Communications Officer at SOS Children's Villages

Mission of the position:

• Lead and guide in implementation of Communications and Branding Strategy to promote SOS
• Children’s Villages in Kenya, support advocacy, programme and fundraising teams
• Develop and maintain professional contacts with key print and broadcast media nationally and
• proactively facilitate media coverage of SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya’s success
• Work with SOS Children's Villages in Kenya facilities staff to supply factual stories, photographs and video to local, national and international media and other outlets in a timely, proactive and professional manner
• Support in the development of high quality, well researched, and well written communications and media products (e.g., annual reports, newsletters, success stories, tweets, blog and Facebook post, brochures, posters, banners, press releases, speeches, etc.)

Key performance areas and main responsibilities

• Content Creation and Distribution: Develop and distribute publications, press releases, website content, photographs, videos, partnership marketing resources/materials, other strategic and targeted communications as required to communicate SOS Kenya’s mission and impact in liaison with facility heads.
• Social Media Management: Maintain social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter) for the MA; by proactively manage the generation and posting of content on the sites to increase visibility and foster positive engagement; Design and implement strategies to increase the number of followers at each site and website management.
• Media Relations: Serve as the main point of contact for media, organize interviews, and maintain strong relationships with journalists to enhance SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya’s public profile.
• Storytelling and Documentation: Collect and document success stories, best practices, and impact stories from the field to share with donors and external audiences.
•  Strategic Communications: Develop and implement internal and external brand and communication strategies that align with the organization’s mission and audience needs as well as align it to progressive changes if any.
• Brand Management: Ensure all communications materials are aligned with SOS Children’s Villages’ brand guidelines and donor requirements, maintaining consistency across all platforms.
• Program support: Work with programs team on communicating events such as launchings, disseminations workshops, review meetings, field visits by developing the messages, press release and brochures appropriate for each event; •
• M&E Support: In collaboration with the program M&E team and technical leads, initiate or accompany field visits to intervention areas to collect quality photos, quotes, and materials suitable for success stories and use in the communications work
• Event Planning and Support: Plan and support SOS Children’s Villages in Kenya’s events, preparing communication materials and documenting events through photography and videography for promotional use.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience Required

• Degree in Communications, International Relations Journalism, Public Relation or related fields.
• Minimum of 5 (five) years relevant experience.
• Good understanding of needs of media and public audiences.
• Social media skills.
• Proficiency in English. Knowledge and Skills
• Excellent communications and public speaking skills.
• Excellent writing skills and should be able to compose engaging and accurate content/stories.
• Strong communicator who works well independently and with a team.
• Knowledge and skills of face-to-face and virtual events’ production.
• Superior time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge and skills of photo-taking and video shooting and editing skills.
• Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Canva, InDesign and Illustrator is an asset.
• Ability to think strategically and identify ways to improve communication efforts
• Must be resourceful and take initiative even when given minimal direction
• Knowledge of Salesforce and any other CRM system.