Vacancy Announcement
Communications Officer – YYC! Thika Office
Program / Department Summary:
Yes Youth Can, funded by USAID, endeavors to empower Kenya’s
youth in new and meaningful ways. Yes Youth Can is an unprecedented program
that puts youth truly in the lead of their own and Kenya’s development.
- Youth-led: Youth
ideas, local knowledge and innovations drive the process.
- Youth-managed:
Youth implement program elements (grants, investments, Youth Bunges,
research) while leveraging mentoring and coaching.
- Youth-owned:
Youth are in control of all decisions within the institutional structures
as a result of fair democratic elections, using a bottom up, localized
demand approach.
By integrating the principles of youth-led, managed and owned
throughout each element of the program, young people throughout Kenya will
begin to identify with and internalize these principles through a process where
they lead youth self-help groups (called Youth Bunges), implement community
grants, network with youth throughout the country, find linkages for their communities
and increase their income through microenterprises and jobs.
Through this process, youth will recognize that they are in
charge of transforming their society and will become catalysts for development
in their communities. Such an approach to youth development programming
has the ability to change the paradigm for youth programming both in Kenya and
around the world.
The Yes Youth Can initiative comprises five implementing
partners in six regions of Kenya as well as the national partner (Yes Youth Can
National), Mercy Corps.
Yes Youth Can National comprises four entities: a youth trust, a
youth sustainable development think tank, a youth non-governmental organization
to disburse community grants, and finally Tahidi Youth Fund to manage
innovative micro and SME venture capital to youth enterprises.
General Job Summary:
Under the overall guidance of the Communications Manager and the
Yes Youth Can! Regional, Chief of Party, the Communications Officer is expected
to perform the following tasks.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop long
term Communication strategy and work plan that includes media
strategy covering overall program messaging in liaison with
the Communications Manager that highlight
- Draft press
releases and responding to media enquiries and building dialogue with
journalists in the Rift Valley and Central regions.
- Produce
issues-based print stories for the yesyouthcan.org and nyba.org websites
and YYC! eNewsletter that communicate YYCs results from various
regions
- Drafting media
kits and constant updating of partner files
- Daily Monitoring
and updating of press cuttings and other docket fillings/files touching on
Youth matters
- Taking minutes
during status meetings and Daily Rapid meetings
- Attending
meetings on behalf of the Chief of Party/Communications Manager
- Liaising with
both Central and Rift Valley Regional heads and CoP leads to help
compile events calendars for various Youth Bunge activities
- Be able to raise
g PR’s for the Communications department on short notice and chase for
approvals with authority
- Identify venues
for events on short notice
- Be able to beat
deadlines on short notice
- Managing
media during Village Youth Bunge activities as well as National
Youth Bunge events
- Manage video
production and editing of small in-house videos and uploading them
on the yesyouthcan.org andnyba.org websites
- Contribute to
the development of printed communication materials, including editing
images/photos and layout and ensure they are captioned
- Assist in
updating PFF profiles on social networks (Facebook, YouTube) with
information about project activities and events
- Assist in the
organization and updating of photo library and creation of video library
- Compiling monthly
Public and media relations activity reports
- Assist in the
organization of events
- Other task may
include: General administrative assistance to the Unit
- Provide
editorial support to colleagues for reports, case studies, articles, and
presentations;
Key Learning objectives of the position:
- Learn about
impact-oriented communications and communications management in an NGO and
high pressured environment
- Gain experience
in the production of public information materials (print, video and web)
- Further enhance
editorial skills
The Communications Officer should have;
- Have a
Degree/Diploma in Communications, International relations and
organizational Communications from a reputable University or college. A
Master’s Degree in Communications/Journalism or related field would be an
added advantage as well as experience working within a humanitarian or
development context an asset
- Excellent
communications skills (oral and written)
- Excellent
written and spoken English is essential, as well as a critical eye for editing
and grammar
- Experience in
managing websites and using social media tools in a professional
context
- Experience and
skills in the use of software programs such as MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel,
Adobe
- Demonstrated
effective organizational skills and ability to handle work in a timely
manner
- Demonstrated
ability to coordinate tasks to meet deadlines
- Ability to work
in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with respect for diversity
- Knowledge of or
interest in humanitarian programs, as well as a commitment to Mercy Corp’s
mission and vision
- Willingness and
ability to travel to remote project locations
- At least two (2)
years relevant work/practical experience in an NGO, Private and
public sector or busy organization
- Critical
thinking, problem solving and good judgment skills.
- Ability to write
press releases and manage events
- Good media
relations and contacts
- Have a passion
for Public and media Relations
- Good command of
English, Kiswahili, Kenyan Sheng and English language fluency required.
Success Factors:
This is a challenging opportunity for a dedicated and highly
motivated professional.
The successful Communications Officer will have strong
interpersonal skills and demonstrate an ability to work with minimal
supervision, create and maintain effective working relationships with internal
staff.
S/he will be able to productively work as a member of an overall
project team and as an individual.
S/he will have a commitment to staff and program to produce
assigned work in a timely and a creative manner.
If you would like to join this dynamic team, please submit your
application to the Human Resources Manager at hrKenya@ke.mercycorps. org
before or on 23rd July 2012 at 2.00pm and include the
following:
An updated CV; and an application letter indicating why you fit
this position.
Please include contact details of three work-related
referees.
A sample of your articles(sample of draft press release and
actually newspaper article of the same, clippings (radio or Tv on MP3 or movie)
which have been aired or published in the local media.
Applications not including all of the above information will not
be reviewed.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
This position is only open to Kenyan Nationals.
