Communications Officer

Self Help Africa; New York (NY); On-site; USD 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Self Help Africa is seeking a Communications Officer in Dublin to oversee written content, edit video material, and lead storytelling across digital and print platforms. You will work with country teams to gather content and manage production for external audiences.

The role requires strong writing, video/editing skills in Adobe Creative Suite and WordPress, and the ability to report on content performance. Travel to the UK/Ireland/Africa may be required.

Qualifications

• Proven writing skills and ability to develop story potential.
• Ability to tell engaging stories in clear language.
• Ability to interview and gather content for testimonials.

Responsibilities

• Oversee production and commissioning of written content for external audiences.
• Lead on editing and production of video content for digital channels and events.
• Produce compelling content for web and print and report on metrics.

Skills

Excellent writing

Storytelling

Interview content gathering

Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe InDesign

Analytical

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Pressure tolerance

Teamwork

Social media knowledge

Commitment to SHA

Not-for-profit experience

Multi-tasking

Video editing

Education

Third level qualification in media/marketing

Tools

Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Illustrator

WordPress CMS

Job description

Job ID: 99848
Job Title: Communications Officer
Company:
Location: Dublin
Contract type: Permanent Full Time
Salary: €30,000 – €35,000 plus benefits
Reports to: Head of Communications

Organisation Overview

Established in 1984, Self Help Africa is an international development organisation that works through agriculture and agri-enterprise development to address hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impacts of climate change.

We believe that equitable economic development is key to lifting communities out of long-term poverty, empowering them to take control of their futures and improving their quality of life.

Our current five-year organisation strategy, defines our mission as the alleviation of hunger, poverty, social inequality and the impact of climate change through community led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, so that people can have access to nutritious food, clean water, decent employment and incomes, while sustaining natural resources.

Our three core values are:

• Impact: We are accountable, ambitious and committed to systemic change.
• Innovation: We are agile, creative and enterprising in an ever-changing World.
• Community: We are inclusive, honest and have integrity in our relationships.

Job Purpose

Communications is an important part of the support function within Self Help Africa.

Our communications team develop, host and maintain websites and multiple social media channels, produce video content, articles and features, design and produce collateral including annual reports, newsletters, policy documents and materials to support fundraising events, appeals and campaigns, and support the organisation’s public facing communications in a range of other ways.

The team support the communications and marketing requirements of the organisation, as well as the activities of our fundraising departments in Ireland, UK and USA. Furthermore, we provide comms support to country programmes, to Development Education and to the activities of affiliated organisations. The successful applicant will contribute to the goals and objectives of the Communications Department in the above areas.

Key Responsibilities

Role Specific

• The Self Help Africa Communications Officer is responsible for overseeing the production and commissioning of written content for disseminated to external audiences.
• The CO will lead on the editing and production of video content that can be used on digital channels and at events, to support and market our work and organisational objectives.
• The CO will be tasked with producing compelling content that can be published on organisational digital and print platforms, and capture and report metrics of online content performance.
• The CO will collaborate with country teams to gather, coordinate, and manage content gathering with programme countries.
• The CO will support the management,maintenance and optimisation of organisational websites – using WordPress CMS
• The CO will create design resources using Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Canva -for both web and print
• Support the archiving and storage of content – including images, video content, design resources, published press materials and other.
• The role may occasionally require you to travel – to UK, Ireland or to Africa, to gather information and materials for use in fulfilling the communications remit.
• The CO will contribute to the organisation and presentation of public facing ‘public engagement’ events on behalf of the organisation.

Key Relationships

• Communications Team
• Fundraising Teams in Ireland, UK and USA
• Development Education and public engagement teams
• Country teams in Africa

Qualifications/Other Requirements

• Third level qualification in media, marketing or related discipline
• Excellent writing skills and an ability to recognise and develop story potential
• Have an ability to tell a good and engaging story in clear and simple language
• Have the ability to interview and gather content that might be used as testimony that demonstrates the impact that the organisation is having in its work.
• High level of proficiency in Adobe Create Suite programmes and specifically with Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe InDesign programmes
• Highly analytical
• Strong organisational and communication skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong teamwork skills
• Knowledge and/or experience of new media and social media marketing
• Commitment to the work of Self Help Africa
• Experience of working within the not-for-profit sector
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to produce results
• Familiarity with word processing, desktop publishing, video editing software.

Self Help Africa is an Equal Opportunities Employer

All candidates offered a job with Self Help Africa will be expected to sign Self Help Africa’s Safeguarding Policies and Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. Specific roles may require Police/DBS/ vetting.

Self Help Africa is an international development charity and is committed to the safeguarding of all those who we come into contact with or through our work. We are committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour relating to our work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and we are committed to promoting the welfare of children and the people we aim to assist with whom Self Help Africa engages. Self Help Africa expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and uphold the values and behaviours outlined in the Code of Conduct and Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy . We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us. Recruitment to all roles in Self Help Africa will include, and be subject to, a criminal records self-declaration, references, and other pre-employment checks, which may include police and qualifications checking. Self Help Africa is committed to the principles of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and will request information from previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment during employment. By submitting an application, the applicant confirms her/his understanding of these recruitment procedures. Subsequently, working or volunteering with Self Help Africa is subject to a range of vetting checks, including criminal background checking.

Research shows that women and those from marginalised ethnic groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single requirement. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align with every criteria described, we encourage you to apply anyway, you could be exactly what we need!

Self Help Africa is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.