VACANCY

Organization: Commit and Act Foundation in Sierra Leone – CAF-SL

Program: 

Project:  All projects

Job Title: Media and Communication Officer (x1)

Responsible for:  All media and communication programs

Responsible to: Program manager

Job Location: Bombali, Bo and Tonkolili Districts 

CAF-SL was established as a national non- governmental organization in Sierra Leone with its headquarters situated in Bo City and branch offices in Makeni and Magburuka.  We are currently working in Bo, Bombali and Tonkolili Districts implementing FGM and Girl’ Shelter Programs.(Health, Education and Agriculture)

Our vision is- in the face of all circumstances people choose to create and live their lives according to their values and empower others to do the same .With a mission to   empower vulnerable populations  in crisis  areas by providing science based culturally sensitive training for health workers and other professionals, Shelter with medical and legal help to victims of violence , and doing scientific research to evaluate our services

We put community people at the center of their own development and strongly believe in partnership working.

We subscribe to the following core values: 

 Background of the project

Since 2014 , CAF-SL received funding from CAA, One day, Kindermissionswerk, German doctors to implement the Girls’ shelter, orphan, FGM projects in  Bo, Bombli and Tonkolili Districts, in Northern and southern Sierra Leone,   The purpose of the project is to reduce the practice and promote girls’ education. The girls’ shelter project focuses on providing psycho-social support for SGBV survivors, and  to provide support services  Kalia orphans and caregivers

Purpose of the Job

• To provide reliable leadership in all media ad communication programs of the organization
• To provide technical backstopping and supervision for social workers In all media programs at community level with the project objective and strategies
• To coordinate media houses  during the implementation of project activities

Key responsibilities 

• To build and maintain excellent relationships with relevant journalists, broadcasters and blogers
• To draft media announcements, releases and programs.
• Prepare and support formulation of background notes, speeches and talking points for public programs
• To  develop success stories of different projects
• To support development and use of related infrastructure, including press lists, media monitoring services, online broadcast video delivery services, etc.
• To offer expert advice on reputational and other media risks arising from programmatic, policy and campaigns issues.
• Develop a media outreach plan to identify and build relations with a network of traditional and specialized media and maintain these relations to increase CAF-SL media profile.
• Produce media briefs,  and timely press releases and build internal capacity to work with media effectively.
• Actively create media visibility opportunities for CAF-SL senior management, preparing talking points, and facilitating radio, TV and print media interviews where necessary.
• To monitor and evaluate media coverage. Including, advice on outreach activities with press and other communication target groups.

Provide professional advice and support to colleagues   and partner organizations involved in media relations work, crisis communications including internal media capacity building

Social Media

• Work with the Communications team to develop and implement a Social Media Strategy aligned with the CAF-SL Organizational  Strategic Plan, imparting key ‘unique selling points’ with audience-specific, tailored content.
• Develop targeted social media campaigns for CAF-SL products, events, and milestone days. Package and promote CAF-SL activities and learning in a strategic, appropriate and timely manner.
• Manage and develop innovative and strategic cutting-edge social media content and campaigns, grow CAF-SL audience on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and other relevant existing and emerging platforms. Manage  CAF-SL social community. Promote search engine optimization and provide monitoring and analysis to streamline performance for better outcomes.
• Keep up-to-date with new trends, developments and opportunities in the digital space and recommend how we can exploit them to help achieve our corporate goals and implement them.
• Collaborate with colleagues/other departments of CAF-SL to generate and create innovate digital and multimedia products that will appeal to specific audiences. Assist the Graphics Analyst to draft a range of visual materials for online use.
• Build relationships with social media editors at leading news and media organizations, helping to secure external placement of CAF-SL content and enhance coverage of its work.
• Work with various departmental teams to ensure comprehensive digital coverage of events and launches worldwide. Train staff on how to optimize social media use, and manage access to CAF-SL social media accounts.
• Flexibility and adaptability to perform other duties as and when requested by the program Manager or by his/her supervisor

Communications

• Provide support and lead (where needed) in developing high quality communications content for external and internal use.
• Work with various departmental teams to ensure that the communications activities calendar is kept up to date and is applied for weekly planning in consultation with the coordinators
• Ensure development of high quality content and dissemination of internal and external monthly newsletters.
• Develop subject specific content for external use as and when required.
• Develop high-level content for corporate communications products such as PowerPoints, fact sheets and other relevant material.
• Provide editorial support to web-content development.
• Support CAF-SL  team in identifying and developing effective messages, framing and means for delivering them to reach communication objectives.
• Actively work with the Web and Partnership Officer to expand CAF-SL  audience engagement and viewership, mailing lists etc.

Person Specifications:

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably in communications, media, journalism and other related discipline is required.

A First level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in combination with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Expirence 

• A minimum of 5 years   of progressively responsible experience in media relations and all aspects of communications work.
• Experience of working in a creative public relations or marketing role would be an added advantage.
• Proven ability to achieve coverage of issues and experts.
• Proven ability to develop good content
• Must possess excellent report writing skills
• Excellent networking, communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience in coordinating field activities
• Working knowledge of MS Office, online communications and related applications
• Ability and willingness to ride  a motor  bike, possess drivers  license and be based in Bo City with frequent travels (about 60% of time)to Bo rural areas in Bombali and Tonkolili Districts
• Ability to speak Krio, Mende and Limba will be an added advantage.
• Commitment and passion to work with local people and state actors in Bo, Bombali and Tonkolili districts

Please forward Application to:

The Director

Commit and Act Foundation – CAF

Torwama

Or via email to: [email protected]; [email protected]

Kindly quote only the Job Position in the subject line

Closing date: 28th April 2023 5:00 Pm

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted