Communications Specialist

Role Overview

This role leads the communications function for a cross-border program focused on youth employment and entrepreneurship in East Africa. Day-to-day, you will craft messaging, produce multimedia content, manage social media channels, and coordinate events that showcase the program’s impact to donors, partners, and the public. Your work is central to ensuring the program’s achievements are visible and understood by a wide range of stakeholders, helping to secure ongoing support and influence policy conversations.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement a comprehensive internal and external communications strategy that aligns with regional and global outreach priorities.
• Develop a systematic framework for collecting, organizing, and sharing lessons learned from program activities, choosing the most effective channels for each audience.
• Travel to field sites to interview participants and partners, capturing impact stories, photographs, and video footage that bring the program’s work to life.
• Create a library of written assets—including feature stories, op-eds, press releases, and case studies—for use in reports, media pitches, and digital platforms.
• Manage the program’s online presence across its website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook, ensuring consistent, engaging content and active community interaction.
• Partner with regional and global communications teams to place content in media outlets and increase the program’s profile.
• Conceptualise and execute thought leadership events such as workshops, report launches, learning sessions, and fireside chats—handling content curation, invitations, vendor coordination, on-site logistics, and budget tracking.
• Support the monitoring and evaluation team by translating data and findings into compelling narratives and visual formats, and assist the wider program team in producing donor reports and partner communications as needed.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Recognised qualification in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a closely related field; a Master’s degree is an advantage.
• At least three to four years of progressive professional experience in communications or public relations, ideally within the entrepreneurship or youth employment sector.
• Proven track record in writing and editing across multiple formats—blogs, articles, op-eds, and press releases—supported by a strong portfolio of published work.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic communications plans with measurable outcomes.
• Hands-on experience with web design and content production (e.g., photography and video editing) is a plus.
• Genunine interest in start-ups, entrepreneurship, and initiatives that create economic opportunities for young people.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to connect effectively with diverse stakeholders including beneficiaries, partners, and donors.

What We Offer / Why Join

This position offers the chance to drive visibility for a programme that directly supports youth employment and cross-border entrepreneurship in East Africa. You will work within a collaborative, values-driven organisation committed to accountability and safeguarding, and will have the opportunity to shape how the programme’s impact is communicated to the world. The role provides a platform to combine creative storytelling with strategic thinking, all while contributing to meaningful development outcomes.