high-level public engagements including events, media interviews, conferences, and presentations.
- Travel to project implementation regions as required to support events or leadership travel, gather content and stories, and produce communication materials.
- Lead development and implementation of results-driven knowledge management strategy for the project, in collaboration with project leadership, technical staff, partners, and MSH’s communications department
- Contribute to knowledge management, including effective donor reporting.
- Collaborate with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Teams and learning, specifically leading dissemination of learning outputs/products generated by technical and MEL teams.
- Review regular reports on the project activities such as monthly activities updates and quarterly and annual reports.
- Contribute to activity monitoring and evaluation plans.
- Establish and implement standard operating procedures, mechanisms, and relationships for collection and organization of information, knowledge, and experience from the project and its partners, and for its documentation and distribution through relevant channels.
- Create and maintain content tracker and document management system, in coordination with MSH’s communications department.
- Collaborate with project staff to collect, manage, and disseminate impact and lessons learned, including through events, conferences, knowledge exchanges, learning activities, webinars, and publications.
- Support knowledge dissemination by assisting with project materials such as abstracts, posters, and presentations.
- Coordinate with communications staff working on other MSH-led, USAID-funded projects to facilitate knowledge sharing.
- Collaborate internally to identify and support opportunities for increased visibility and coordinated messaging across project and MSH global teams.
- Liaise with MSH communications department colleagues to elevate project results, achievements, and innovations to global audiences.
- Provide orientations and training to project teams and partners on knowledge management and communication tools and processes, branding strategy and guidelines, and other key themes.
- Strengthen the capacity of junior communications and knowledge management staff on other MSH Ethiopia projects. Provide strategic and creative oversight and guidance to junior staff, particularly regarding the development of communications and knowledge management strategies and plans and the development of compelling content that demonstrates impact and positions MSH as a strong partner and leader in the global health space.
- Serve as the lead MSH Ethiopia communications and knowledge management focal point to develop and maintain strong relationships with donor clients, in particular the USAID/Ethiopia Development Outreach & Communication (DOC) Office. Liaise with donor communications officers to align strategies, ensure the delivery of high-quality communications products and initiatives, and enhance visibility within donor audiences. Actively participate in relevant communications working groups, representing MSH and the projects.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in public health, knowledge management, instructional design, journalism, communications, or other related discipline. Master’s degree preferred.
- At least seven (7) years of relevant experience in a similar position preferably with international organizations or similar organizations.
- Excellent writing and oral communication skills, with ability to convey complex technical information in clear, compelling language without technical jargon.
- Ability to organize, present, and disseminate information, and to draft clear and concise documents with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrated experience developing and implementing communications strategies, annual plans, and materials related to relevant project technical areas.
- Demonstrated experience in the production of print and digital communications content and dissemination strategies.
- Proven ability to identify, gather, and prepare data-driven, human-centered stories for digital and print channels.
- Experience with public health communications, pharmaceuticals and/or supply chains preferred.
- Experience engaging with colleagues and other stakeholders across multiple projects to identify, align, and unify messaging tailored to various key audiences.
- Prior experience working on USAID-funded programs and/or understanding of USAID, including trends, audiences, and requirements and experience in the implementation of USAID-funded global projects required. Familiarity with key concepts regarding design and delivery of USAID’s Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) approach preferred.
- Strong working knowledge of online platforms and social media, and proven ability in applications such as Google Applications, WordPress, and Microsoft Office Suite applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Experience with photography and desktop publishing applications including Adobe Creative Suite are highly desired.
- Experience with design and implementation of effective learning activities with partners and clients, including understanding of adult learning principles, styles of learning, and principles of data/information presentation for effective understanding.
- Excellent verbal and written skills in English required.
MSH is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, religion, creed, citizenship, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job requirements. MSH will take affirmative action to ensure that qualified applicants are employed and that employees are treated without regard to their race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran and disability status. In compliance with U.S. Department of Labor Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Section 4212 of the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act, MSH has developed and maintains an affirmative action program and plan.
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