Communications Coordinator

The role

We are currently looking for Communications Coordinator, based in Vientiane Capital (with extensive travel to field areas)

Role Purpose                

Save the Children is seeking a Communications Coordinator for the recently approved Green Climate Fund (GCF) project, Strengthening Climate Resilience of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) Health System funded by Green Climate Fund’s (GCF) worth USD $28.2m which will support the Government of Lao PDR over five years to advance progress on its national climate change and health priorities and commitments by increasing the climate resilience of the health system and strengthening community capacity to manage the current and anticipated health impacts of climate change. The project will strengthen leadership and governance within the health system, so it is climate resilient and strengthen health system capacity in 25 climate-vulnerable rural districts to better manage climate-related disease burdens, including by engaging 100 health facilities in those districts to better prepare for the health impacts of climate change. Through risk communication and community engagement approaches, the project will enable 250 communities to better respond to early warnings, manage and mitigate climate-related risks to health, and seek care appropriately.

The communications coordinator will play a key role in developing and executing communication and advocacy strategies that highlight the impact of the project. The coordinator will be responsible for promoting the project’s objectives, managing external communications, advocacy initiatives, coordinating media activities, and ensuring visibility of the project at national and international levels.

The communications Coordinator ensures that the campaign and advocacy engagement is aligned with the SCI Campaigning and Advocacy policy and meets required timeframes, budgets, objectives, quality measures and ensure gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) as key considerations.

In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to work outside the normal role profile and be able to vary working hours accordingly.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Ensure they fully understand the provisions of the Child Safeguarding Policy, the Code of Conduct and Local/Country Procedures.
• Conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of the Child Safeguarding Policy, in their personal and professional lives – which includes reporting suspicions of child abuse.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a communications strategy that aligns with the GCF project’s goals, focusing on health system resilience, climate change impacts, early warning system and community engagement in Lao PDR, and consistent with the Country Office’s Advocacy, Campaign and Communications Strategy and priority.
• Lead in shaping public perception, mobilizing communities, and driving meaningful change through strategic communication and advocacy efforts/campaigns.
• Create content (press releases, success stories, case studies, newsletters, social media posts) that effectively communicates the project’s progress and achievements; and ensure compliance with GCF and Save the Children’s branding and communications guidelines.
• Ensure that all communications materials are approved by the government.
• Manage media relations, including pitching stories, coordinating interviews, and responding to media inquiries to ensure positive media coverage of the project.
• Coordinate risk communication and community engagement activities, ensuring that information on climate-related health risks is accessible to local communities and stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including local leaders, government, and not-for-profit organisations.
• Recruit and manage an internal team and external contractors to deliver a high standard of inclusive communications.
• Provide high-quality community profile and market research and analysis to ensure effectiveness of campaign, engagement and identify potential opportunities and risks.
• Lead a range of marketing and communications initiatives as part of the campaign, including media and social media, face-to-face and outdoor advertising.
• Guide and train project teams and external partners interacting with communities, to ensure consistency and quality of messages, and alignment with project objectives.
• Regularly measure and report on performance of campaign against goals and key indicators of public acceptance.
• The Communications Coordinator position is a full-time role.
• Participate in other SCI/project activities where required.
• Significant travel to project sites.
• Out of hours work (including evenings, weekends and public holidays) may be required to accommodate periods of increased work and travel.
• There may be peak periods of work during which the taking of leave may be restricted.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Academic Qualifications:

Postgraduate qualifications in marketing or communications; or extensive experience and management expertise within the marketing and communications field.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing large, effective communications campaigns to meet specific outcomes;
• Experience in delivering the communications components of major projects, with demonstrated ability in identifying stakeholders, through knowledge of existing local networks in the project areas, and implementing activities to keep them informed;
• Knowledge of community engagement issues and an understanding of their implications for the development, implementation and evaluation of community engagement plans;
• Knowledge of project management, including setting goals, identifying audiences, planning tasks and resources, developing systems and procedures to track progress, and budgeting;
• Sound interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to solve issues in response to changing work environments and demands, negotiate, provide advice and liaise with a range of individuals and agencies;
• Demonstrated success in a not-for-profit, health-related marketing or community engagement roles;
• Experience managing community engagement projects including social research, stakeholder engagement, issues management systems and advisory groups;
• Extensive experience in not-for-profit organisations, social or community work, or science outreach;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with high proficiency of the English language;
• Excellent computer literacy (including Microsoft, Adobe and google suite) and ability to quickly adapt to and learn software platforms.

Contract length: Fixed term

The Organisation

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:

Interested candidates please submit a full application using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document including contact details of three professional referees (current and last line managers and HR department). Please also include details of your salary expectations and a copy of your ID card. Please note that we will require a copy of your Criminal Records (ໃບແຈ້ງໂທດ) later.

Apply via: https://hcri.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/job/10179

Save the Children International is a child-rights based organization. Safe recruitment is central to the safeguarding of children and young people that we come into contact with, and support through our programmes.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Save the children is an equal opportunities employer, qualified females, persons with disability and candidates from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.