JOB VACANCY
Director of Communications and External Relations
Contract type: Full time
Location: Accra, Ghana
Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience (plus relocation package)
Experienced,
well-networked professional sought to head up the Communications and
External Relations team at leading African think tank. Founded in 2008,
the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) engages in
cutting-edge analysis, advice, and advocacy to drive Africa’s long-term
growth through transformation.
Reporting
to the President, the Director of Communications and External Relations
will be charged with positioning ACET as Africa’s number one
policy-oriented economic think tank. Responsible for all media and PR
work, events, publications and for developing and maintaining the
strategic relationships necessary to promote ACET’s vision.
Educated
to degree level, with at least 8 years’ experience in a communications
or public affairs role, the successful applicant will have a working
knowledge of African and international media and institutions, be a
confident and effective influencer, and have a proven ability to produce
materials that change opinions and influence policy.
How to apply
Please send your CV and a covering letter (no more than one A4 page) to recruitment@acetforafrica.org. Closing date: 22 August 2014; interviews first week of September, in Accra, Ghana.
ACET is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates.
Director of Communications and external relations
About ACET
Founded
in 2008 by K.Y. Amoako, the African Center for Economic Transformation
(ACET) is a Ghana-based economic policy institute supporting Africa’s
long-term growth through transformation. Our work is focused on
transformation in recognition that African economies are growing but not
transforming. This means they are not sufficiently resilient, diverse,
technologically capable, and not creating jobs required by their
burgeoning youth. If this current trend continues, many people will
remain in poverty despite headline economic growth. Our vision is an
economically transformed Africa within a generation, and we work towards
this by helping governments and businesses better understand, manage,
and invest in their nations’ economic transformation.
About this Role
The
Director of Communications and External Relations leads the team
responsible for disseminating ACET’s work to a wide range of audiences including policymakers, civil society, the private sector, and the general public. They promote
the policy and institutional reforms that we recommend for achieving
sustained economic growth and transformation in Africa, in order to
influence decision makers and public opinion to embrace these
recommendations. The team is also charged with positioning ACET
as Africa’s number one policy-oriented economic think tank. The
Communications and External Relations division seeks to increase ACET’s
influence with key policy targets, both directly, via face to face
meetings and quiet diplomacy, and indirectly, via various media and
communications channels. The team works closely with all ACET staff to
build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, promote
ACET’s policy recommendations, and further ACET’s strategic objectives.
Reporting
to the President, the Director of Communications and External Relations
oversees all media and public relations, marketing and digital
activity. They map ACET’s key target audiences in Africa and
internationally, develop and maintain strategic relationships, and
support other staff to do the same. They lead on planning and delivering
ACET’s own events program, as well as ensuring that ACET is represented
at other organizations’ events and conferences. The Communications and
External Relations Director supports and advises staff—including within
the CER itself—on all public relations and communication issues both
within and outside the organization. They may be called upon to
represent the organization at public events, in media interviews, or to
key stakeholders.
Person specification
Essential
- Exceptionally talented, professional and experienced communicator and influencer with a working knowledge of African and international media and institutions, and a track record of success
- Educated to degree level, with at least 8 years of experience in an internationally-oriented communications or public affairs role, including managing people and leading teams
- Implicit understanding of how and when to use strategic communications as a tool for driving change, and the ability to help others see this too
- Very comfortable devising and implementing ambitious communications and external relations strategies which focus on impact and are grounded in a clear Theory of Change
- Excellent contacts in the media – also ideally in the private sector, government, multilateral institutions, academia, and civil society.
- Great news sense and political nous, coupled with the ability to (re)-package materials to suit different audiences.
- Ability to support researchers and economists to produce compelling reports, presentations, and other materials that change opinions and influence policy.
- Economic literacy and the ability to translate complex statistical and economic findings into plain English.
- Ability to manage stakeholder information and make the most of contacts and opportunities; the confidence to command the respect of senior journalists and stakeholders
- Ability to plan and prioritize work and meet deadlines
- Comfortable working with on- and offline media
- Excellent, accurate, and convincing written and spoken English
- Flexibility, willingness, and ability to travel
- A genuine commitment to ACET’s mission
Desirable
- The confidence to use data, analysis and evidence to challenge political, financial, business, social and economic orthodoxies
- Experience working in Africa and in an international context in the EU or US
- A good understanding of political and policy-making processes in Africa and how to influence them
- Relationships with funders and/or experience of supporting organizational fundraising
- Experience sourcing and managing agencies and external consultants
- Fluency in other languages, especially French
- Advanced skills in MS Office, including Excel
- A confident public speaker and broadcast interviewee, with the ability to coach and manage others
Duties / Responsibilities
- Design and deliver ACET’s overall Communications and External Relations strategy to raise the organization’s profile and increase its reach and impact
- Devise and implement the division’s annual operating plan and budget
- Map key target audience and develop a strategic plan for how to reach and influence them
- Take ownership of relationships with media outlets and journalists and oversee all aspects of media relations and PR
- Support other Directors to build and maintain their key strategic relationships, including with the private sector, politicians, and other think tanks
- Explore and develop the best ways and channels to promote ACET’s work, form partnerships, and seek sponsorship
- Produce or supervise the production of external communications materials (e.g. press releases, reports, newsletters)
- Oversee ACET’s digital strategy, including websites, social media and audio-visual materials
- Create and manage an events program for ACET and identify other external opportunities to enhance ACET’s impact
- Source and manage suitable external communication agencies / partners
- Oversee the ACET brand: including tone of voice, style, and design
- Advise and support the wider organization on communications and external relations e.g. via media training and ad-hoc advice
- Take responsibility for effective internal communications and knowledge management systems
- Ensure staff members are kept up to date with relevant political and policy-related developments
- Support / advise on fundraising applications and reports when appropriate
- Ensure ACET’s Communications and External Relations work is properly evaluated and the results communicated transparently to all stakeholders
- Budgetary & line management responsibility
How to apply
Please send your CV and a covering letter (no more than one A4 page) to recruitment@acetforafrica.org. Closing date: 22 August 2014; interviews first week of September, in Accra, Ghana.
ACET is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates.
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