Job Title: Communication Lead
Organisation: African Youth Action Network (AYAN)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About Organisation:
The African Youth Action Network (AYAN) is a youth-led organization fronting youth as champions for social and economic development. Founded in June 2015, our mission is to harness and nurture refugees and young people’s personal, community and national aspirations to promote peace and development through informed, innovative and value driven approaches.
Job Summary: The AYAN Communication Lead is responsible for overseeing the implementation of both internal and external communication strategies. This will include managing internal and external communication channels including AYAN social media platforms, websites, newsletters, memos, and media relations adhering to AYAN’s brand when publishing content and marketing materials.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Heads the AYAN communication team.
- AYAN Point of contact for press, media and public relations. Communicating with media outlets and creating a press kit.
- Lead on creative copywriting that informs, engages and empowers AYAN internal and external audiences both on and offline.
- Oversee AYAN’s presence on all social networking platforms
- Write internal and external newsletters, design reports, including quarterly and annual reports.
- Grow AYAN’s ability to tell stories effectively for different press and broadcast audiences through supporting media relations activities.
- Create style guides and brand voice outlines for all public relations, marketing, advertising and other engagements.
- Consult with management to develop effective communication procedures for various situations including crises.
- Develop materials to educate staff on communication practices and assist them on improving communication skills.
- Perform communications research and monitor the progress of various communications strategies.
- Collaborate with communication team to develop strategies for engaging youth, displaced persons, media personalities, and other internal and external stakeholders.
- Supporting media relations activities, including identifying media opportunities, preparing press releases, developing relationships with journalists and selling into national, broadcast and trade media, drafting case studies and managing the arrangements for interviews between staff and the media
- Develop and manage AYAN’s portfolio of quotes, case studies and stories.
- Monitor AYAN press activity, ensuring we capture learnings to inform future decisions
- Act as a brand ambassador, leading colleagues to ensure all digital collateral helps to build AYAN’s brand and deliver against objectives.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- Excellent project management skills, including time management, goal setting, and prioritization
- Good data analysis, problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Leadership abilities, including training and mentorship
- Advanced verbal and written communication skills.
- Knowledge of running creative campaigns.
- Speech writing, written content creation and proof-reading skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Excellent knowledge around tone of voice and storytelling within social media.
- Knowledge of media monitoring and stakeholder management tools.
- Accomplished writer and communicator with strong examples of tailoring content to different audiences across multiple channels
- A pro-active approach, self-motivated and enthusiastic with initiative and commitment to achieving results.
Education and Training
- Have at least a bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, advertising, business administration, public relations or another relevant discipline.
- Training in writing, messaging, psychology, statistics and media,
- Other practical training gained from internships, and on-the-job training from previous professional experience is an added benefit.
Experience Requirements
- Experience of managing budgets effectively.
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience in communications, including writing and distributing press releases to deadlines.
- Demonstrable experience of engaging audience through online/offline communications channels.
- Experience in both creative and non-profit copywriting with exceptional attention to detail
- Experience of securing proactive media coverage – on and offline.
- Experience of managing internal and external communications, working with and developing media relationships, drafting and managing press releases.
- Experience of achieving results through working independently and within a team environment.
- Experience of effective line management.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates who meet the above requirements, should submit their applications to info@ayanafrica.org Applicants should attach a CV (Maximum 2 pages), a motivational letter. For those interested in communication lead role, please include two examples of your writings.
Deadline: 30th March 2025
NB:
- Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Any form of lobbying will lead to automatic disqualification.
- AYAN is an equal opportunity employer. Nationals, Refugee youth, and women are encouraged to apply.
- Candidates may also be considered for other open or future vacancies.