Job Vacancy @ Population Services International (PSI) – Communications Officer / Coordinator

Job title: Epic Communications Officer /Coordinator

Project: Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (Epic)

Reports to the Project Manager

Timing: September 2022-December 2022: Up to 120 days but with possibility for

extension

Travel: Extensive travel across Sierra Leone

Who we are:

We’re Population Services International (PSI) Sierra Leone, a network member of the world’s leading non-profit social marketing organization. We work to make it easier for people in the developing world to lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire by marketing affordable health products and services. We commit ourselves to contributing to health systems transformation with the government partners and others. We believe in investing in Consumer-Powered Healthcare that keeps pace with the changing health needs of consumers, systematically addresses barriers to positive health behaviors and outcomes, and encourages the most efficient use of available resources.

There are over 9,000 “PSI’ers” around the world. It’s a diverse group of entrepreneurs and professionals with an unusually wide range of backgrounds – from the medical industry to the music business – all with unique skills we bring to the job.

Join us!

PSI seeks a communications officer/Coordinator to generate ongoing strategic communications activities to create demand for COVID 19 Vaccination in Sierra Leone under the Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) Project.

Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) is a five-year global project funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).  EpiC receives COVID-19 funding to bolster health systems necessary to address COVID-19 and reduce cases of reemergence.

Currently, EpiC and its consortium members implement COVID-19 activities in more than 45 countries worldwide.  The project delivers high-quality technical assistance at the community, facility, district, regional and national levels and builds relationships with relevant partners working to address COVID-19.

EpiC worked hand in hand with Sierra Leone’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to identify and define gaps that are not currently covered by other partners throughout the country but more especially in the 7 districts that have the lowest COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Through Population Services International (PSI) -Sierra Leone, EpiC will support the Ministry of Health & Sanitation in Sierra Leone and other COVID-19 stakeholders in implementing specific activities aimed at increasing the uptake of COVID-19 Vaccines. This support will principally focus on cold chain systems support; data capturing timeliness, data quality improvement and data analysis enhancement; surge/mass campaign outreach support; community engagement and demand creation for COVID-19 vaccine. Although some of the activities will be implemented nationwide, principal emphasis will be placed in the 7 lowest performing districts identified according to their identified needs

We therefore seek a creative, independent and self-motivated communications officer/Coordinator with keen editorial judgement, top-notch writing and storytelling skills, and knowledge of vaccination programs for combating infectious diseases.

We need a do-er who can get their bearings quickly and go crazy helping EPI achieve its goal of vaccinating 70% of the target population against COVID 19 by 31st December 2022.

Experience with COVID 19 Vaccination programs is a plus, but not necessary. Sounds like you? Read on.




Your contribution

Job Summary:

You will be responsible for creating demand necessary for the implementation of Covid 19 vaccination activities at national, district and community level. This will include supporting key stakeholders with resources aimed at creating community awareness, dispelling myths about and encouraging uptake of COVID 19 vaccines.

Detailed Job Specification:

Planning

• Formulates a detailed monthly plan at district level in liaison with project manager.
• Ensures all demand creation activities including logistical support are conducted as per the Standard Operating Procedures
• Maps districts and identifies appropriate sites, partners to facilitate vaccine demand creation and linkages.

Demand Creation Strategy Implementation

• Translates the demand creation strategy into actual action)

•  Supports implementation of digital/social media campaign to promote and raise awareness of COVID19 vaccination.
•  Supports Key community actors (Church Leaders, Traditional Leaders, CSOs etc) in their day-to-day demand creation activities.
• Supports Community Health Workers (CHWs) in implementing COVID 19 vaccination programs in the community
•  Supports the PHUs in maintaining the cold chain system all the time.
•  Ensure community teams have adequate supplies to support them in demand creation activities.
• Develop monthly demand creation workplan and share with supervisors and district partners.
•  Conduct with frequent update meeting, quality assessments of communications being made and conducting mentorships to address any identified gaps. ⎫
• Provide regular feedback to the Project Manager on the effectiveness of strategies and tools with clear proposals on what needs to be changed
•  Assist in understanding and analyzing clients’ dynamics and needs to better target service delivery.
• Work with community structures to support demand creation activities in the community
• Provide weekly and monthly reports to the project manager on all activities conducted with a special focus on what works and impact of activities
• Identify success stories and lessons learnt and communicate to the project manager for documentation

Coordination of Different Target Populations:

• Coordinates with youth networks and schools to ensure that youths are aware of and access Covid_19 vaccination
•  Coordinates with relevant groupings for the disabled and people living with commodities to ensure they are equitably reached with communication messages.

Stakeholder Management and Engagement:

• Facilitate community entry meetings with community gate keeper.
• Collaborate with other partners implementing COVID 19 programs in the district
• Participate in the relevant COVID 19 district and community meetings.
• Plan for trainings with health workers and gate keepers in the community
• Work with other community and district partners like Focus 1000 and Health for All Coalition to coordinate communication and demand creation activities within the communities and target districts

Program Monitoring and Evaluation :

• Provides weekly and monthly reports to project manager on all activities conducted with a special focus on what works and impact of activities
• Supports project manager in collecting and sharing information for success stories and lessons learnt.

You will work closely with the DC-based project core team and other regional team members to create and execute a project communications plan and develop and execute a wide range of compelling and inspiring communications materials to promote COVID 19 Vaccination. Communication materials could include: social media interactions, Video-blogs, podcasts, etc. The sky is really the limit!

We want beautiful and creative communications that both inform and inspire while establishing sustainable behavioral change.

The position is based PSI Sierra Leone’s Freetown office but you would frequently be asked to travel to the remotest and hard to reach parts of the country. This position will require close coordination and collaboration with many people, particularly MoHS officials and Community Leaders —good people skills are a must!

What are we looking for?

The basics 

• A bachelors or master’s degree in communications
• Over 5 years of experience creating polished and impactful communications materials
• Proven experience producing a wide variety of high-quality multi-media communications products that are both stylish and substantive.
• Knowledge in community health assessment and engagement
• Good interpersonal communication and analytical skills
• Ability to develop analytical processes and tracking methods as regards to demand creation.
• Outstanding English written, verbal and inter-personal communication skills.
• Experience and excellence in working with large, multinational and intercultural teams.

What would get us excited?

Creative: You love doing things differently, seeking to delight and inspire your audience.

Self-starter: You can work independently, pitch and manage your own mini-projects, and meet deadlines.

D0-er: You love to roll up your sleeves and get to work. You aren’t afraid to suggest new ways of doing things. You would love the chance to shape the strategy and show what you can do!

Team Player:  You are an effective team player with demonstrated and verifiable result-oriented nature track record.

Interested candidates should submit CV, professional certificates and cover letters indicating the position they are applying for and submit online to the email [email protected] / before the 9th of September 2022.

PSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of actual or perceived race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, family status or responsibilities, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions or breastfeeding, genetic information, amnesty, veteran, special disabled veteran or uniform service member status or employment status.