🇸🇱 Job Vacancy @ Concern Worldwide – Advocacy and Communications Manager

– Programme and Project Coordinators and Managers, Gender and Equity Advisor, Grants and Information Manager, MEAL Coordinator, Accountability Supervisor and Partnership Manager; key support systems staff.

– Desk Officer, International Advocacy Team, Communications and other relevant head office staff;

– Advocacy and Communications focal persons in partner organisations.

The Advocacy and Communications Manager will support the development and communication of key messages and evidence from Concern’s programmes and research in Sierra Leone in order to contribute to and influence government policies and strategies that impact upon the lives of people living in conditions of extreme poverty. S/he will play a key role in enhancing Concern’s visibility in Sierra Leone at national and global levels through developing high quality communication materials, organising learning events, and supporting in strategic external engagement.  S/he will play a key role in effective communication with government, donors, UN Agencies, NGOs, other key stakeholders and the wider public in Sierra Leone of information through different internal and external channels, ensuring adherence to Concern’s code of conduct and associated policies, accountability commitments and organisational visibility / branding guidelines.

Develop and Implement Country Programme Advocacy and Communications Plan:

• Lead the design of the country programme advocacy and communications plan in a participatory manner that identifies advocacy priorities, key messages, target audiences, media/channels for external communications, and avenues for advocacy.
• Work with Programme Coordinators and other relevant staff in Sierra Leone and head office to develop sector and project specific advocacy and communications plans as necessary – but maintain an emphasis on the goals and objectives of the overall country programme advocacy and communications plan.
• Lead the implementation and monitoring of the country advocacy and communications plan and promote/implement adaptations as necessary, engaging senior management and consulting relevant head office colleagues.

Advocacy – contribute to policies and strategies of Sierra Leone government and other actors:

• Promote the effective dissemination of Concern’s programme results and learning to government, donors and other development partners to inform and influence key decision makers in identified advocacy thematic areas.
• Play a leading role in the planning, organization and communication of learning events, visibility activities, visits by donors, government representatives and other stakeholders to Concern’s programme locations and communities with whom Concern works.
• Promote and lead the effective highlighting of Concern’s cross cutting issues in all advocacy efforts – in particular equality, the rights of people living in conditions of extreme poverty and vulnerability and protection of the environment (including adaptation to climate change).
• Represent Concern or participate at donor, government coordination, project consortia, and other external meetings as may be required.
• Support the strategic advocacy efforts of the CD, PD and other senior staff in Concern with government, donors, UN Agencies, other NGOs and other stakeholders.
• Play an active role in the production of high quality written, audio-visual, etc. products for use in advocacy and external communications efforts (e.g. technical reports, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, brochures, newsletters, policy briefs, position papers, videos, podcasts etc.), working with other Concern staff and teams as necessary.

Organisational Visibility – increase awareness of Concern Worldwide’s work in Sierra Leone:

• Ensure that all media and other external communications products reflect advocacy priorities and messages in Concern’s Advocacy and Communications Plan in Sierra Leone, taking into account the local context and sensitivities in Sierra Leone and in operational areas.
• Work with programme teams to identify success stories, innovations, examples of best practice, etc. arising from project implementation and MEAL, which can be effectively utilised in advocacy and external communications.  Build these into strategic advocacy and organisational visibility efforts in line with the country programme advocacy and communications plan targets and objectives. Lead in the production and dissemination of organizational visibility materials (learning reports, case studies, audio-visual products, photographs, etc.).
• Monitor external news media in Sierra Leone – traditional print, TV, etc. and social media.
• Working with the Grants and Information Manager and other relevant staff, maintain Concern in Sierra Leone’s section of the organisational website and social media presence – complying fully with Concern’s social media policy and guidelines. Although the Grants and Information Manager will lead in updating the internal Digital Workplace intranet, the Advocacy & Communications Manager will support this as needed.
• Lead the engagement with Head Office Communications Directorate and communications staff in other support offices on media engagement plans, digital and social media strategies, visibility and communications.
• Train/sensitise all Concern staff and partners to understand and adhere to Concern and donor organisation branding guidelines and requirements. Work with relevant country programme and head office staff to ensure that all communication products and project materials aimed at external audiences are appropriately branded.
• Coordinate with procurement and programme teams in the engagement of external suppliers to develop appropriately branded communication and advocacy materials.

Capacity Building

• Capacity building of staff (induction, briefing, training and on the job coaching) on advocacy and communication – including technical skills such as photography, storytelling, social media campaigning as appropriate.
• Support capacity building work with partner organisations to (a) learn from their advocacy & communications work, (b) empower them to develop or enhance their own plans/strategies and (c) develop joint advocacy positions and plans as appropriate.
• Organise media training for properly approved country programme spokespersons for Concern and partner organisations.

Other responsibilities:

• Participate in the review/development of Concern in Sierra Leone’s Country Strategy.
• Contribute to the efficient and transparent use of all project resources in order to maximize benefits to the targeted communities.
• Within your role, adhere to and promote compliance with the requirements of Concern’s key policies (e.g. Code of Conduct & Associated Policies, Anti-Fraud policy).
• Support the fulfilment of Concerns commitments to accountability (as outlined in the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) to which Concern is a signatory) – ensuring that references to particular communities and individuals in all advocacy and external communication are only made if full consent is explicitly given for this purpose by those to be referred to.  S/he must always demonstrate sensitivity to potential risks to communities and individuals when engaging in communication external to Concern.
• Complete any other reasonable task as may be requested by the line manager.

• Bachelor (BA) Degree (MA preferred) in Communications, Project Management, Development Studies, Rural Development or relevant Social Science fields that can bring an added value to the post from a recognized University/College.
• Relevant experience of 4 years, with at least two years working in an NGO.
• Strong knowledge/understanding of development communication, advocacy, and humanitarian and development programs.
• Creative verbal and written communicator.  Ability to produce high quality reports, case studies, etc. and develop effective communication materials including written, audio and visual.
• Advanced interpersonal and communications skills with a range of external and internal stakeholders.  Experience of engaging with media organisations.
• Ability to thrive and act independently in a high-pressured, results-focused, dynamic external and internal environment.
• Highly developed cultural awareness and able to work well in a diverse environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to learning and using learning to strengthen practice.
• Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office – especially Word, PowerPoint, etc.

Desirable

• Experience in developing Advocacy and Communications plans or strategies.
• Familiarity with MS Excel and ability to use Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, or other graphic design software is an added advantage.
• Experience of research, context analyses, assessments and evaluations.

• Raising awareness and being updated on HIV & AIDS issues.
• Protecting him/herself and colleagues.
• Sharing information with colleagues and avoiding stigma and discrimination.

Therefore, each staff member of Concern is expected to be sensitive to equality issues in their relationships with colleagues and in their work and to participate in implementation of gender mainstreaming plans, both at the workplace and in programmes.

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies. Additionally, Concern is committed to the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults and children in our work. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work or volunteer with vulnerable adults and children are recruited by us for such roles. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Concern is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.