Senior Manager, Communication

Role Overview

Food4Education is looking for a strategic communications leader to run the day-to-day engine of our communications work. Reporting to the Head of Communications, the Senior Manager will turn organisational priorities into clear, coordinated messaging across internal teams, external audiences, and executive leadership. As we grow across Africa, you will help ensure that every voice inside and outside our organisation understands our mission, our progress, and the difference we make.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you will spend your time coaching a small team, advising senior leaders, planning integrated campaigns, and preparing for high-stakes moments that could shape our reputation. You will work closely with programme leads, the People team, and external agencies to keep communications proactive, consistent, and deeply connected to what the organisation is trying to achieve.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the communications team day to day, setting clear priorities, maintaining quality standards, and supporting each teammate’s professional growth through regular feedback and development conversations.
• Translate organisational strategy into integrated communications plans, ensuring that communications are involved early in programme design, special projects, and organisational change initiatives.
• Own the internal communications strategy, overseeing editorial calendars, internal channels, and employee engagement so that kitchen staff, field teams, and office colleagues all feel connected to the organisation’s mission.
• Manage external communications including media relations, corporate announcements, executive messages, speeches, talking points, and thought-leadership content for the CEO and senior leaders.
• Lead crisis preparedness and issues management by monitoring reputational risk, building response frameworks, and advising leadership on how to communicate clearly and calmly during sensitive moments.
• Strengthen governance and planning by establishing reporting systems, editorial standards, and KPIs that keep communications aligned with mission and performance goals.
• Coach programme leaders and departmental managers on how to build communications into their own work, improving collaboration across brand, marketing, and other functions.
• Manage communications agencies and external partners, ensuring they deliver against agreed objectives and maintaining strong relationships with media and strategic stakeholders.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related discipline; a postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• At least 8–10 years of progressive experience in strategic communications, with a strong mix of corporate communications, media relations, and internal communications.
• Proven experience managing and coaching a communications team, including performance management, workload allocation, and talent development.
• Demonstrated ability to advise senior executives, including CEOs or executive leadership teams, on messaging, reputation, and high-profile issues.
• Experience working in a complex, fast-growing organisation, ideally with exposure to international expansion or an Africa-focused development context.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, with the ability to shape clear, compelling narratives for different audiences and channels.
• Strong judgement and calm under pressure, especially when handling sensitive issues or tight deadlines.