The Senior Advisor- Communication and Advocacy reports directly to the Program Quality and Learning Coordinator. S/he will serve as country office technical lead of the Communication and Advocacy efforts towards quality design and implementation of CARE’s programs that ensure women empowerment and gender equality. The position holder will be a key personnel and leads CARE’s communication and advocacy initiative. The advisor leads/conducts capacity building efforts on advocacy and communication. S/he will oversight any kinds of advocacy communication and devise mechanisms to share widely at county office level and beyond. The senior advisor will oversee CARE’s communication and advocacy among partners, peer organizations and donors. The advisor will also serve as the main point of contact for all the country office communications internally and at the global level to ensure CARE Ethiopia is represented on the area.  

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS: 

Job Responsibility #1: Analysis, Strategy, Media and communication Reporting

• Develops communication and advocacy strategy of the CO in collaboration with relevant CO and RMU staffs;
• Produce high level communication materials to be used at government, INGOs and donor level for advocacy
• Lead CARE’s commas and advocacy work; ensure that CARE’s outcomes are communicated to the wider audience
• Produce high level communication materials to be used at government, INGOs and donor level for advocacy
• Technical support to CARE partners in developing or operationalizing a communication and advocacy framework.
• Ensure CARE’s humanitarian & development works are widely shared with programs that CARE implements and CARE’s work is communicated to the wider audience
• Develops and periodically updates country office communication materials and strategies on SAA, women’s empowerment and Gender Equality strategy and plans to operationalize the strategy;
• Develop and maintain communication processes and internal systems for CARE, partners and government ministries that work on the project;
• Sharing communication platforms and dissemination channels; conducts filming and video recording of project activities;
• Documents and maintains activities using video, photo and electronic presentations;
• Provides technical support to different project employees in the production advocacy/visibility works and PR related activities;
• Networking, relationship building, information gathering and dissemination with all relevant actors.
• Produce learning brief regularly from projects as needed
• Share knowledge management materials produced at organization level and different platforms

Job Responsibility #2: Capacity Building, Technical Assistance, conceptualization and implementation of CARE Ethiopia’s Public Relations     

• Establishes staff and key partner induction and ongoing training processes on CARE Ethiopia’s communication and advocacy framework; 
• Conducts capacity assessment and based on the results, prepares plans and advises project delivery unit on key communication and advocacy areas;
• Leads the development and facilitation of trainings for partners and staff development on communication specific initiatives;
• Continuously updates staff and partners on emerging gender issues to enhance and sustain conceptual clarity and awareness of partners and others’ best practices;
• Lead/Works with the relevant line ministries and other relevant government structures to facilitate gender -related activities and monitoring in the operational areas;
• Designs and leads comms and advocacy and write reports;
• Documents and shares lessons/results of on CARE’s works.
• Lead staff transformation sessions with project teams and support the staff transformation work of project partners, including government partners.
• Responsible for media relations and issuing of information packets for all public relations activities;
• Develop strategic guidance for CO public relations (PR) activities & provide systematic support to programs;
• Responsible for developing and implementing a yearly action plan for public relations activities;
• provide proactive recommendations as to appropriate advocacy messaging; provide leadership in putting forth ideas and recommendations; information monitoring;
• Produce and disseminate CARE’s stories in relation to the project and beyond demonstrating strategic plan and programmatic profiles.
• Participate and lead the organization in relevant national and international events that contribute to build organizational image and goodwill;
• Provide technical advice and support to the team and stakeholders in the production of programmatic visibility works and PR-related activities;
• Lead concept development of PR activities related to specific project initiatives.

Job Responsibility #3: Coordinate and manage CARE Ethiopia’s Press & Media Relations & Learning, Policy Implementation, and Networking        

• Lead in preparation of any media briefing, statements or talking points
• Share CARE best practices and effective approaches and key findings in Gender and women’s empowerment
• Identifies, establishes & maintains productive relationships with like-minded NGOs;
• lead the decision-making/recommendations related to how CARE and stakeholders can more strategically use information and the media both inside and outside of the organization;
• Lead on the preparation of guidance (FAQs, Talking Points, etc.) in anticipation of inquiries from the news media especially in the event of an emergency response;
• Collaborate and share information with RMU, CI communication and advocacy team to maximize effectiveness and efficiency;
• Responsible for the establishment and maintenance of good press and media relations;
• Plan strategic events/activities for wider media coverage, especially in the event of an emergency response;
• Responsible for the identification of topics for, and development of, press releases;
• Liaise with Ethiopian & CARE international press media & participate in different platforms
• Manage press visits and information dissemination;
• Issue crisis management in cases of trends of media controversies especially in relation to CARE;
• Lead the CO dissemination on a regular basis regarding the accomplishments among various stakeholders;
• Keep up to date with advocacy and communication developments including best practice in-country & globally;
• Keep up to date with national advocacy and communication policies and strategies
• Cultivate relations with & maintain a database of national & international correspondents & media persons. 

Job Responsibility #4: Representation and others aspects (coordination)

• Gather information/input from projects, employees or other sources;
• Responsible for follow-up and recording of events related to CARE’s and stakeholder’s activities;
• Organize, prepare and design, and distribute the internal a monthly newsletter;
• Produce and distribute newsletter of the project.
• Participates in different gender related task forces and working groups within CARE, at national and International level and others as needed;
• Represent CARE professionally when delegated/authorized;
• Perform other duties as assigned

GENDER EQUALITY AND PSHEA

•  Understanding and demonstrated commitment to the importance of gender, youth and social inclusion issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and PSEAH (safeguarding), as evidenced in previous positions / programming.

 PROBLEM SOLVING (Thinking Environment)

• Levels one, two and three of problem solving apply to the incumbent. The Advisor requires a high level of technical independence as well as political acumen in understanding the complexity of media vis-à-vis many different stakeholders. S/he is required to use interpolative skills to pick and choose the right strategy to address given problems, and to determine how and whether to communicate with various audiences in a way that ensures the promotion and protection of CARE’s image. 

Job Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS (KNOW HOW)

EDUCATION

Required:

• Master’s degree in Public, International Relations, or other relevant discipline.

Desired:

• Master’s degree in Journalism, linguistics

EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Minimum 5-7years of professional experience in communications work especially in producing materials for high level advocacy
• Proven experience developing and implementing communications strategies through a variety of means, such as traditional, digital, and social media, and/or storytelling.
• Ability to develop communications strategies using behavioral and social change communication, including audience segmentation and social mobilization
• Knowledge of adolescent girls’ and women’s economic challenges, gender mainstreaming, and labor issues is preferred
• Must devote to project activities to achieve expected outcomes

Desired:

• International NGO experience.
• Experience in humanitarian communication and Advocacy work

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Required:

• Knowledge of development challenges, women empowerment is preferred
• Excellent written and verbal English skills
• Computer Proficiency including desktop publishing
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Willingness to travel, often under difficult conditions
• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality, sensitivity to HIV/AIDS and participatory approach

COMPETENCIES

• Respect, accountability, courage, excellence, communication with impact, political acumen, planning and organizing, initiating action, coaching, innovation, inter personal skill, information monitoring, stress tolerance.

 CONTACTS/KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• The position holder is expected to cooperate and work with national and international staff and partner offices. She/he also works closely with External Relations and Government Liaison Advisor and other concerned staff.

How to Apply

CARE Ethiopia is committed to preventing all unwanted behavior at work. This includes sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, and child abuse. We expect everyone who works for us to share this commitment by understanding and working within the CARE Safeguarding Policy and related framework. CARE Ethiopia has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives or partners.

CARE Ethiopia reserves the right to seek information from job applicants’ current and/or previous employers about incidents of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment the applicant may have been found guilty to have committed or about which an investigation was in the process of being carried out at the time of the termination of the applicant’s employment with that employer.

By submitting the application, the job applicant confirms that s/he has no objection to CARE Ethiopia requesting the information specified above. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. 

If you are interested to be part of our dynamic team, exciting work environment and contribute to CARE Ethiopia’s mission and vision, please send your CV (not more than 3 pages) and cover letter (not more than one page) through Ethio Jobs 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Passionate and dedicated candidates who meet the requirement are strongly encouraged to apply, especially women!

CARE seeks to improve the lives of the most marginalized, particularly women and girls. Our diversity is our strength. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply.