Communications Coordinator

Organization Background

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian non-governmental organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And its girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children's rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for - and respond to - crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Working in Zambia since 1996, Plan International Zambia’s development and humanitarian programmes focus primarily on Inclusive Quality Education, Skills and Opportunities for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Early Childhood Development and Gender Responsive Child Protection. Child protection is key in all that we do. Plan International Zambia has Programme Areas (PAs) in; Central, Luapula, and Eastern Provinces including in Lusaka, where the Country Office is located.

Location: Country Office, Lusaka

Reports to: Head of Programs

Grade: D2

Closing Date: 19 April 2024

Position Description:

The purpose of Communications Coordinator is to manage and facilitate the implementation of a communication strategy and plans of action aiming at project beneficiaries, donors, government and the general public; support media work on major humanitarian emergencies to manage media enquiries and link with relevant spokespersons as appropriate; gather internal knowledge and transform it into exciting and useful messages, and disseminate it to the right audiences through identification of the most effective distribution channels; and provide technical support and mentoring as well as on the job training to a network of communications focal points/staff in the country.

Responsibilities:

• Support the development of sound country level strategies and plans which efficiently profile the importance of Plan’s programme, gender transformation and influencing priorities.
• Makes viable recommendations on operational strategies in the areas of participatory communication, social mobilization and on appropriate materials and media to reach target audiences.
• Support the M&E team in ensuring Knowledge Management and Documentation.
• Ensures project and office visibility material are in line with Plan International branding policy.
• Implement a national media strategy aligned to Country Strategy aligned to the global strategy, to deliver high impact media coverage in national markets.
• Support media work on major humanitarian emergencies to manage media enquiries and link with relevant spokespersons as appropriate.
• Produce high quality materials including information packs, opinion pieces, power point presentations, press releases, speeches and talking points, opinion pieces, news reactions, photos, blogs, annual reports, newsletters, video and multimedia content.
• Support the creation and management of content for Plan International’s Zambia website and social media accounts.
• Carryout periodical Communication Audit to identify communication gaps and review progress made on key communication strategies being implemented.
• Gather internal knowledge and transform it into exciting and useful messages, and disseminate it to the right audiences through identification of the most effective distribution channels.
• Provide opportunities for children to participate in media related programs to promote the rights of children.
• Support Program Areas in ensuring adherence to communication policies, protocols, standards and brand compliance.
• Spearhead the collection, packaging and dissemination of high-quality content in multiple formats for targeted audience including but not limited to information packs, opinion pieces, press releases, speeches and talking points, opinion pieces, news reactions, blogs, annual reports and 18+ newsletter.
• Provide technical support and mentoring as well as on the job training to a network of communications focal points/staff in the country.
• Provide support to spokespeople on a range of humanitarian, development and campaigning issues while training more spokespeople in the country office.
• Build capacities of country teams on capacity gaps related to media and communications.
• Build capacities of country teams on capacity gaps related to media and communications.
• Provide support to spokespeople on a range of humanitarian, development and campaigning issues while training more spokespeople in the country office.
• Manage Plan International’s internal communications for the country office, exploring new ways to get messages across using social media and online platforms.
• Create and manage content for Plan International’s Zambia website content and social media accounts.
• Develop risk management matrix for children in contact with the media to ensure Safeguarding of Children and Young People.
• Manage risk and brand reputation to ensure that media work benefits rather than harms Plan International’s strategic objectives and does not endanger staff, programmes, partners and the communities.
• Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GEI) policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
• Ensures that Programme staff are properly inducted on and understands their role in upholding Plan International’s safeguarding and GEI policies.
• Ensures that Plan Zambia contributes to Plan International’s global efforts to ensure safeguarding and GEI, including making sure that relevant reporting and data are submitted.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Degree in the social sciences preferably in mass communication, strategic management, research methods, etc.
• 5 years’ relevant work experience.
• Experience of working with international NGOs and understanding of a rights-based approach.
• Demonstrable experience in working with international media, communications or public relations roles.
• A track record of achieving results and strategic impact on communications and media and in building capacity for teams to deliver.
• Development communication experience is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated experience of the key responsibilities, including working with media, delivering communications strategies, managing internal communications, knowledge of digital media, and creating networks.
• Member of Zambia Public Relations Association-ZAPRA.

Competencies:

• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, including ability to find, absorb, analyse and prioritise information from many different sources, and proven experience of strategy development.
• Ability to work under pressure, to tight deadlines, with competing priorities and minimal supervision.
• Ability to travel – sometimes at short notice and to humanitarian crisis areas.
• Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to work in multi-national, multi-cultural teams, flexible and ability to adapt easily.

Plan International provides equal employment opportunities to qualified and experienced women and men, Women are especially encouraged to apply.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.