Senior Communications Officer

NORWEGIAN PEOPLE’S AID

Notice of Recruitment – Lao National Staff

Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) is a Norwegian humanitarian organisation supporting mine action and disarmament, capacity building, and development in many countries around the world. NPA has been engaged in the clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Lao PDR since 1997. NPA is currently conducting UXO survey and clearance across four provinces in southern Lao PDR, including Champasak, Saravane, Sekong, and Attapeu. NPA has the main offices in Vientiane and Pakse, and satellite offices in Saravane, Sekong, and Attapeu.

NPA’s Lao PDR programme is now seeking a qualified, enthusiastic, experienced, and well-motivated person for the following position:

Senior Communications Officer: 01 Position – based in Pakse, with regular travels to NPA’s areas of operations in four southern provinces and Vientiane Office

The purpose of the Senior Communications Officer (SCO) is to work with the Grants and Communications Manager to create professional visual content for the NPA Lao PDR Mine Action and Disarmament Programme.

The SCO will develop high-quality and professional photography, videography, by high level designing, and video editing to support NPA Lao PDR’s communications objectives and build visibility.

This role is required to work collaboratively with the Grants and Communications Manager to generate engaging and informative communications products for NPA’s donors, Head Office, Lao government partners, the UXO sector, NGO community, and the wider public. This will include producing materials in a number of media formats, including print publications, website content, social media, and/or video.

The SCO will report to the Grants and Communications Manager, and be based in the Pakse Office, with frequent travel to NPA’s Vientiane and field offices and operations in southern Lao PDR (Attapue, Champasak, Saravane, and Sekong). The SCO will also be responsible for liaising with NPA’s operations staff to gather and document information on operations, positive impacts of projects, and on beneficiaries.

Duties and Responsibilities:

General responsibilities

• Work jointly with the Grants and Communications Manager to create professional visual content to enhance NPA Lao PDR’s communications initiatives, ensuring alignment with programme and organizational strategies and objectives.

Specific duties

• Capture high-quality photographs and videos documenting NPA Lao PDR’s UXO survey and clearance operations, including project activities, beneficiary stories, operational tasks, capacity development, workshops, etc…
• Develop and deliver effective communication materials, such as case studies, photographs and captions, programme updates, press releases, website and social media content, video, and other external relations materials continuously and as per requested.
• Edit and produce professional visual materials suitable for use in donor reports, presentations, social media platforms, and public engagement campaigns.
• Travel to NPA’s operations sites to photo and video shoot, to collect information, and produce media stories directly from the NPA field teams and beneficiaries in NPA’s operational tasks in Attapue, Champasak, Saravane, and Sekong provinces.
• Ensure all visual content complies with NPA’s safeguarding policies and ethical standards, including obtaining appropriate consents.
• Assist the Communications Coordinator in providing complementary visual assets for social media posts, website updates, press releases, and other communications materials.
• Support the planning and execution of visual content for external events, donor presentations, and programme activities. Assist the Communications Coordinator in planning and organizing external events to promote the NPA Lao PDR programme and its activities.
• Train and build the capacity of NPA’s Operational staff to take good quality photos, use interview consent forms, and document beneficiary stories in an appropriate and sensitive manner, in accordance with NPA Lao PDR’s safeguarding policy.
• Support the Grants and Communications Manager to maintain and regularly update NPA’s online system for filing photos, captions, videos, and graphic materials.
• Perform any other duties as instructed by the CD and DPM.

Required qualifications:

 Must have:

• Demonstrated expertise in professional photography, videography, graphic design, and video editing, with a strong portfolio of relevant work.
• Proficiency in video editing software and designing tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, CapCut, Canva, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator or equivalent tools.
• Strong photography, videography, graphic design, and video editing skills.
• Proven experience in developing high-quality visual materials for diverse audiences.
• Experience developing communication materials, including photo, graphic, and video,
• Experience managing social media accounts, websites, and creating content. Strong IT skills and computer literacy.
• Willingness to travel regularly between Pakse and NPA’s areas of operations in southern Lao PDR and Vientiane as required.
• Excellent written and verbal proficiency in Lao language (both written and spoken).
• Ability to work independently, think creatively, and take initiative.

  Desirable:

• Previous experience working for an international non-government organisation or newspapers/media companies is an advantage.
• Experience of working on development or humanitarian projects.
• Proficiency in English is an advantage, but not a mandate.
• Ability to speak additional Lao ethnic languages.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, mass communications, marketing, journalism, media and digital media, public relations or a related field is an advantage, but not a mandate.

 Personal Competencies:

• Highly motivated, creative, proactive, and outgoing.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Dedicated and committed to high quality standards.
• Willingness to travel frequently and engage with a diverse group of people, including in rural and remote areas of Lao PDR.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships at all levels internally and externally.
• Ability to meet deadlines and attention to detail.