Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor
Position Title: Global Communications Manager
Department: Partnerships & Communications, Secretariat
Place of work: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration: Permanent
Grade: 9
Salary:
KES 4,022,159 – 4,279,543 Annual salary, plus mobile phone with
allowance, up to 10% matched pension contribution, medical insurance,
and life assurance
Reports to: Head of Partnership & Communications
About Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP)
Today, around one billion city-dwellers lack access to safe drinking
water, a number the UN estimates will nearly double by 2050 as more and
more people are moving to cities for work and other opportunities, most
of them settling in informal settlements without basic services.
Meanwhile the changing climate is making water even more precious.
Against this backdrop, our work has never been more vital.
WSUP is a not-for-profit company, expert at improving water and sanitation services for low- income, urban communities. We work alongside utilities, entrepreneurs, and communities to develop and deliver solutions which are affordable for the poor, financially viable for suppliers, and sustainable for the environment.
We were founded in 2005 in the UK, and currently work in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia (Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Madagascar, Ghana, Zambia, Bangladesh), supported by a global Secretariat. We are a small organisation, but we have a big impact; since inception we have helped nearly 40 million people with improved water, sanitation, and hygiene services. And we have ambitions to reach many more.
WSUP’s innovative approach to creating impact is guided by our values, which are the common fundamental beliefs and principles that inform our approach and work. All our staff are expected to embody these values in their day-to-day work and interactions. To learn more about our values, please see www.wsup.com/about/work-with-us/.
For more information about WSUP's vision and approach, see www.wsup.com (but please be reassured that we are currently working on a new website!)
About the role
We are seeking an experienced communications professional with a proven
track record in developing and disseminating effective, compelling
communications to join our friendly Partnerships and Communications team
and support our global strategy and the achievement of our ambitious
goals. This role is international in scope and is located in our Nairobi
office.
Application deadline
5:30 EAT, Friday, 8th September
Interviews
Interviews will take place last week of Sept and 1st week of October 2023
The full job description can be found below.
Job Description
Overall purpose
The overall purpose of the Communications Manager is to develop and
manage WSUP’s external communications activities, working with
colleagues around the world – and our partners – to create and
disseminate compelling and effective communications in pursuit of our
strategic goals.
Main responsibilities & tasks
1. Content creation
- Case studies: Ensure the collection of accurate and compelling case studies and necessary communications assets to support fundraising with coaching, guidance and technical support, ensuring consent of participants is secured and recorded.
- Video & photos: Commission audiovisual content with clear purpose and audience. Lead collection of audiovisual content in programme countries, liaising with external agencies to ensure clear messaging, value for money, and that consent is secured.
- Stories for media: Prepare press releases and information packs to interest journalists and other key stakeholders.
- Newsletter: Prepare content and design of regular email newsletter.
2. Dissemination of communications
- Media relations: Maintain and develop relationships with journalists and producers of external platforms e.g. podcasts. Maintain and expand database of media contacts. Identify opportunities for stories looking both internally and externally via media monitoring.
- Website: Update content regularly, review analytics and engagement. Work with external agency to ensure website content is optimised for search results (SEO).
- Events: Organise and promote events where WSUP is present, including conferences, donor events and webinars.
- Social Media: Develop and/or commission content for WSUP’s social media channels, including LinkedIn and YouTube, ensuring content is regularly updated. Respond to any queries received on our social channels, referring them to colleagues where necessary. Review and analyse performance and engagement on social channels, using data insights to improve engagement.
- Newsletter: Send out WSUP’s external email newsletter (frequency 6-8 weeks), using the mailchimp platform, using data insights to improve engagement rates.
3. Partnerships
- Partnership communications: Manage the communications elements of partnerships with donors and collaborators and together with programme and fundraising colleagues, develop comms plan and assets to support projects and shared policy goals.
- Engage with comms leads in partner organisations to develop and disseminate content.
- Identify and develop opportunities for partners to profile WSUP’s work.
4. Capacity-building
- Internal communications: Work closely with HR and the senior leadership team to develop internal communications initiatives.
- Country teams: Work with country teams to support their communications initiatives including media outreach, events, fundraising materials and marketing. Provide support to the comms leads in each country.
- Website: Provide support and guidance to colleagues (country teams, HR, Advisory) to maintain their pages on the website
- Digital communications: Support local efforts to improve digital communications with key target audiences e.g. Facebook promotions.
- Training: Identify training needs and capacity-building opportunities within wider WSUP team, and work with Head of Partnership & Communications and Head of People & Support to address them in line with our Learning & Development strategy.
5. Other
- Brand: Act as brand guardian, ensuring consistency of brand across all WSUP outputs, from business cards to email footers (noting that responsibility for printed publications sits elsewhere). Liaise with external designers and agencies.
- Planning & reporting: Keep an updated calendar of comms events and outputs and provide Head of Partnerships & Communications with regular reports of communications initiatives to inform decision-making.
- Asset database: Manage WSUP’s asset database of photos, videos and case studies, ensuring it is accurate and up-to-date, and manage the licensing of any footage.
Also
- Adherence to WSUP policies regarding safeguarding and Business Ethics
- Willingness to travel within Kenya and internationally
- Any additional duties as may be reasonably required within the scope of the above
This document is not an exhaustive list of core elements of the role. This job description is a working document and may be amended from time to time by mutual agreement
How to apply
To apply for this position, go to https://www.wsup.com/vacancies/
to upload your resume and cover letter, and to answer the application questions.
Please note: This job is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Applicants must have the right to work in Kenya at the time of application. Please do not apply if this is not the case.