Communications Manager

Position:Communications Manager

Location:Washington, DC

Reports To:Senior Program Officer

Division:Education Programs Division

About IREX

IREX is an international nonprofit organization providing thought leadership and innovative programs to promote positive lasting change globally. We enable local individuals and institutions to build key elements of a vibrant society: quality education, independent media, and strong communities. To strengthen these sectors, our program activities also include conflict resolution, technology for development, women and youth.

Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of over $70 million and a staff of over 400 professionals worldwide. IREX employs field-tested methods and innovative uses of technologies to develop practical and locally-driven solutions with our partners in more than 100 countries.

Summary of Position

IREX seeks a Communications Manager to manage external communications and content development for the USAID-funded Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program. The purpose of this program is to build the skills of young African leaders to improve the accountability and transparency of government, start and grow businesses, and serve their communities. This program provides young African leaders across the continent with opportunities for professional development, networking, mentoring, and a range of support activities.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Manage external program communications including website, social media and print materials

• Serve as liaison to donor web team to support donor communications

• Manage and continually update the program web tools, including information on upcoming events, professional development opportunities, and networking groups

• Design and develop branded materials for high-level, high visibility program events

• Manage communications aspects of webinars or other online events

• Incorporate innovative content and features into the website designed to attract young African leaders, building on the existing ways they use the internet

• Coordinate with a wide variety of stakeholders to gather, consolidate, and share content

• Ensure communications materials are branded according to USAID instructions/policy

• Research and write success stories and snapshots demonstrating the impact of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

• Conduct interviews, record quotes and take action-oriented photos to augment content

• Provide technical/editorial web support, updating content, publishing news stories and blogs

• Develop social networking site content

• Coordinate with field teams in Africa to support their country/region-specific marketing materials and to coordinate content with the IREX/Washington developed products

• Develop and maintain program communication-related vendor relationships (ex. print, web, and database-related outsourcing)

• Develop templates and production guidelines to ensure quality and consistency

• Manage programmatic reporting

• Coordinate with program monitoring and evaluation staff to incorporate data in impact pieces

• Significant international travel may be required

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing or similar field; Master's degree preferred

• Five to seven years of experience in communications in progressively more senior positions and minimum of two years of work related to knowledge management

• Ability to effectively work under tight deadlines and manage projects independently

• Project management experience related to communications including developing and executing communications strategies, and advising team members on communications strategy and content development

• Extensive successful writing and editing experience (externally focused) with a variety of online communications media platforms

• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with diverse stakeholders; highly responsive to emails and requests

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical language and ideas into a form easily comprehensible to non-technical audiences

• International development industry experience preferred, including proven success creating and communicating content with respect and sensitivity with diverse ethnic and cultural groups and familiarity with USAID branding and marking guidelines

• Working knowledge of front-end web languages, including HTML, CSS and JavaScript preferred

• Experience administering content-management systems like Drupal, WordPress and Joomla!

• Experience of and knowledge in web analytics and using web data to improve website design in order to achieve program and learning objectives

• Experience using Photoshop or other graphic imaging software preferred

• Experience with USAID funded programs focused on youth development, education, and training programs in sub-Saharan Africa strongly preferred

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, results-oriented approach

• Strong attention to detail

• Knowledge of and active engagement in social media platforms

• Ability to work independently and also as part of a team

• Fluency in English required, with excellent verbal and written communication skills; Proficiency in other relevant languages a plus

How to apply:

To Apply

Go to http://www.irex.org/careersand click on Current Openings. Then click on the corresponding position and apply through our website. Please supply a resume and a cover letter with your application. If you are creating a new profile you need to do so and then go back in to apply for a position.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

AA/EOE/M/F/D/V