regional communications advisor

Work Location :
Kenya - Nairobi
Type of Post :
Accompanied - Family
Other Possible Location :
Zimbabwe - Harare
Funding :
APPROVED
Expected Travel :
up to 10%
Type of Contract :
Language Requirement :
English
Application Deadline :
Employee Duration :
Full-Time

• Starting salaries are based on various factors, including candidate experience, education, knowledge, skills, and the cost of labor where the job is based. Salaries listed only apply to jobs based in the US.

Who We Are
As a global leader, CARE is shaping the future of the humanitarian and development sector. Each year, we deliver support and services to millions of people globally. We do this by focusing on our
mission and vision
, and the values of equality and excellence that guide our organization. We seek dedicated individuals who align with our mission and are passionate about making it a reality by collaborating with others, embracing learning and innovation, and delivering results.

What We Are Looking For
At CARE, we value diversely talented people who can bring different experiences and perspectives to our organization. We know that not all applicants will have every skill and qualification. We encourage everyone who meets the minimum required qualifications to apply. Having one or more of the preferred qualifications will strengthen an application. But, even if you are earlier in your career or followed a non-traditional educational or professional path, we hope you will consider a career at CARE.

Job Title:
REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR - EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

Job Location(s):
Kenya - Nairobi

Reporting to the Executive Director, Global Communications and Media, this role is responsible for managing all communications work on behalf of CARE US in the East/Southern Africa Region - helping to maximize global media coverage and communication opportunities and support accountability to key stakeholders by communicating the humanitarian situation and CARE's emergency operations in the region. The person will work closely with the global communications team to ensure a solid pipeline of updates, content, media messages, and increased media exposure to CARE in ECSA - effectively being both a reporter and editor covering the region for CARE, and feeding the content pipeline for fundraising, brand-building, and social media.

Responsibilities
Regional Media Relations

• Generate and disseminate press releases/quotes/ statements for emerging and ongoing crises across the region.
• External Liaison and Communications Representative for the CARE US Marketing and Comms Function in their Respective Region.
• Manage and coordinate the flow of information, strategies, editorial planning, and expert/voice identification and mobilization between the CARE US and Regional Country Offices.
• US Media Engagement Support: Act as key coordinator in the region for incoming media requests from US/Global-based outlets.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of CARE US relationships with key US regional-based media.
• Regional Media Engagement: Develop and execute a region-wide plan aimed at elevating CARE's Share of Voice among key regional media, including pan-regional broadcasts and alternate media platforms.
• Support COs on media engagement.
• Generate talking points for spokespersons' media engagements, and ensure they are in line with advocacy asks and CARE's core key message.
• Coordinate media requests, ensuring CARE's visibility on national, regional, and global media.
• Work with CARE USA and CARE International on global media pitches and press releases.
• Monitor media in Country Offices we operate in for proactive/reactive media engagement

Crisis Communications

• Support Global Crisis Management (Organizational/Humanitarian) Rapid Response.
• Act as part of the CARE US integrated crisis response process as key coordinator for Media Team with relevant Country Offices, including press management, and talking points.
• Working with the Regional Management Team to ensure the Crisis Management Strategy is current and in place, and be available for any communications as needed.
• Support Country Offices in the generation of reactive quotes in case of a crisis event.

Content Gathering and Story Telling

• Work regularly with each Country Office in the ECSA region to understand their programmatic work, compelling stories, uniqueness, and context.
• Identify core activities that tell the story of CARE's work in each country.
• Serve as an interviewer, photographer, videographer, and writer when documenting CARE's work, including with CARE staff, community leaders, government officials, and program participants.
• Work with Country Office to provide locally sourced general interest story collections per country per year, complete with photos, videos, and narratives that Members and other CARE offices can use to form compelling stories to be used in fundraising, brand-building, and social media.
• Serve as an advisor/liaison between Lead Members and Country Office staff when organizing Member-led content trips and/or commissions.
• Review, edit photos and videos along CARE Guidelines and copy edit stories and reports from Country Offices.

Country Office Support

• Capacity Building and Training: Support the development and execution of a unified approach to capability and society building among CARE Communication Focal points in the Region.
• Work with the COs to ensure good communications capacity and provide communications training, coaching, and mentoring as needed to CO focal points, and as needed to staff and management.
• Reviews any standard reporting and communications documents being used in each office and the Region to ensure compliance and standardization in each context.
• Be prepared and have a plan for each Country's Office to act quickly in the event of a humanitarian crisis. Know who to call upon in each CO to quickly secure the things that CARE will need to respond from a Communications and Fundraising standpoint, including spokespersons, images, video, and photo captioning.
• Serves as a point of contact and initial escalation point for questions about policy, procedure, and requirements for CARE communications for the focal points and in each office and the Region.

Required Qualifications

• At least 12 years of professional experience in communications or public relations for a nonprofit or media.
• At least five years of working experience, knowledge, and a deep understanding of humanitarian emergencies in East Central and southern Africa, including but not limited to Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, DRC, Mozambique, and Madagascar.
• Travel to at least one of the aforementioned countries in the last four years is an added advantage.
• Degree in communications, digital media, journalism, or other directly related field. A master's degree in the same field is an added advantage.
• Good existing knowledge and connections with journalists, wire agencies, and media outlets in the region and also globally.
• Experience in communications and managing processes to successfully adhere to product schedule and quality standards.
• Advanced ability to draft, refine, and oversee communication content, with expertise in conveying complex ideas in simple, relatable language for general audiences.
• Well-developed eye for design and skill in producing engaging multimedia outputs, complementing written materials.
• Proven history of delivering impactful outreach initiatives and campaigns in prior positions.
• Highly motivated and capable of taking initiative without direct supervision.
• Skilled in analysis, judgment, and coordinating projects from planning to completion.
• Collaborative colleague with a flexible, solution-oriented mindset, effective both in group settings and when working alone.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a photographer, videographer, or writer for the media is an added advantage.
• Experience working with Adobe Suite Software
• Experience prioritizing and executing multiple high-stakes communication tasks
• Experience working across time zones with global teams
• Experience in media monitoring
• Experience in capacity building and engagement with C-Suite executives
• Experience supporting multiple teams in different countries

There are individuals who may use CARE's name and trademark in emails and on websites in an attempt to solicit fees from interested job-seekers. Some examples of these fees are placement fees or immigration processing fees. CARE does not use recruiting or placement agencies that charge candidates an up-front fee of any kind. Occasionally, CARE does employ recruiting or placement agencies to help us identify candidates for specific employment within CARE. If you're contacted by a legitimate recruiting or placement agency, there should be no charge to you. If you suspect that you have been a victim of fraud from someone purporting to be CARE, please contact us at

. Please do not email to apply for this position. Instead, click "apply now" below in order to submit your interest.
CARE is an Equal Opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.
Starting salaries are based on internal equity, candidate experience, and the cost of labor where the job is based. Salaries listed only apply to jobs based in the US.