Communications Officer

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

The USAID Let’s Read Project is a 5-year, $48.9 million project in the five target provinces of Eastern, Muchinga, Southern, Northwestern and Western Zambia that works to improve reading outcomes for approximately 1.4 million children attending pre-primary (kindergarten) through to Grade 3 and provide professional development for teachers to support reading interventions in Zambian public and community schools.

Position Description

The Communications Officer is expected to communicate clearly and courteously; to develop and maintain positive relationships with clients, consultants, collaborators, co-workers, field sites, and funders; and to work respectfully with EDC colleagues. The job requires adherence to EDC policies & procedures.  As the communications advisor to senior project management, the project Communications Officer is responsible for the development and implementation of a communications strategy and plan.

Essential functions include, but are not limited to:

• Recruits, coaches and mentors communications staff, as well as other project staff that have PR & Communications functions
• Develops systems, advises on methods and procedures, recommends Communications strategies; including: Templates (Releases, Talking Points, Presentations); Forms (Data Collection, Media); Library; Events; Schedules
• Directs major communications initiatives; directs design and development of publication or production projects
• In diverse content areas, organizes complex or strategic tasks with high visibility, requiring broad technical experience
• Advises on communications initiative budgets
• Oversees production schedules
• Keeps abreast of innovations in communications, including methods, techniques, applications, and multi-media inventions
• Ensures accuracy of information on all project communications
• Works under the direction of senior management to utilize communications in order to support project goals and objectives.
• Assists technical staff in the production of teaching and learning materials
• Mentors the Communications staff in all aspects of their work
• Confers on project communications policy and changing needs
• Collaborates with project management to understand project goals & specifications, coordinate activities, establish production schedules, solve publication problems and make improvements
• Advises senior management on progress and changing needs
• Develops and updates project fact sheets
• Consults on editorial revisions
• Oversees relations with printers, publishers, designers, and other vendors, supervising quality; oversees coordination of outsourced services in coordination Communications and ICT Team Leader and Operations staff
• Interviews individuals or attends meetings to obtain items or clarify information for inclusion and verify facts; researches or seeks technical advice
• Counsels and coaches on design, development and production techniques, strategies and processes.

Reporting Relationship

The Communications Officer reports to the Deputy Chief of Party for Implementation.

The candidate for the position of Communications Officer shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study, preferably in communication, journalism and/or communication science, with a focus on strategic communication.  Master’s degree is preferred.

Skills and Experience:

• A minimum of 6 – 7 years’ experience as a communications specialist, public relations officer, or related communications position, ideally on education programs, including 2–5 years management experience;
• Excellent writing skills, demonstrable initiative, creativity, and flexibility, ability to work independently and effectively in groups, and strong interpersonal & organizational skills;
• Knowledge of the media, issues within Zambia particularly affecting education;
• Excellent contacts within the media industry within Zambia;
• Excellent technical skills to include at least one of videography, photography, radio production or web design highly preferred;
• Excellent written and spoken English, to include the ability to write reports, press releases and other material and the ability to present orally to meetings, conferences, radio interviews etc.;
• Good computer skills to include MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Knowledge of photo-editing and video-making software an advantage;
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to juggle multiple projects;
• Ability to build effective relationships with all clients, peers, and stakeholders;
• Ability to liaise closely with senior technical advisors and then provide leadership to on-the-ground staff and partner work teams;
• Ability to effectively train, mentor and transfer knowledge to other staff members and interns;
• Proactive and able to solve problems creatively;
• Culturally astute, respectful and tolerant;
• Must be able to work within a cross cultural setting, negotiate diplomatically, and function well under pressure;
• Ability to work hands-on, independently, and within team in difficult work environment;
• Willingness to travel to provinces covered by the project.

Language:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of (and proficiency in) Chinyanja, Chitonga, Silozi, Lunda, Luvale, Kiikaonde and Icibemba languages highly preferred.

Job Closing Date: June 7, 2019

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified. No phone calls, please.

Applications submitted without a resume will not be considered.

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EDC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.