Communications Manager at International Water Management Institute

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead all communications of the Africa Water Investment Programmes (AIP)
• Lead the GWPSA-ACU communications and knowledge management division
• Provide leadership to the GWPSA-ACU communications team and mentor staff as appropriate
• Lead strategic communications and engagement between GWPO (Stockholm) and the Regional and GWP Country Secretariats of GWPSA on partnership records, operational policies and procedures; as well as develops and maintains the GWPSA partner’s database by coordinating membership applications and liaising with GWPO Network Operations and the CWPs;
• Facilitate information flows among GWPSA-ACU Partners, CWPs and all governance structures, CWPs RECs, and GWPO (submitting the Monthly Report and annual Progress Review and annual report);
• Support GWPSA Executive Secretary on high level communications with the GWPSA Chair and Board
• Assist CWPs to strengthen their institutional systems and practices for communications;
• Working with the GWPSA programme teams, relevant stakeholders and strategic partners, prepare relevant and targeted communications
• Supports the GWPSA Executive Secretary in guiding and coordinating country inputs for CWP progress reporting twice a year (to be included in RES reporting to the two GWPSA Board meetings each year);
• Works with the programme team in sourcing stories from the CWPs for publications, progress reports and website uploads;
• Provide quality assurance to reporting on the programme’s progress and results (activities, outputs, lessons learned, and outcomes) on a regular basis, working with the programme team and the RES.
• Works with technical GWPSA-ACU Secretariat staff on thematic / technical content to prepare for GWPSA participation in exhibitions (promoting GWPSA and the Pan African programme) at scientific symposia, conferences (e.g. WaterNet – GWPSA annual symposium) and other key events;
• Lead the communications aspects of the key regional events (such as the SADC Multi-stakeholder dialogue) with the SADC Communications expert and key pan-Africa events
• Arrange outsourcing as necessary for services such as translations, design, printing, video production etc. for regional activities and events;
• Establish and strengthen a strong GWPSA media network covering all SADC member countries
• Represents GWPSA in GWPO organized Communication Officer meetings, workshops and training and ensure that GWPO communications and graphical policy are properly utilized, and that the GWP brand and reputation is maintained and enhanced throughout the regional network;
• Establishes and maintains the GWPSA e-filing system and populates it, to ensure comprehensive GWPSA records (excluding financial) are kept, effectively stored, for easy retrieval and sharing via the website and other means.
• Undertake necessary travel to execute above duties at key events and in the field visits, as required;
• Undertake any other task requested by the Regional Executive Secretary.

Requirements
Qualifications and experience

• Relevant education with minimum 4 year degree required and at least 10 years’ experience in communications, media, journalism, international relations and public administration.
• Experience in managing and leading communications teams, working with relevant media networks in southern Africa region
• Experience in high level strategic communications to senior government officials and international NGOs
• A comprehensive understanding and commitment to GWPSA’s Vision, Mission, goals as well as structure, systems, values, partners, and work ethic;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders from diverse institutions, stakeholder engagement processes at local, national and regional levels
• Good oral, editorial and written communication skills, conveying messages to different audiences using diverse media
• Ability to develop TORs, appoint and manage consultants ensuring high quality delivery
• Fully computer literate - skilled and confident in using office applications such as MS office (word, excel, power point, project), database, calendar and email applications as well as familiarity with relevant social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter etc.
• Flexibility in fast paced environment of ambiguity, rapidly changing priorities and tight deadlines
• Excellent organisational capacity with ability to prioritise among tasks within deadlines
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously
• Proactive approach to meeting deadlines and delivering results with limited supervision
• Flexibility, creativity and effectiveness in working in a multi-cultural environment
• Ability to deal with discretion on sensitive issues and to respond positively to challenges
• Affinity for learning, sharing and using knowledge
• Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills and impeccable service culture
• Demonstrated ability to manage professional relationships
• A willingness to work nonstandard hours and/or occasional weekends and to travel internationally when required
• Demonstrated experience in developing communication materials (on-line, media/press releases, publications and reports)
• Experience in working with journalist and media networks in the regional and continent and ability to develop, nurture and maintain existing and new media contacts
• Experience in organizing policy dialogues and engaging with policy makers.

Benefits

• This is an internationally recruited position with a competitive salary and benefits package. The duration of the contract will initially be for a two-year period with possible extension.

How to apply:

We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (Sri Lanka time) April 27, 2021 (Tuesday). All applications will be acknowledged. However, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.