Background

As a member of the Strategic Communications and Marketing team, the Communications Officer is responsible for implementing the communications strategy in Uganda, enhancing AWF’s visibility and outreach across the country. The role reports to the Program Communications Manager and has a matrix reporting line to the Country Director, ensuring coordination between strategic communications priorities and country-level needs. The position requires close collaboration with field and program teams to support timely and accurate storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Research, write and pitch content in line with Leading, Living, Caring, and Chance Conservationist stories related to each country and landscape.
• Manage and coordinate field trips for content collection for various platforms. This will be guided by the Communications field guide.
• Develop content that is engaging, accurate, and consistent with AWF’s brand and messaging.
• Facilitate quarterly reviews and updates of all AWF marketing materials relevant to the countries and landscapes.
• Ensure the accuracy, relevance, and strategic alignment of communications and marketing materials, proactively updating content to reflect changes in projects, initiatives, and organizational priorities.
• Assess and address branding needs during visits to country and landscape offices.
• Capture photos/videos of offices during initial visits to document current AWF branding.
• Develop and submit weekly social media posts that include engaging photography and short videos from landscapes.
• Train landscape staff on social media contributions, using top-performing examples from Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok as provided by social media lead.
• Support the HQ media team to research and prepare media pitches and media interviews for AWF spokespersons.
• Monitor regional media coverage on a weekly basis of media coverage in East Africa and provide insights to pitch development on trending issues relating to AWF’s key messages and priorities.
• Forward top relevant stories to HQ for inclusion in the HQ daily monitoring report.
• Coordinate and manage media releases and outreach plans to media lead for review and approval before dissemination either internally or externally.
• Generate media reports for AWF media outreach in the region.
• Cultivate and manage in country media relationships with, journalists and editors ot secure media coverage of AWF in the regions.
• Conduct monthly reviews of communication activities required in all open grants for the countries and relevant landscapes.
• With the support of the larger brand team, create, develop, and execute comprehensive communication plans that align with the organization’s objectives and target audience. This may include defining key messages and selecting appropriate communication channels.
• Provide written reports to HQ managers on the status of activities and plans.
• Provide regular updates and reports to HQ managers on grant communications budgets, utilization.
• Contribute to internal reporting and knowledge sharing through AWF’s Yammer platform, facilitating updates on grant activities and progress.
• Serve as the in-country communications training focal point, coordinating closely with the broader brand team to plan and deliver internal communications training, ensure consistent brand messaging and visual identity across channels, and act as the primary liaison for communications feedback and reporting.
• Assist in logistics, planning, and documenting in-country and landscape events and visits.
• Support the Brand team in managing and tracking the department’s annual budget.
• Manage media releases and outreach plans, serving as the communications focal point for the Conservation Education Program under the Youth Programme, and coordinating all related communications, media engagement, and outreach activities.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
• At least 3-5 years of experience in a communications role, preferably in the non-profit or environmental sector.
• Proficiency in social media platforms and tools for media monitoring.
• Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to travel frequently within Uganda
• Experience in training and capacity building is an asset.
• Knowledge of conservation issues in the region is a plus.

• Research, write and pitch content in line with Leading, Living, Caring, and Chance Conservationist stories related to each country and landscape.
• Manage and coordinate field trips for content collection for various platforms. This will be guided by the Communications field guide.
• Develop content that is engaging, accurate, and consistent with AWF’s brand and messaging.
• Facilitate quarterly reviews and updates of all AWF marketing materials relevant to the countries and landscapes.
• Ensure the accuracy, relevance, and strategic alignment of communications and marketing materials, proactively updating content to reflect changes in projects, initiatives, and organizational priorities.
• Assess and address branding needs during visits to country and landscape offices.
• Capture photos/videos of offices during initial visits to document current AWF branding.
• Develop and submit weekly social media posts that include engaging photography and short videos from landscapes.
• Train landscape staff on social media contributions, using top-performing examples from Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok as provided by social media lead.
• Support the HQ media team to research and prepare media pitches and media interviews for AWF spokespersons.
• Monitor regional media coverage on a weekly basis of media coverage in East Africa and provide insights to pitch development on trending issues relating to AWF’s key messages and priorities.
• Forward top relevant stories to HQ for inclusion in the HQ daily monitoring report.
• Coordinate and manage media releases and outreach plans to media lead for review and approval before dissemination either internally or externally.
• Generate media reports for AWF media outreach in the region.
• Cultivate and manage in country media relationships with, journalists and editors ot secure media coverage of AWF in the regions.
• Conduct monthly reviews of communication activities required in all open grants for the countries and relevant landscapes.
• With the support of the larger brand team, create, develop, and execute comprehensive communication plans that align with the organization’s objectives and target audience. This may include defining key messages and selecting appropriate communication channels.
• Provide written reports to HQ managers on the status of activities and plans.
• Provide regular updates and reports to HQ managers on grant communications budgets, utilization.
• Contribute to internal reporting and knowledge sharing through AWF’s Yammer platform, facilitating updates on grant activities and progress.
• Serve as the in-country communications training focal point, coordinating closely with the broader brand team to plan and deliver internal communications training, ensure consistent brand messaging and visual identity across channels, and act as the primary liaison for communications feedback and reporting.
• Assist in logistics, planning, and documenting in-country and landscape events and visits.
• Support the Brand team in managing and tracking the department’s annual budget.
• Manage media releases and outreach plans, serving as the communications focal point for the Conservation Education Program under the Youth Programme, and coordinating all related communications, media engagement, and outreach activities.

• Proficiency in social media platforms and tools for media monitoring.
• Excellent writing, editing, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to travel frequently within Uganda
• Experience in training and capacity building is an asset.
• Knowledge of conservation issues in the region is a plus.

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.