Advocacy and Communications Manager NGO Jobs – Plan International

  Communications Jobs in Uganda, Law Jobs In Uganda, Management Jobs in Uganda, NGO - Non-Government Organisations Jobs in Uganda, Social Sciences Jobs in Uganda, Uncategorized
Organization: Plan
International
Duty Station: Kampala,
Uganda
Reports to: Head of
Programmes
About US:
Founded 75 years ago, Plan International is one of the oldest and
largest children’s development organizations (non-profit / INGOs) in the world.
We work in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to
promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. Plan’s
vision is of a world in which all children realize their full potential in
societies that respect people’s rights and dignity. Plan is independent, with
no religious, political or governmental affiliations.
Job Summary: The Advocacy
and Communications Manager is responsible for leading the implementation of
Plan International Uganda Advocacy and Communication strategies by taking an
integrated approach to policy change, campaigning and communications. The
position ensures excellence in Plan International’s internal and external
advocacy, media and communications in full alignment with the Country Strategy
and Plan International Global Programme Strategy. S/he manages a team of
communication and advocacy experts to develop key advocacy messages, defining
effective tactics and strategic partnerships, leveraging our brand strength to
mobilise support and raise awareness in Uganda and also externally with donors
and the whole Plan International federation.
Key Duties and
Responsibilities:  
Strategic Leadership:
·        
Lead and manage the design and implementation of
the Communications and Advocacy Strategies in line with the Country Strategy
coordination and engaging with the staff and partners, taking an integrated
approach to policy change, campaigning and communications.
·        
Regularly review and update the Communications
and Advocacy Strategies as appropriate in response to the global strategy and
the evolving country context and programme design.
·        
Ensure strong linkages between Advocacy,
Communications and Programmes so that advocacy is evidence based and programme
driven and projects are further strengthened and improved through advocacy.
·        
Provide high quality line management and staff
development, building a strong team and embedding robust planning, implementation
reporting and evaluation processes into advocacy and communications work.
·        
Guide the Country Leadership Team and the
Country Management Team on key communication and advocacy issues, which
includes developing position papers, managing potential communication risks and
leading on a range of cross-organisational priorities and strategies.
·        
Create relationships, systems and pathways that
ensure that the advocacy and communications team is fully integrated into the
organisation at all levels, fully realizing our potential for campaigning,
income generation, quality, learning and impact reporting.
·        
Build strategic partnership with organizations
and key stakeholders that will assist Plan International Uganda in meeting its
policy agenda outcomes.
Advocacy and Policy:
·        
Develop and ensure implementation of the
Advocacy Strategy, in coordination with the Programme team at CO and PUs and
partners, aligning with the Regional and Global priorities.
·        
Support stakeholder identification and mapping
to feed into a comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategy
·        
Keenly analyse and advise Management on the
changing trends and opportunities in the national, regional and global policy
landscape.
·        
Define key advocacy opportunities, targets and
tactics at district and national levels and align programme and project design
to these targets.
·        
Ensure that all advocacy messages, documents and
strategies are evidence-based, drawn from field experience and assessments and
maintain high quality standards.
·        
Identify research opportunities and policy
development, working closely and collaboratively with the Monitoring,
Evaluation and Research team and the Programme team to develop high quality
analysis, policy briefs, recommendations and positions in relation to Plan
International’s advocacy and policy priorities.
Media, Communications and branding:
·        
In charge of the development and implementation
of the Communications Strategy to promote Plan International’s visibility in
Uganda, strengthening advocacy, programme effectiveness and fundraising
opportunities in coordination with the Country Strategy as well as engaging
Plan International wider federation.
·        
Take lead in the production of high quality,
well researched, and well written products (in a variety of mediums). This may
include, but not limited to: press releases, speeches, newsletters, annual
reports, success stories, tweets, blog and Facebook post, etc.
·        
Establish a coherent and consistent brand image
across Uganda and ensuring all projects are aligned to the Global Plan International
Branding Guidelines.
·        
Responsible for organizing and managing the
events calendar, leveraging national and international moments to maximize
communications and advocacy opportunities.
·        
Establish, manage and maintain a cordial and
positive relationship with all key media houses and proactively ensure
consistent media coverage of events and development programmes.
·        
Work and manage external consultants as required
for the development of agreed outputs.
·        
Facilitating media interviews and act as
spokesperson when required; provide strategic guidance to Senior Management on
critical messaging and talking points.
·        
Support media work and content development on
major humanitarian emergencies such as conflicts, food crises and disasters;
manage media enquiries and link with relevant spokespersons as appropriate.
Staff Management, Mentorship, and Development
·        
Manage Media, Communications and Advocacy teams
and providing leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate and
support direct reports regularly.
·        
Ensure recruitment, training, and promotion of
staff as appropriate and support availability of appropriate professional
development opportunities for staff.
Dealing with Problems:
·        
This position is critical and very strategic,
dealing with diverse demands and pressure from different parts of the
organisation to often tight deadlines: Country Office, programme locations,
Regional Office, National Office and International Headquarters as well as key
stakeholders and partners within country.
·        
The ability to prioritize and maintain focus
while still demonstrating high levels of customer orientation are thus key for
this position.
·        
PR and reputational risk mitigation and building
and maintaining cordial relationships with media houses to ensure as well as
capacity development of partners and stakeholders on advocacy and
communications.
·        
Maintaining an active profile for Plan
International while ensuring strong management of potential media and public
advocacy risks. 
Child Protection Policy Responsibilities (mandatory for all staff):
·        
Adhere to the Child Protection Policy, Code of
Conduct and reporting any CPP issues. 
·        
Responsible for the implementation of the CPP
standards as they apply to area of responsibility plus the development of
actions to address identified gaps and monitoring their effectiveness.
·        
Ensure that all Plan International partners,
visitors and associates in his/her area of responsibility are provided with,
are made aware off and have signed and returned a copy of the child protection
policy. Inform the partners, visitors and associates that they must comply with
the policy in all contacts and communications with children during their visit.
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience:
·        
The ideal candidate for the Plan International
Advocacy and Communications Manager job placement should hold a Bachelor’s
degree in journalism, communications, law, international relations, politics or
social science. Masters in Communications, Public Relations or Human Rights
desired.
·        
A minimum of five years’ professional experience
in Advocacy and/or Communications and 
working to influence human rights laws, policies and institutions,
preferably with NGOs, inter-governmental organisation or governments.
·        
Comprehensive knowledge of current communication
issues and trends, particularly in the humanitarian sector.
·        
Previous experience of influencing and advocacy
work including lobbying, policy development and information provision in
humanitarian issues.
·        
Prior exposure and experience in networking and
coordination, planning and implementing campaigns and events that drive
influence and stakeholder engagement.
·        
Excellent skills in advocating towards
government officials and understanding of UN and donor operations at country
level.
·        
Good knowledge of how the media and journalists
work nationally.
·        
Proven experience to develop and implement
communication and media advocacy strategies
·        
Demonstrable leadership within a networked
environment
·        
Superior communication and writing skills with
the ability to translate complex issues into a level appropriate for the
general population and policymakers.
·        
Excellent analytical, negotiation and problem
solving skills.
·        
Excellent publication skills that include
proofreading, copyediting, and knowledge of design/layout and strong visual
skills.
·        
Ability to communicate orally and in writing
with a variety of audiences, including community advocates, service providers,
members of the public and local officials
·        
Excellent planning, management and coordination
skills, with the ability to organise a substantial workload comprised of
complex, diverse tasks and responsibilities.
·        
Excellent representation and interpersonal
skills and the ability to work with people from diverse cultures, ability to
lead and motivate people to work in teams.
·        
Skills in partnership building and management,
working through partners.
·        
Skilled in the use of computer software.
·        
Skills in working with children and facilitating
child participation is desired.
Behavioural Competencies:
·        
Shows commitment and understanding to always act
in the best interest of the child and respect to human rights.
·        
Holds self-accountable for making decisions,
managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Plan International
values, striving for lasting impact.
·        
Honest, encourages openness and transparency;
demonstrates highest levels of integrity, capacity to include and empower
others.
·        
Comfortable working with others, as part of a
team or as a team leader. Builds and maintains effective relationships, with
their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters;
approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
·        
Values diversity sees it as a source of
competitive strength.
·        
Develops and encourages new and innovative
solutions.
·        
Thinks strategically, reflects about
achievements and recognizes people’s contribution.
·        
Promotes a culture of learning and sharing.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified candidates should send their letters of
application, together with updated CVs, contact telephone numbers, copies of
relevant certificates, names and contact details of three references plus
salary history and send to:
Ag. Country Human Resources Manager,
Plan Uganda
Email to: uganda.recruitment@plan-international.org
Deadline: 6th
December, 2016
NB: Please consider your
application unsuccessful in case you do not hear from us by 28th February 2017

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or
find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Related Jobs