Communications and Public Relations Manager at LEAP Africa

Description 

• We seek to recruit a Manager to oversee all Communications, Public Relations and Branding activities in the organisation
• LEAP Africa offers innovative leadership and work-readiness programmes for youth with the primary aim of equipping them to live productively, lead ethically and motivate them to deliver positive change in their communities by either championing community development efforts or building sustainable social enterprises.

Your Core Duties and Responsibilities are

Public Relations and Marketing:

• Report to and work closely with the Executive leadership team and the Board of Directors in creating and implementing the organization's communications, public relations, media, and branding strategy to strengthen LEAP’s reputation, visibility, and influence.
• Cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with media firms and agencies, ensuring maximum publicity for the LEAP brand.
• Implement effective reputation and crisis management strategies.
• Coordinate press activities and events for the organization and its programs, ensuring successful deployment of media plans for new and existing programs.
• Oversee media training for LEAP representatives, including scriptwriting and media coaching calls.
• Develop and implement marketing plans for the organization, its programs, and activities.
• Convert marketing strategies for business sustainability to achieve increased influence and impact.
• Manage and sustain relationships with media, marketing, communication agencies, and influencers.

Digital Marketing:

• Oversee digital campaigns aligned with the organization's strategic plans for high performance and partnership agreements.
• Coordinate the creation of multimedia productions, including commercials, short documentaries, audio messages, and videos in various formats.
• Coordinate and supervise the creation of content and leads on social media to drive publicity for LEAP’s programs and events. This includes monitoring and reporting performance metrics on a quarterly basis.
• Manage and oversee the organization's digital fundraising activities.
• Coordinate and manage websites, ensuring regular maintenance and updated content that effectively project the LEAP brand.
• Manage and optimize SEO for the website and blogs.

Branding and Event Management:

• Oversee brand elements and manage the production and distribution of branding materials for LEAP and all its programs or events (e.g., banners, T-shirts, flyers, etc.).
• Monitor and ensure adherence to brand ideals in all external and internal communications and events.
• Manage the production of corporate materials used in stakeholder engagement.
• Coordinate and manage all websites as vital marketing and communications tools, ensuring regular maintenance and updated content that communicate the LEAP’s vision, impact, and brand.

Corporate Publications:

• Manage internal and external communications, ensuring consistent and engaging messages. Use compelling stories and other communication techniques to spotlight the organization's impact, increase awareness, and maximize the potential of various media channels.
• Ensure the regular and timely production and distribution of LEAP’s biannual newsletter, annual reports, and other corporate publications related to the organization or its various program activities.

Partnerships & Stakeholder Management:

• Support the organization's partnership and fundraising efforts through activities such as driving resource mobilization for the communications unit, LEAP program, and events, as well as sourcing in-kind donations and unrestricted grants for capacity building and sustainability.
• Plan and implement engagement plans for funders and partners; identify different stakeholders and beneficiary groups to determine the best way to communicate with them.
• Develop and maintain relationships with LEAP’s stakeholders, conduct annual stakeholder satisfaction surveys, and use the results to guide program and organizational improvements.
• Manage the organization's partner and stakeholder databases.

Alumni Management:

• Lead alumni engagement and work with the LEAP Alumni executive committee in managing the LEAP Africa Alumni Network (LAAN), ensuring members remain engaged.
• Oversee all activities of the Alumni network, ensuring alignment with LEAP’s mission and vision.
• Support the career goals of LAAN and create exceptional value for the network.
• Lead sustainability efforts for LAAN in partnership with the LEAP Alumni executive committee and Advisory committee.

Other Duties:

• Lead the department’s strategic and operational tasks, oversee the communications unit, and support talent development within the team.
• Manage the department's budget creation and oversee its management.
• Create policies and implement systems to improve efficiency within the organization and communications unit.
• Ensure effective collaboration between the communications unit and other units in the organization; act as a strategic partner to support the achievement of their communications needs.
• Serve as a facilitator, moderator, or lead presenter at programs and events.
• Serve as LEAP representative at external engagements.
• Perform other organizational projects and tasks assigned by a supervisor.

Requirements

The required Candidate should possess the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.
• A postgraduate degree is an added advantage.
• 5 - 7 years’ experience in Corporate Communications, Public relations including experience in fundraising, partnership, stakeholder and project management.
• Experience in the NGO sector is an added advantage but not compulsory.
• International exposure and travel experience is an added advantage.
• Critical thinking and an ability to understand and craft messages for diverse targeted audience groups.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the LEAP’s values and ethical standards.
• Strong analytical, driven, efficient, innovative and problem-solving skills
• Strong customer service skills with the ability to interact with stakeholders with top-notch
• professionalism.
• Managerial experience is required.