Communications Officer

World Vision Malawi

With over 70 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 34,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Key Responsibilities:

Content Development for internal and external Engagement

  • Produce high-quality child-focused written stories that demonstrate World Vision’s impact for engagement on digital channels, and marketing, fundraising, and public engagement.
  • Produce high-quality, child-focused visual content (photo and or video) that inspires, engages, and positively transforms diverse audiences.
  • Support the production of high-impact communications products to facilitate World Vision’s external engagement efforts and resource acquisition.
  • Initiate relevant topical content in support of World Vision’s key priorities and key global moments for use to engage audiences.
  • Develop and maintain positive working relationships with field staff to facilitate successful coordination and planning of field visits.
  • Package and disseminate stories to World Vision global offices through approved information management channels.
  • Support World Vision Malawi to reach its target audiences and inspire meaningful action.
  • Ensure all content complies with World Vision’s safeguarding protocols.

ADVOCACY

  • To support in developing, implementing and reporting on advocacy campaigns, plans and initiatives in the zones and national office
  • To lead in establishing strategic partnerships with the media for advocacy in the zones and national office
  • Lead in the production of materials for advocacy

Media Communications

  • Develop and maintain key media contacts and build strategic relationships with media in Malawi, including international correspondents and news agencies.
  • Proactively pursue opportunities to pitch compelling story ideas including press releases to the media.
  • Facilitate and coordinate World Vision’s engagement with the media in Malawi to position the organization as a partner of choice, voice for children and voice of authority on advocacy, humanitarian, and development issues.
  • Coordinate, plan, and facilitate media visits to WVM Area programmes.

Emergency Response Communications

  • Produce high-quality, compelling, and child-focused communications resources during emergencies to draw attention to the humanitarian needs and support World Vision’s marketing and fundraising efforts.
  • Monitor context issues including reputational risks, and proactively share information for prompt decision making.
  • Coordinate and facilitate media engagement during emergencies, including draft social media updates, key messages, and press releases.
  • Facilitate and coordinate the development of reports, including situation reports, during emergencies.
  • Provide overall communications support to the Response teams and leadership.

Internal Communications

  • Participate in the design of communications business plans and initiatives that ensures the communications department delivers on high-value results.
  • Support the production of content for WVM internal communications/engagement initiatives.
  • Facilitate staff engagement during key global moments.
  • Support staff training to effectively communicate the impact/contribution of World Vision in Malawi.
  • Facilitate, coordinate and liaise with service providers to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of results.
  • Support planning and coordination of World Vision’s public events.
  • Support all communications aspects of internal and external engagement for other departments.

Branding and Reputation

  • Ensure World Vision’s reputation and brand is protected and strengthened through effectively managed external engagement.
  • Ensure World Vision’s brand consistency, and appropriate implementation across offices of World Vision and donor branding and visibility guidelines.
  • Monitor and track online, traditional and social media and report relevant information to senior management to inform decision making.

Capacity Building

  • Facilitate training of staff in the zones on media handling (interviews).
  • To provide guidance to staff on media engagement, policies and protocols.
  • Build capacity of staff, community stakeholders and children in Communication for Development (C4D).

Any other responsibilities as might be assigned from time to time

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Minimum Qualification required: Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications/Journalism from a recognized university.
  • Experience:
    • 3-5 years’ experience working in the field of journalism or development communication
    • Conversant with international NGO business including programming, advocacy and humanitarian emergency sectors
    • Possess strong story writing, photography and videography skills
    • Willingness to work long hours when required
    • Self-motivated, innovative, and able to work under pressure
    • Strong drafting and analytical skills
    • Knowledge about Child rights
    • Excellent communication, networking and interpersonal skills
    • Ability to speak English and other Malawian vernacular languages fluently

Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

  • Ability to capture and edit videos Graphic designing skills

List additional work experience preferred for this position.

  • Web designing skills
  • Data visualization

Work Environment

  • The position requires ability and willingness to travel up to 50% of the time.

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only

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