Strategic Communications Manager

About the role

World Vision Afghanistan's Communications Unit is looking for a Strategic Communications Manager to lead the unit and set up good practice in grant, strategic, partnership and internal communications. The role connects these functions to a coherent communications strategy aligned with the National Office brand, identity and mission, and oversees communications for project teams, donor and public engagement, media relations, emergency and reputation risk, and employee communications. It is a fixed-term local position based in Herat.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the construction of the communications strategy and workplan, working with National Office and Partnership teams to avoid overlaps and coordinate activities
• Integrate communications deliverables and budgets into grant project design and work with Business Development on fundraising, advocacy and publicity materials (digital, print and video)
• Oversee social media content, partner website and magazine content, and coordinate public events and media visits
• Build emergency communications readiness so the field receives quality stories, photos and interviews quickly
• Position the ministry in mainstream and social media, train spokespeople and technical experts, monitor national media and manage reputation and risk issues
• Support advocacy initiatives, staff engagement and information flow, and build the capacity of the communications team and National Office staff

Required profile

• Degree in journalism or communications/public relations/marketing, or equivalent professional experience
• At least five years of professional experience in journalism or public relations
• Experience producing communications resources such as publications, multimedia, websites, photo and video reports and social media
• Ability to create content sensitive to the Afghanistan context and cross-cultural communication skills
• Language: Dari and Persian, English; fluency in Dari and/or Pashto preferred
• Willingness to travel about 20% of the time in the field and to work during crises, including disasters
• Full adherence to World Vision safeguarding, child protection, conflict of interest and security protocols

Required skills

• Project management and content creation
• Preferred: photography and/or video production, marketing department or media agency experience, strategy development and reporting