COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER – Kenya | ReliefWeb

INTRODUCTION

Habitat for Humanity Kenya (HFH Kenya) is a national non-profit organization that began operations in 1982 as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. The affiliation is governed by a National Affiliation Agreement (NAA) and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). HFH Kenya’s vision is: “A nation where every family has a decent place to live.” Mission: “Translating God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity Kenya brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.” Our overarching goal is: “To provide low-income families with access to decent and affordable housing”

LOCATION: Nairobi

DIRECT MANAGERS: Communications Officer.

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS: All departments ensure a seamless flow of HFHK’s program and operational processes.

CONTRACT DURATION: 2 years, renewable, subject to availability of funds.

NATIONALITY: Kenyan citizens.

Competitive salary and benefits: The gross monthly salary for this position is between KES 310,000 and KES 350,000.

PURPOSE OF THE TASK

Reporting to the National Director, the Communications Manager is primarily responsible for developing, implementing and overseeing effective marketing and communications strategies that support and promote Habitat for Humanity Kenya’s work to multiple audiences. This includes brand awareness and engagement, managing internal and external communications, promoting community engagement, overseeing content creation and identifying strategically important platforms, channels and initiatives to deliver that content and message.

The Communications Manager focuses on enhancing the public image of the organization, engaging stakeholders and supporting fundraising initiatives and public relations efforts to increase awareness and support for the organization’s initiatives. The Communications Manager supports both strategic and technical aspects of communications and works closely with the HFHK senior management team in the delivery of the communications KPIs and collaborates with colleagues in the Africa office for the greater communications goal for HFH in Africa and globally.

TASKS

Specific responsibilities of the job:

1. Develop and implement communication strategies:
   • Develop comprehensive communications strategies that align with Habitat for Humanity Kenya’s mission to provide low-income families with access to decent and affordable housing.
   • Develop realistic annual plans and budgets to enable the implementation of communication strategies.
2. Manage internal and external communications:
   • Develop clear and effective guidelines and protocols for internal and external communications.
   • Manage external communications to enhance Habitat for Humanity Kenya’s image and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders, partners and the community.
   • Assist in coordinating media interviews and other external communications opportunities related to HFH work in Kenya, including preparing key spokespersons.
3. Program Communication Support:
   • Develop project-specific communication plans for new and ongoing HFHK donor-funded projects and monitor their implementation throughout the life of the project.
   • Increase the capacity of project leaders and technical specialists to identify and document stories of change, including case studies, photographs and multimedia products that communicate the impact of our work to key audiences and for media use, as well as for quality reporting purposes.
   • Support field program teams in ensuring compliance with HFHK branding and donor requirements for all visibility and communication materials.

• Content creation and management:
• Oversee the creation of compelling content (e.g. articles, press releases, social media posts, newsletters) that effectively communicates Habitat for Humanity Kenya’s impact and initiatives. This also includes overseeing website management and social media engagement.
• Ensure all content aligns with organizational goals and engages with audiences. Reinforce Habitat for Humanity’s brand and communications standards among content aggregators, and establish clear guidelines for the development of stories, images, videos, and other assets.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of communications efforts and campaigns and adjust strategies as necessary to maximize effectiveness.

1. Improve public image and stakeholder engagement:
   • Implement strategies to improve Habitat for Humanity Kenya’s public image and increase visibility in relevant sectors.
   • Work with advocacy, donor relations, and other relevant teams to engage stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, government agencies, and the media, to gain support and advocacy for the organization’s initiatives.
   • Work with fundraising teams to develop communications materials to support fundraising campaigns and initiatives.
   • Assist with PR activities by writing compelling stories, arranging media appearances, and maintaining media relations to generate positive coverage and support.
2. Staff capacity building:
   • Train key executives in media engagement and support the National Director and other senior managers in their roles as designated spokespersons.
   • Coordinate periodic training for employees on communication skills, tools and best practices; HFHK’s communications strategy, policies and brand guidelines; and empower team members to effectively execute communications strategies and initiatives.
   • Develop and implement a crisis communications policy within the first 6 months, with annual refresher training for all employees.
   • And any other tasks your supervisor assigns to you.

KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES / INDICATORS

• Annual strategic communication plans, achieving at least 90% of the set goals.

• HFHK communications about Kenya are useful for fundraisers, advocates and program officers within the organization.

• Number of high-quality communications materials produced and effectively used by the Habitat for Humanity network.

• Number of successful external engagements through news media, events and other opportunities.

• Our communications consistently reflect Habitat for Humanity’s brand and ethical standards.

• Number of successful stakeholder engagement events per year.

• Annual brand audits with a minimum 5% increase in brand perception score

• Engagement figures on national website and social media channels

  QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.

  REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Skill in devising creative concepts and demonstrable ability to successfully complete storytelling projects, involving both written and visual aspects.

• Demonstrated ability to write, edit, evaluate and compose strong content and design, while meeting the needs of the brand, marketing and message.

• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

• Strong interpersonal and intercultural competencies and organizational and project management skills that demonstrate the ability to collaborate successfully with different departments and stakeholders.

• Features: Strategic thinker, detail-oriented, creative, proactive and adaptable. Passion for the mission of non-profit is essential.

• Technical skills: Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite and other relevant communication tools.

  EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 5 years of experience in communications, public relations or a related field, preferably in a non-profit organization.

• Demonstrable experience in media engagement.

• Experience in developing and managing a communications unit.

• Experience in developing successful communications strategies and campaigns that contribute to the realization of both larger organizational objectives and those of a specific team or initiative within an organization.

  OTHER INFORMATION

• Active support of HFHK values:

  • Humility – We are part of something greater than ourselves
  • Courage – We do what is right, even when it is difficult or unpopular
  • Accountability – We take personal responsibility for Habitat’s mission

• Ability to work long and irregular hours. The job holder may occasionally be expected to work outside of regular working hours.

• Confidentiality

• Honesty

• High degree of integrity

  Security: HFHI requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to protect our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and everyone we work with. Managers at all levels have a responsibility to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, protects the rights of beneficiaries and community members (particularly children), and promotes the implementation of Habitat for Humanity’s Code of Conduct.