Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places with the tools and support they need to turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve.
Mercy Corps is looking for a committed and dynamic individuals to take up the following position:
Communications Officer, YYC Rift Valley Program (Eldoret)
Program / Department Summary: Mercy Corps’ goal in Kenya is to strengthen and sustain capabilities of Kenyan society and stakeholders to be agents of positive change in their communities.
It achieves this goal through three objectives:
1) Strengthened ability of local, district, and regional structures to manage conflict and become managers of democracy;
2) Empowered Kenyan youth to achieve a greater voice in national reform and create new livelihood opportunities and
3) More resilient drought affected populations in Northeastern Kenya.
The Yes Youth Can (YYC) program is a multi-year USAID-funded program that focuses on building youth-owned, youth-led and youth-managed institutional arrangements and capabilities at both national and county levels.
Mercy Corps implements two of USAID’s regional YYC programs—one in the Rift Valley and one in Central region.
In partnership with the County Bungee Forums and SACCOs, Mercy Corps works to achieve the following four objectives:
- Mobilize youth and form youth representation structures at the village and county level;
- Support youth to exercise a greater voice in local and national affairs;
- Increase youth productivity, employment opportunities, and income; and
- Increase young women’s access to social, political, and economic opportunities.
Entering its fourth and final year of implementation, Mercy Corps has reached 1.9 million youth in Rift and Central regions and supported the development of over 11,000 bunges (youth parliaments).
General Position Summary: The Communications Officer will be based in Eldoret with frequent travel to Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Nakuru, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia and West Pokot Counties in Rift Valley as required.
General Position Summary: The Communications Officer will be based in Eldoret with frequent travel to Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Nakuru, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Trans Nzoia and West Pokot Counties in Rift Valley as required.
In collaboration with the Chief of Party, Program Manager and Field Officers to understand the mission, vision and activities of YYC Regional and create effective communications materials.
Similarly collect and compile information about the YYC Regional program for dissemination to program beneficiaries, stakeholders, the government, CSOs and donors as per the instructions of the Chief of Party.
Essential Job Functions:
- Provide consistent, reliable, and meaningful communication to various stakeholders in audience-appropriate language and medium
- Work with the management team to develop and implement a communications strategy within the budgeted framework.
- Provide advice on crafting of relevant program messages and promoting them through established media channels and through direct communications with clients and partners.
- Ensure proper and correct messaging of the YYC Initiative by all staff from the bottom up
- Communicate to various stakeholders with appropriate frequency and timing
- Produce program compelling news releases and newsletters in liaison with Chief of Party and Country Director.
- Maintain and further develop our Yes Youth Can website and online presence including the youth social media.
- Leverage bunges’ Facebook sites and social media to collect information and stories.
- Oversee and supervise printing and design of publicity materials for YYC- Rift Valley.
- Keep attuned to the changes and updates needed on the website and other youth communication channels like Face book, Wwitter etc.
- Draft stories and case studies of individuals and projects to be used in various communications materials.
- Coordinate closely with Monitoring and Evaluation Staff to collective track and collect YYC’s story and impact.
- Participate in planning films and videos on YYC Regional programs as well as formatting & editing Quarterly and Annual reports.
- Train a cohort of Youth from Bunges and Boards to be able to document and write their stories and share them.
- Compile the weekly report from the program managers and submit to the Chief of Party.
- Undertake any other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Roles: None
Reports Directly To: Program Manager
Works Directly With: Program Managers, Program Officers, Specialists, and Field Officers
Reports Directly To: Program Manager
Works Directly With: Program Managers, Program Officers, Specialists, and Field Officers
Education, Knowledge and Experience:
- The Communications Officer should have an educational background in public relations, journalism or marketing, but experience and demonstrated skill set will also be taken into consideration.
- Must have a Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree in Arts or Communications or other relevant degree.
- Experience and skills from previous employment are a plus.
- Must have good organizational, management and communications skills. In addition, must be able to develop communications strategies, and negotiate and collaborate with partners and outside teams such as printer, web team, film makers etc.
- Proven ability to work with different computer and software programs and packages and summarize information in different media.
- Ability to work effectively as part of team in a cross-cultural and politically sensitive setting.
- Professional communicator who can recognize a story and tell it in a compelling way to media, in newsletters, videos and online
- Demonstrated passion and a commitment to changing lives of others (especially youth) for the better and inspires others in that passion and commitment.
- Strong writing and presentation skills.
- Computer skills beyond e-mail and word processing. Some graphic design and publication design skills are necessary.
- Should be able to write interesting text to be used on the website, email newsletter, face book and other online communications.
- Writing must be grammatically correct and in good standard English
- Should be a dynamic team player and a collaborator with strong networking and negotiation skills.
- Must be ready to comply and live up to and in accordance with Mercy Corps Kenya ideals and values.
- Must have demonstrable good relational skills.
Success Factors
- Excellent communication and team-building techniques
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment
- Demonstrated strong understanding of cultural and social environment in Central Province & Rift Valley.
- Willingness and ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people
- Ability to work as part of a team and coordinate with other project personnel
- Strong computer and organizational skills
- Proactive, creative and problem-solver.
How to Apply
Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit on or before October 10th, 2014 at 4.00 p.m. containing a cover letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org.
Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications and experience should submit on or before October 10th, 2014 at 4.00 p.m. containing a cover letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org.
The email subject line must clearly show the job title and location they are applying for. Applications without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified.
Please do not attach any certificates.
(ONLY Qualified and selected candidates for the interview will be contacted)
NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.