Communications Public Relations Jobs at StrongMinds Uganda and Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA)


Deadline of this Job: 
15 November 2022

JOB DETAILS:

About StrongMinds
StrongMinds (www.strongminds.org) is an INGO that treats depression in women and adolescents in low-income communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Our rigorously tested group talk therapy model is delivered by trained lay community members, enabling us to rapidly reach tens of thousands of people each year. Since our founding in 2013, we have restored mental health to more than 170,000 women and adolescents in Uganda and Zambia. We are the only organization scaling a proven, cost-effective solution to the depression epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa.

Job Description:
The Communications Officer will serve as a key contributor to the StrongMinds Uganda and StrongMinds Global communications and marketing initiative. This position will serve as a key communications liaison between the Uganda and US offices, providing content (stories, images, video, etc.) for donor-facing publications and for social media. The ideal person is a creative, a quick thinker, has a knack for detail and a penchant for excellence, is great with people, a consummate networker, and an amazing writer (therefore is an avid reader and likes researching).

Responsibilities:
• Coordinate with Global comms team on international social media strategy and provide regular content, following a social media calendar,
• Travel to communities and collect stories, quotes, and photographs from StrongMinds beneficiaries, volunteers, and partners,
• Produce regular stories, quotes, content for StrongMinds’ recurring publications, such as Partner briefs, monthly newsletters, social media, and quarterly reports,
• Coordinate and collect feedback from Uganda office on global publications,
• Supervise consulting photographers, videographers and writers on field visits,
• Ensure that informed consent is obtained from all interview and photo subjects,
• Work with the Manager Brand, Content and Creative ensuring that all publications and merchandise adhere to StrongMinds brand and messaging guidelines,
• Proactively work with colleagues to identify upcoming storytelling needs and arrange for content to be sourced, written, and edited ahead of deadlines.
• Ensure that publications produced by the global communications office are culturally and contextually relevant to Ugandan audiences, guide writing team on necessary changes as needed,
• Assist with uploading and tagging of digital assets to online database, as needed
• Provide general support to communications department, including formatting of reports, coordinating metrics, scheduling meetings, sourcing merchandise, and other duties as needed.
• Any other duties as assigned to help advance the StrongMinds communications strategy and organizational priorities.

Desired Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree plus 3-5 years of professional experience, particularly in roles that require a variety of writing styles and/or a variety of audiences.
• Strong written communication skills, the ability to write clear, structured, articulate, and persuasive proposals and reports.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• A clear understanding of StrongMinds’ mission and ability to convey strategy.
• Strong research skills – ability to synthesize research, interviews, and data to craft compelling narratives.
• Ability to handle competing priorities and meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive approach to identifying opportunities for improvement and removing barriers/problem solving to deliver results.
• Video editing and photography skills, a plus.
• Self-starter, who can set and adhere to deadlines.

Essential Characteristics:
• Proven ability to work as an effective team member
• Self-motivated with excellent leadership skills
• Ability to work with diverse cultures
• Ability to work under pressure
• Self-respect
• Timeliness
• Self driven, hard working, results oriented, eager to learn
• Team player

Core values
We are people focused.

Our clients are the top priority, and we ensure they receive the best possible care and support. Our
employees matter and we enable our team to thrive. We respect all our stakeholders and treat them as equals.
Behaviors Indicators
• Puts clients’ first (internal and external)
• Respect for all stakeholders
• Show care and provide support to all our clients – both internal and external
• Treat all stakeholders equally.
• Foster a spirit of teamwork


We think big and act fast.
We are passionate about achieving our bold mission. We move with urgency and focus on achieving scale. We continually find new ways to work and to solve problems.
Behaviors Indicators
• Works with urgency
• Focus on achieving the Mission.
• New and innovative ways of work to solve problems

We are data driven.
Data is at our core. It guides us and drives our decision-making.
Behaviors Indicators
• Decision-making driven by data.
• Putting data at the core of StrongMinds operations


We do what we say and say what we do.
We are open and direct in our communications. We are honest in our interactions. No funny business.
Behaviors Indicators
• Open and direct communication
• Honesty in all interactions
• High level of integrity

We believe in collaboration, not competition.

We do not compete with other mental health implementers. We welcome their contributions to achieving our mission and partner with them whenever possible.
Behaviors Indicators
• Partnership with other mental health implementers
• Collaboration within teams


Deadline of this Job: 30 November 2022

JOB DETAILS:
Public Relations And Corporate Communications Officer (P1)

Duties and Responsibilities
• Initiate, develop and manage IUCEA’s public relations and corporate communication plans and production of Annual Reports.
• Liaise with user divisions/units provide support in the facilitation of conferences, education exhibitions, meetings/forums.
• Gather accurate and relevant information necessary for the publication of IUCEA brochures, journals, in-house newsletters and other relevant literature; and facilitate the design, development, production and distribution of the same
• Initiate a periodic newsletter.
• Manage the communication channels including media and any stakeholders in relation to the project brand for the component of IUCEA.
• Manage the IUCEA social media platforms.
• Create content, monitor and manage conversations to promote and ensure reputational risk mitigation for IUCEA.
• Appropriate dissemination of information related to the success stories of the project and ensure appropriate packaging to attract the required stakeholder.
• Help in development and improvement of the website of IUCEA with events (upcoming and completed), activities and major related partnerships at the different areas.
• Develop and update the IUCEA Communication Strategy with the communications plan for the institution that covers all activities.
• Ensures development, operationalisation and maintenance of an online website and portal for the IUCEA, with frequent regular updates on key elements like events, partnerships etc.
• Collect, collate and standardise the necessary information for periodically updating the IUCEA website.
• Monitor the media, lobby groups and maintain close contact and cordial relations with regional and international media to sustain a positive image of IUCEA.
• Organise and coordinate corporate functions/events and attend to all protocol matters.
• Prepare required speeches, briefs, reports, flyers, brochures, advertisements, and messages to enhance the objectives of the institution.
• Maintain harmonious internal and external contacts with IUCEA’s stakeholders.
• Handle external relations and visitors’ services, including arranging visits to IUCEA and prepare responses to all external inquiries and media queries.
• Ensure coordination, synergies, and coherence with communications officers of the partner institutions of the EAC and beyond.
• Performing any other duty as the Executive Secretary may from time to time direct.

Key Performance Indicators
• Public Communication Strategy, communication policy, and procedures developed and updated periodically.
• Resource packs, e.g., brochures, journals, in-house newsletters, promotional materials, and annual reports developed in the year.
• Number and reports of educational forums and conferences coordinated for IUCEA.
• Updated contacts inventory/directory of stakeholders, partners, and media in the region and internationally.

Minimum Job Requirements
Academic Qualifications
• A Bachelor’s degree in journalism, Mass Communication or related discipline from a recognised university.
• A Master’s degree in the relevant field is an added advantage.

Professional Qualifications
• Training in Public Relations will be an added advantage.
Work Experience
• Minimum eight (5) years in a busy environment.

Key Competencies
Excellent ability to communicate in English is essential and good working knowledge of an additional official language of the East African Community (Kiswahili or French) will be an advantage, must be able to manage diversity, conflict and change. Have proposal writing, creative report/speech writing and presentation, conceptual, analytical, public relations, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, planning, negotiation, networking, judgment, and decision-making skills. S/he must be computer literate and proficient in MS Office suite and common desktop publishing software such as Photoshop, InDesign illustrator, etc.