Job at Never Again Rwanda : Head of Information and Communication (Deadline: 25 November 2017)

Job Title

Head of Information and Communication

Reporting recruitments

Staff directly interacting with this post

Reporting directly to and Line-managed by the Executive Director

The Senior Management Team (SMT), Programme Coordinators, Programme Officers, Programme Officers, Research Fellows, Interns working on supporting communications, Logistics and Administration

Purpose of Position

The role of the Head of Information and Communication is to provide oversight of internal and external communication products and initiatives and, lead and develop the organizational communications strategy.

The post-holder will be tasked with developing information and communication products for Never Again Rwanda’s (NAR) programming that raises the profile of NAR.

To promote Never Again Rwanda’s voice and reputation as a leading peacebuilding and social justice organization, in the media and public sphere, internationally, regionally and nationally.

You will be expected to exhibit good judgement to safeguard the privacy and discretion of participants in applying professional codes of conduct when requesting permission from programme participants to take video footage and record confidential information for publicity purposes for use by the organisation.

Main Responsibilities and Deliverables

You will be on a steep learning curve, to gain an in-depth understanding of the various programmes’ objectives, input of activities and key events and expected outcomes that Never Again Rwanda is implementing. This will include, Research and Advocacy, Peace building, and Governance, Human Rights, Regional Peace programme Civic participatory rights education, Sustainable Livelihoods and Education.

This will require dedicated time to become very familiar with programme reports, annual reports, liaising and learning from key staff in all the relevant thematic programme areas.

Overview of Responsibilities

• To create a ‘corporate’ communications strategy and implementation plan, working with the Executive Director, Director of Programmes and Programme Coordinators
• To develop and maintain NAR’s media strategy across all external media including press, broadcast, radio, publications and Social Media
• To raise NAR’s profile and market NAR’s activities including programmes, key events and activities, case studies, advocacy documents, brochures, banners, flyers, pamphlets, and other publicity related items and documentation
• To support Advocacy efforts by producing reader-friendly tools
• Responsible for overall Organisational Staff Inductions of new staff to better understand NAR organisational identity through its values, vision and mission statement.

Specific Responsibilities

• To lead on the production and design of NAR Annual reports, NAR programme reports and other publications
• To lead on the monthly NAR in-house web magazine, ‘Peace Insight’ and disseminate to all stakeholders
• To take responsibility for external PR of key organisational programme events and activities and maximising opportunities for communications activity
• To act as the custodian for the Corporate Brand(s) of Never Again Rwanda and to better inform all staff in the organisation of usage of branding
• Record, document and store all Never Again Rwanda’s programme videos, short film documentaries, photographs and reports
• To develop through staff trainings, the capacity of staff to better addresses internal and external communications in programmes, and externally with key stakeholder engagement.
• Responsible for the coordination of NAR induction trainings to all new incoming staff

Audio-Visual

• To support the audio-visual team with clear TOR in support of film/ documentary production as well as short summary films for social media usage.
• To ensure positive and clear engagement between the SMT and programme teams on the objectives of short/ documentary film productions in support of programmes and for educational usage to NAR youth and wider citizen constituents.

Social Media and Website

• To be responsible for all social media activity with weekly up-dates on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and, You Tube
• To manage NAR’s website(s), the PBI website, including keeping content up-date and making appropriate, improvements to functionality and advising colleagues on maximising website potential,
• To work with the Executive Director, Programme Coordinators, programme officers, Audio Visual team and partners to support campaigns and other key initiatives
• To take responsibility for the development and management of implementing and expanding social media to raise NAR’s profile and NAR’s trademark community approaches (Participatory Governance, Psychosocial healing approach, advocacy messages)

Public Relations (PR)

• To identify press opportunities both internally (programmes) and externally

                (policy and developmental /sectoral) in support of organisational advocacy

• To keep a diary of press communications activities
• To develop corporate messages and disseminate proactively to key stakeholders

Key Success Areas

• To raise the profile of the Never Again Rwanda at National and Local levels including on social media, supporting the organisation’s ambition to become the a ‘leading voice’

Time sheet of hours worked and tasks accomplished

Organisational Learning and Capacity Building

As part of our commitment to organisational learning and in support of understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve. NAR expects all staff members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities, through providing training and presentations that benefit and build the capacity of Never Again Rwanda staff as well as themselves

Administrative

As part of the office team, assist in general administrative duties. This may include making phone calls, sending invites and on-line publications to NAR stakeholders (local and international partners, civil society organisations, Government agencies, donors, local and international academics and other potential supporters); host visitors, support interns and volunteers. Being tasked to support key large organisational events.

Performance-related management

As a staff member of the organisation, you will be expected to undertake and manage staff performance appraisal formats (based on tasks and responsibilities undertaken) and complete an accompanying competency format (*how a task is undertaken, behaviour, skills and attitudes) for you and staff under your supervision. This will be undertaken 6-monthly and annually.

A work plan of yearly objectives will need to be produced between the line manager and employee at the start of the year in January, after the annual planning of yearly programme activities and events have been completed.

The list of responsibilities is by no means exhaustive and the post holder may be requested to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required. The job description may be subject to regular review and appropriate modification.

Accountabilities

Responsible for the management and performance of the various sub-communication teams, the Communications Officer and supporting communication interns.

Behavioural Competencies

Organisational Awareness

Understands how their job contributes and delivers NAR vision, mission and goals in accordance with NAR values and the organisational strategic plan

Planning and Delivery of Work

Thinks ahead, managing time, priorities and risks, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard

Decision-making

Considers the information that is available, identifies options and makes timely decisions

Working with Others

Takes responsibility to build and maintain positive relationships and value the opinion of others

Team Building

Works in a participatory and inclusive manner to encourage team support of one another, mentoring, coaching and accompaniment

Communicating and Influencing others

Presents information and ideas clearly and convincingly, ensuring that messages are understood; and that others see NAR as credible and engage with the organisation

Managing Change

Is able to be flexible to sustain performance when situations change, workload increases and priorities shift

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualification

Professional Experience, Knowledge and Skills

Minimum qualifications: University degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or the equivalent.

Essential:

• 5-7 years professional communications work experience of working in the not-for-profit sector as a senior communications member of the organisation
• Experience in internal and external communications, including developing and implementing a communications strategy, ensuring compliance and consistency of message
• Excellent writer and editor
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English and Kinyarwanda.
• Strong events organizational skills
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to interact with a range of audiences from across a number of disciplines
• A good knowledge of marketing techniques and their application including development of advocacy campaigns from inception to delivery
• Ability to utilise social media and web applications to support public relations activity and corporate image
• Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various teams, departments, staff members and partners (media houses, broadcast media, press persons, liaise with other communications spokes persons)
• Ability to exercise judgement, identify and make clear, informed, appropriate, pragmatic and timely decisions within a busy environment of multiple programmes
• Excellent computer skills MS Excel spread sheet, MS word and is competent with the latest Windows Office application
• Ability to travel to the field as required and at times at short notice

Desirable:

• A working understanding of French, written and verbal, would also be advantageous
• Competency in graphic design and video editing would be advantageous in guiding the production of multi-media communications material

Personal Qualities:

• An excellent team player, incorporates a people-friendly management approach
• A good listener and able to engage various audiences
• Open to learning about the organisational and supporting existing communication needs from various thematic teams within the organisation
• Energy and enthusiasm to manage the Communication demands from across the organisation
• Able to work in a fast-paced changing environment and adapt to changing work priorities