Communications Officer, GMSC

Relevant Experience and Qualifications 

• A Bachelors degree in communications, public relations, or a related field from a recognized university is required.

• Professional qualification in a related field (e.g., Chartered Institute of Marketing, International Association on Business Communicators) is preferred.

• At least three (3) years of experience in media, corporate and/or strategic communications, or public relations.

• Demonstrated experience with digital and print marketing and communications (including writing and editing).

• In-depth understanding of marketing and communications value and use of popular social media platforms major (e.g. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, SlideShare).

• Demonstrated experience creating successful communications strategies.

• Knowledge of web content management.

• Understanding of stakeholder/community engagement.

• Events management experience.

• Professional experience in curating digital/social media, is required; radio or TV experience is highly desired.

• Experience managing an agency or contractors is desired.

• Deep knowledge of the Kenyan and East African media industry with contacts within various media organizations.

• Issues management and crisis communications.

• Experience in teaching and training practicing professionals is desired

• Knowledge of the AKU/AKDN is desired.

• Excellent writer and critical thinker – an innovative and creative "thinker-doer" with a flexible, entrepreneurial approach to the job.

• Digital native, detail-oriented, polished, and diplomatic.

• Highly energetic self-starter able to build relationships and work collegially and effectively with colleagues and clients.

• Superior multi-tasker who enjoys pressure, able to work quickly and independently.

• Understanding of today's media and communication landscape and best practices – from strategic communications planning and proactive messaging to reactive communications and crisis mitigation.

• Understanding of audience segmentation and how to anticipate and target communications to a variety of audiences – general public, corporate, higher education, media, NGOs, and government – both online and offline.

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of social media platforms and their participants (Facebook, Digg, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, etc.)

• Experience in brand-building online and offline.

• Commitment to AKU's vision and values.

Communications Officer

Department

Graduate School of Media and Communications

Location

Aga Khan University, Nairobi

Introduction 

Founded in 1983 as Pakistan's first private university and fully chartered in Kenya in 2021, The Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous, and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries

The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact, and access.

Launched in 2015, the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) is the premier source of education and tailored training for journalists, communicators and media executives and entrepreneurs in East Africa and beyond. Guided by the principles of global excellence and local relevance, GSMC helps individuals to transform their careers and organizations to seize on opportunities and reap the benefits of innovation.​ 

Applications are invited from qualified candidates for the position of Communications Officer in the Graduate School of Media and Communications based in Nairobi, Kenya. The position holder will report to the Dean, GSMC, Aga Khan University.

Job Purpose/Summary 

The Communications Officer works as a key member of the GSMC team to plan and develop communications that raise the school's profile and support its marketing and business development.  Using a keen understanding of GSMC's targeted internal and external audiences, the incumbent brings initiative and consistency to all communications efforts.  The Communications Officer provides sound communications advice to GSMC administrative and academic staff and collaborates with communications professionals throughout AKU to align and coordinate communications priorities and messages.  The Communications Officer brings exceptional innovation and creativity, time management and organizational skills, resourcefulness, team spirit and an entrepreneurial mindset to the role.

Key Roles and Responsibilities 

• Develop, implement, evaluate, and maintain a social media/web strategy

• Help grow the GSMC brand

• Manage GSMC's social media presence across relevant channels – Facebook, YouTube, Twitter – ensuring consistent and well-curated content

• Support the development of a media-relevant platform and assist GSMC faculty to communicate their teaching, writing, and research.

• Develop a regular newsletter on GSMC's activities, as well as media topics of special relevance to regional media and communications professionals.

• Act as the voice of GSMC in our own and other social media communities

• Monitor trends, applications, and new developments in traditional and social media

• Curate the GSMC website, creating rich and creative content from the region that is optimized for search engines

• Curate articles on hot topics or ongoing important issues

• Develop, maintain, and improve the GSMC website, including drafting, editing, and posting content

• Develop and execute internal and external communication plans and promotional material in collaboration with the Dean and senior GSMC Management

• Develop dynamic marketing and promotional campaigns to raise public awareness, recruit students, and assist in fund-raising

• Create compelling messages and stories about GSMC for potential clients and donors

• Create stakeholder maps in developing communication strategies, refreshed regularly based on internal and external feedback

• Collaborative with AKU's Office of Strategic Communications in messaging and strategy, particularly the design of promotional materials

• Contribute to internal AKU newsletters and reports, profiling GSMC activities

• Work effectively with Aga Khan Development Network affiliates (AKF, ADKN, EAI, etc) on overlapping communications interests/tasks

• Help organize public events and seminars to raise GSMC's public profile

• Understand and "ride" the latest media trends to advance the priorities of the school.

• Writing speeches and/or developing talking points for team members, where necessary.

• Work with regional media houses to showcase the school's activities; book, the school's experts for interviews, TV and radio appearances, and conferences that raise the school's profile

• Monitor and report monthly on communications performance metrics and personal objectives

• Manage fast-response or crisis communications

• Actively seek opportunities to leverage GSMC faculty expertise (e.g., media interviews, web chats, etc.)

• Write media releases and produce content that publicizes GSMC's work

• Build relationships with media groups, tech hubs, NGOs, and other interested communities to enhance the brand and identity of the GSMC

• Help develop innovative, original, and strategic partnerships with corporate, governmental, and non-governmental partners