Senior Communications Manager
Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 60 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. RTI International is both a global research institute and a leading international development organization based in North Carolina, USA. RTI combines these powerful capabilities with those of our partners to co-create smart, shared solutions for a more prosperous, equitable, and resilient world. RTI’s International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. RTI brings 60 years of experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world.
Project Description
The USAID funded Empower East and Central Africa (EECA) program will increase the availability of and access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and clean energy in East and Central Africa with a focus on ending energy poverty, accelerating a carbon free future, and bolstering energy sector investment and innovation. EECA will support the accelerated connection of more East and Central African homes, businesses, and institutions to reliable electricity and increase its productive use; reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector by supporting cleaner electricity generation and just energy transitions; and increase energy sector investment, working in partnership with East and Central African governments to improve the enabling environment for the energy sector.
The Senior Communications Manager will be responsible for establishing and implementing a vigorous communications strategy to increase awareness of the importance of energy access for achieving sustainable development goals and raise visibility of efforts to advance inclusive, low-carbon economic growth that improves lives and powers health, education, and prosperity. The Senior Communications Manager will oversee two Communications Specialists and ensure that communication is integrated throughout the project. This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and it reports to EECA’s Institutional Performance Improvement Lead/Cross-Cutting Lead.
- Strategy and Planning:
- Co-develop and implement a multi-year communication strategy in coordination with Power Africa.
- Develop, maintain, implement, and report on the program’s annual communication plan and editorial calendar.
- Identify key resources, audiences, messages, and communication channels.
- Stakeholder Management and Collaboration:
- Interface with Power Africa and other USAID mission communications staff to ensure all communications and published materials meet Power Africa, USAID, and U.S. Government standards.
- Develop and maintain collegial, productive relationships with project colleagues, Power Africa, USAID, project counterparts, beneficiaries, subcontractors, while achieving overall project objectives.
- Work closely with the EECA Senior Management Team, USAID missions, Power Africa representatives, and Power Africa Coordinator’s Office communications team to amplify energy work in East and Central Africa and at the country level.
- Content Development and Management:
- Lead activities to showcase project work with an emphasis on results, including human interest and measurable impact examples.
- Develop and implement schedules for social media content and routine communications deliverables (e.g., video stories, blog content, photography contracts) for Power Africa’s communication materials.
- Identify and document program impact stories for internal and external audiences.
- Develop social media posts and success stories about EECA initiatives and activities, and other relevant renewable energy developments.
- Manage and update the EECA photo database, ensuring a curated selection of high-quality photographs with appropriate consent, captions, and credits are available for reporting.
- Develop scene setters and briefs for events.
- Write press releases, speeches, and talking points as required.
- Event Management:
- Manage communications for and support coordination of project events in East and Central Africa, including (but not limited to) capacity building events, transaction milestone events, partnership events, energy cafés, conference sessions, local community events, webinars, and donor meetings.
- Plan and implement high-level events and training workshops with key stakeholders examining energy access challenges and solutions.
- Reporting and Compliance:
- Work with technical and cross-cutting teams to organize success story schedules, lessons learned events, and compile EECA routine reports (e.g., quarterly, annual, monthly, reports to USAID).
- Integrate inputs from all technical and cross-cutting teams on a weekly basis for routine reporting through the EECA communications team for East and Central Africa.
- Ensure USAID and project branding and marking guidelines are adhered to, providing training for EECA staff as needed.
- Ensure all deliverables and work products are written according to USAID and Power Africa writing style and guidelines.
- Request and obtain signed consent forms for all interview, photograph, and video recording subjects.
- Team Leadership and Participation:
- Provide supervision and direction to the Communications Specialists in their implementation of daily tasks and provide on-the-job training and guidance.
- Engage and manage communications vendors such as photographers, videographers, graphic designers, editors, and writers.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree plus 12 years or a master’s degree plus 10 years’ experience in the media or communications industry.
- A degree in journalism, writing, public administration, international affairs, or a closely related field.
- Five years’ experience designing and successfully implementing communication strategies and media outreach campaigns.
- Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills. Writing samples will be required as a part of the interview process.
- Ability to convey complex and technical information accurately and concisely.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Excellent management, coordination, and organizational skills.
- Experience with USAID, or other major donors, as well as the energy sector strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to manage a team, in a supportive work environment, to deliver quality work in a timely manner.
- Strong interpersonal and communications skills. Ability to work in a matrixed, multi-cultural, multi-country team environment.
- Proven ability to work under pressure and manage several projects simultaneously.
- Excellent verbal and written English language skills.
