Title: Communications Officer
Team/programme: Resource Mobilisation, Communications and Engagement
Type of contract: Permanent
Location: Limbe, Cameroon
Application dateline: August 30th 2024
ROLE PURPOSE
The Communications officer will gather all of the communication information from his/ her area. He/she will prepare, assist and or supervise communications outputs such as films, photographs, case studies, blogs and field situation reports other communication platforms as required by GOOFIRM. Signed off communication products which will be used by the programme manger externally, especially as necessary documentation for their reports to donors, partners and stakeholders. Hence, he/she shall work closely with external or internal consultants, technical advisers and project teams to ensure quality and effective key messaging of each expected output.
The post-holder will also be expected to host media and donor trips, and support the production of high quality reports to document the progress of GOOFIRM.
During emergencies, this role will provide critical support in coordinating the team’s key response roles. This post holder will also provide administrative support to the planning and strategy team and wider department for finance, procurement and the team meetings.
GOOFIRM is an independent Youth-Led Health and Development Non-Profit Organisation founded in 2020 with its mission to support community health through Research, Awareness and Policy Advocacy, while prioritizing vulnerable girls, pregnant women, infant and children, Sustainable Development, Equal Rights and opportunities for all through a Community-based Approach with respect to the charter, the code of conduct, safeguarding policy, the institutional policies including the policy of prevention of corruption and fraud, protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse(PSEA) while promoting community access to sexual and reproductive health and rights(SRHR) to family planning, safe birth, freedom from gender based violence (GBV) sensitisation on sexually transmissible infections, malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
GOOFIRM operates in a full-spectrum programming. This means that the organisation implements its programs in both Development and Humanitarian. All staff may be requested to support a humanitarian response as the need arises. Work officially starts at 9:00am.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Programme Manager
Budget Responsibilities: no direct responsibility
Role Dimensions: This highly demanding, fast-moving role requires excellent project management skills; an ability to design clear and focused plans and drive their implementation; strong written and verbal communications skills; an ability to work to deadlines and manage a heavy workload; and require an ability to work in a networked structure across functional and geographical boundaries.
Other Reporting and Coordination Responsibilities: Coordinates with MEAL Officers, Technical Adviser in Head Office and other Project Offices, Logistic and Finance Unit and members of the consortium.
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
Project Delivery;
- Lead information and communication flows during the emergency responses
- Produce and distribute timely; accurate, clear and consistent information and communication including situation reports, press releases, blogs, case studies, photo stories, donor briefer, appeal briefer report, final report and accomplishment briefer.
- Collaborate with the Monitoring and Evaluation Team to be able to provide or include updates on the project implementation in the situation reports.
- Collaborate with advocacy and policy colleagues to ensure core messaging is consistent with advocacy and policy strategies within a response and opportunities are explored to promote these strategies.
- Liaise closely with photography / video teams in lead agency to ensure coordination of activities on the ground and that photos and videos are captured, proper release forms are signed, log lists and captions are recorded, and assets are sent electronically to lead agency for editing and distribution to GOOFIRM member agencies.
- Undertake photography commissions to a high standard, to accompany compelling case studies.
- Facilitate media activities such as requests for quotes or interviews (ensuring spokespeople are adequately briefed) or journalists visits to programmes. Identify opportunities within our response activities or the external environment for media activities.
- Collaborate with advocacy colleagues to ensure core messaging is consistent with advocacy strategies within a response and opportunities are explored to promote these strategies.
- Comply with GOOFIRM policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.
- To act as a point of contact for information provision on the emergency for other departments / GOOFIRM members including media, emergencies, marketing and advocacy and policy teams.
- To identify and maximise opportunities to raise the visibility and profile of GOOFIRM both in country and internationally
- Other tasks and responsibilities needed in the completion of the primary role.
Institutional Learning;
- Contribute to organisational learning and enhanced capacity in planned intervention and activities by providing feedback to the team on things and areas that are to be improved
- Together with other project team members, gather information on the impact of the work in the communities as opportunities for arise
Security and Safety;
- Contribute to the running monitor of the prevailing security conditions by gathering security related information.
- Assist in ensuring that the necessary measures are in place to ensure security, safety, health, and well-being of GOOFIRM staff, and other visitors; and that security standards and procedures are strictly adhered to.
Support partnering efforts and opportunities with Local Government Units, other government line agencies and structures, NGOs, and other stakeholders through consultation, information sharing when necessary.
Provides comments and suggestions when deemed necessary to all other activities such as resource mobilization, project conceptualization, fund sourcing, and other provide related strategic endeavours as required of the project.
CORE COMPETENCIES:
Leading cluster
- Leading and inspiring others – Demonstrates leadership in all our work, embodies our values, and articulates a compelling vision to inspire others to achieve our goals for children.
- Delivering results – Takes personal responsibility and holds others accountable for delivering our ambitious goals for children, continually improving their own performance or that of the team/ organisation.
- Developing self and others – Invests time and energy to actively develop self and others to help realise their full potentials, and to build the organization’s capability for the future.
Thinking cluster
- Problem solving and decision making – Takes effective, considered and timely decisions by gathering and evaluating relevant information from within or outside the organisation.
- Innovating and Adapting – Develops and implements innovative solutions to adapt and succeed in ever-changing and uncertain global and working environments.
- Applying technical and professional expertise – Applies the required technical and professional expertise to the highest standards; promotes and shares best practice within and outside the organisation.
Engaging cluster
- Working effectively with others – Works collaboratively to achieve shared goals and thrives on diversity of people and perspectives; knows when to lead and when to follow and how to ensure effective cross-boundary working.
- Communicating with impact – Communicates clearly and confidently with others to engage and influence; promotes dialogue and ensures timely and appropriate messages, building confidence and trust.
- Networking – Builds and uses sustainable relationships and networks to support the work of GOOFIRM.
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
- Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling GOOFIRM values
- Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities – giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
- Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same
- Widely shares their personal vision for GOOFIRM, engages and motivates others
- future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
- Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters
- values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
- Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
- Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
- Willing to take disciplined risks.
Integrity:
- Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Graduate of BA Communication/ Journalism/ Broadcasting or any related course degree level in a relevant field (e.g. International Development; Politics, International Relations; global health) / or relevant experience Master’s degree in a relevant field is desirable.
- 2-5 years’ work experience in a communications or journalistic capacity
- Excellent writing skills (sample works required) and interpersonal communication skills, both in English and French
- Keen eye for good stories
- Ability to take quality video and photographs
- Proficiency in using MS Word, MS Excel, Photoshop, In Design and Premiere Pro
- Excellent relationship building and coordination skills in order to effectively work with different program/ project teams
- Excellent communications and relationship building skills with children in order to gather good case studies
- Experience in working with the media
- An initiative-taking, proactive, inspiring attitude with the ability to manage and prioritise an unpredictable workload and solve problems quickly with limited support
- Ability to manage small teams and large volumes of information
- Ability to hit deadlines and deal with a number of stakeholders with varying priorities
- The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances
- Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy
- Commitment to the aims and principles of GOOFIRM and a good understanding of GOOFIRM mandate and child focus, and an ability to ensure this continues to underpin our support
- Willingness to engage in heavy travels
Desirable
- Experience working in humanitarian context
- Experience in writing press releases and pitching to the media
- Experience working in a development agency, national NGO or international NGO
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with GOOFIRM Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures
Conditions of employment:
– Issuance date: 1ST August 2024
–Full time
– Evaluation and selection will be based on prior work experience, job knowledge, skills, abilities and behavioral competence.
To Apply:
Please send your CV in English and cover letter including 3 references and salary expectations, to
connect@goofirm.org by August 30th 2024. Please include the position (GOOFIRM Communications officer) plus your name in the title of the email.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted face to face.
GOOFIRM is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
