Communications Specialist Job at The Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF)

The Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF), is a non-profit firm established in December 2013. The organisation was established to improve the quality of decision-making and execution in the health sector. HSDF supports key stakeholders at all levels of the government and private sector by providing strong analytical support and deploying innovative frameworks and tools to generate measurable and sustainable results.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Position: Communications Specialist
Req Id: 261
Job Location: Abuja

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
External Communications:

• Develops an overarching strategy of HSDF’s external presence and communication
• Leads the revamping and updating of HSDF's website and content, liaising with Program Leads and relevant officers
• Develops and implements strategy for HSDF’s social media and other media presence
• Plans, manages and evaluates communications campaigns that favourably impact the views of the public, opinion leaders and donors to raise HSDF’s profile and support fundraising activities
• Develops and edits content for abstracts, briefs, papers, proposals, etc. with internal authors; recommends appropriate channel for communication
• Maintains and develops a contact list of journalists and media outlets and manages the regular flow of news/information about HSDF’s work to the media, ensuring reputational risks are identified and managed
• Tracks and analyses traditional and online media, to identify trends and/or issues, and propose solutions and ideas to improve the effectiveness of communication strategy and activities
• Provides support in HSDF’s fundraising activities

Internal Communications:

• Works in close collaboration with counterparts to align activities and ensure a coherent and consistent approach to optimal communication within HSDF
• Contributes to preparedness actions, providing technical recommendations and guidance and monitoring the management of communications specific risks
• Disseminates news about projects/programs and in-house activities in a timely manner.

Knowledge Management:

• Prepares reports based on communications analytics periodically to the CEO
• Contributes towards the quality assurance of internal and external reports and documentation including policy briefs, research publications and articles
• Coordinates and prepares accurate and timely reporting on communications activities that enables informed decision-making, evaluation of objectives and consistency of information presented to stakeholders
• Creates, monitors and maintains an appropriate database of reports, documents and FAQs for staff use

CSR, Events and Capacity Building:

• Manages the CSR programs of HSDF, managing communications logistics for organizational events and ensuring maximum coverage and reporting.
• Builds and manages in-house communications team, develops work plans, monitors performance against objectives, and ensures appropriate development to enable high performance
• Builds capacity of HSDF staff on all aspects of external relations communication, providing advice, guidance and training to ensure consistent, quality communications activities that deliver the desired impact
• Performs any other duties as required.

Qualifications
The requirements listed below represent the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability required to successfully perform this job

Educational/Professional Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, Communications or equivalent
• Master's Degree in Development, Communications-related or Public Health-related field is an added advantage
• 7-9 years of cognate experience of which 2 must be in supervisory/middle management capacity

Skills and Knowledge:

• Excellent communications skills and personality
• Expert knowledge & hands-on experience in corporate communications, knowledge management, content development, social media, SEO, internal communications, public relations, etc.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing communications strategies and campaigns
• Proven experience in leading a team, coordinating and/or providing support to cross functional project teams
• Knowledge of website maintenance, social media, emerging media technologies etc
• Web design skills, including Microsoft Publisher and current Graphic designs software
• Basic knowledge of SEO
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Ability to work as a leader and member of a team and possess initiative and good problem-solving skills
• Creative thinking with the ability to identify innovative ways to communicate and engage audience through a variety of avenues
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from team leads, staff and the public
• Having published articles and journals is an added advantage.