Job Summary
Action Against Hunger-USA seeks a Communications and Knowledge Management Technical Lead for the USAID/Promoting Results and Outcomes through Policy and Economic Levers (PROPEL), Round 2 – Adapt project. Promoting Results and Outcomes through Policy and Economic Levers (PROPEL) Adapt is a 5-year, $40 million USAID-funded project focused on strengthening the enabling environment for family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH) services, and FP/RH integration with HIV/AIDS and maternal and child health (MCH) in the context of shocks and stressors and in fragile settings. Specifically, the project strengthens the enabling environment for more equitable and sustainable health services, supplies, and delivery systems through policy development and implementation; adequate, predictable and sustainable financing; enhanced government stewardship, transparency, and accountability; and the use of evidence-based advocacy approaches to promote best practices. PROPEL Adapt focuses on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, evaluating those factors that facilitate successful transitions between meeting crisis needs and the routine needs of populations in the areas of FP/RH.
Purpose: The Communications and Knowledge Management Technical lead will be the primary person accountable for realizing the overall communications strategy for the project. S/he will drive a responsive, multi-platform, multi-channel approach to promoting the PROPEL Adapt achievements. The Communications and Knowledge Management Technical Lead will oversee project website development, ensure the project highlights are shared with a broad stakeholder audience and facilitate consistency of messages across multiple domains.
Engagement: S/he will serve as the primary communications point of contact for the PROPEL Adapt project team and will guide messaging with consortium partners and external partners, e.g., communities, governments, private sector actors, local universities, and policy makers. As the knowledge management lead, s/he will proactively curate the project’s website to ensure accessibility, logical structures, and responsiveness to both project and stakeholder needs.
Delivery: S/he will be responsible for ensuring sound communications and knowledge management guidance across all PROPEL Adapt activities to ensure that all communications and knowledge management procedures are in place, adhered to, and in compliance with USAID policies, procedures and guidelines.
Essential Job Duties
Develop and oversee the implementation of PROPEL Adapt’s Communications and Knowledge Management (KM) Strategy.
Develop and update the Communications and KM (CommsKM) Strategy based on PROPEL Adapt’s annual work plan. The CommsKM strategy should include an implementation plan with measurable outcomes.
Implement and maintain a communications calendar with key events, dates, and deadlines throughout the year.
Identify print, digital, and in-person information channels to communicate with key audiences and support the increase in PROPEL Adapt’s brand awareness and project outputs.
Conduct regular monitoring and annual evaluation of communications and knowledge management inputs, outputs and outcomes and adjust the strategy as needed.
Oversee PROPEL Adapt’s online platforms, including websites and social media.
Lead the strategic development of the PROPEL Adapt project website.
Manage the activities and deliverables of the PROPEL Adapt website development contractor, including providing guidance on structure, content and adherence to project’s USAID-approved Branding Strategy and Marking Plan.
Actively seek out new and creative ways to effectively reach PROPEL Adapt’s stakeholders around the world via online platforms.
Lead maintenance and enhancement of PROPEL Adapt’s website with new and engaging content, including news/announcements, new project-generated resources, events, job postings, project updates, and more.
Liaise with website developer on more in-depth and longer-term website adjustments and improvements.
Lead maintenance and enhancement of PROPEL Adapt’s social media presence on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and/or other USAID-endorsed platforms ensuring active engagement on all accounts.
Monitor website and social media statistics, developing and analyzing quarterly reports and providing recommendations to increase online traffic and engagement.
Strengthen collaboration and cross-learning between PROPEL Adapt and other implementing partner organizations working in the global humanitarian-peace-development nexus.
Manage overall communications during the planning, execution, and follow-up of PROPEL Adapt events, including supporting agenda setting, planning meetings, abstract reviews, event promotion, press and news media coordination, materials procurement, knowledge capture during events, and reporting and dissemination after events.
Provide additional event support as needed. Events may be domestic, international, or virtual.
Work closely with the MEL Director to conduct stakeholder outreach in-person and online to strengthen knowledge sharing and solicit input on their needs.
Oversee communications and KM support to PROPEL Adapt’s Technical Working Groups and/or Interest Groups (communities of practice) in implementing their activities.
Develop, update, and disseminate PROPEL Adapt knowledge products and communications materials.
Write and oversee the design of the PROPEL Adapt Annual Report.
Collect stories, create, and publish the quarterly PROPEL Adapt e-newsletter, sharing out the latest from PROPEL Adapt.
Lead creation of PROPEL Adapt promotional materials, including fact sheets, brochures, presentations, case studies, etc.
When needed and as approved, conduct interviews with PROPEL Adapt staff and partners at events and through field visits to develop new promotional materials, learning materials, case studies, etc., through a variety of media (print, online, video, etc.).
Work with partners and stakeholders to oversee finalization of new tools, manuals, technical briefs, etc., including copyediting, layout, design, printing, and dissemination.
Manage hiring and supervision of staff and/or consultants, as needed, for design, graphics, translation, video editing, etc., in support of the Comms/KM activities.
Maintain an updated inventory of all PROPEL Adapt materials.
Ensure that all print and online communications are consistent with the USAID-approved PROPEL Adapt Branding Strategy and Marking Plan.
Provide management and communications/KM support to project partners.
Provide management, advocacy and communications support to PROPEL Adapt project partners, including knowledge capture and dissemination activities and events, and for project monitoring and evaluation activities.
Attend relevant meetings important to PROPEL Adapt and act as Communications liaison with global partners, press, and others.
Coordinate communications/KM activities with communications team at Action Against Hunger (project’s parent organization)
Manage Communications and/or Knowledge Management interns, as applicable (TBD).
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of eight to ten years’ relevant working experience in the communications and/or knowledge management fields.
Required Skills & Experience
Experience working in a non-profit, global health, development, on USAID-funded projects and non-governmental setting highly desirable.
Communications-related (or other relevant) advanced degree preferred.
Substantial understanding of knowledge management theory, practice and tools particularly for USAID supported programs.
Familiarity with and/or experience working in voluntary family planning/reproductive health, maternal and child health, global health or other international development sectors strongly preferred.
Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Demonstrated ability to capture, synthesize, and present programming and organizational successes and lessons learned.
Demonstrated ability to convey messages through clear and concise writing.
Experience managing websites and social media. WordPress experience preferred.
Experience with webinars and online learning platforms (Zoom, Microsoft Teams preferred).
Proficiency with Canva or Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, and Premiere). Graphic design experience a plus.
Experience with email marketing tools such as Constant Contact or MailChimp.
Ability to use computer systems, Sharepoint and effectively organize information on internal and external filesharing platforms.
Basic layout and design skills helpful.
Willingness to travel internationally 10% of time.
Experience working/volunteering overseas and experience working in multicultural environment.
Ability to multi-task and remain calm and organized under pressure.
Experience in supervising contractors, staff and/or interns.
Strong attention to detail.
Fluency in written English. Knowledge of another language, such as French or Spanish, a plus.
Certification in Knowledge Management or Project Management a plus.
Creativity, independence, and entrepreneurial spirit encouraged.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position is expected to oversee project staff.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with interruptions.
To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations which may include the necessity to walk long distances, to eat a limited diet and/or to reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Working Conditions, Travel and Environment
The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required by contact with the missions, mission security, or other obligations.
Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business travel as well as to the missions if appropriate. While visiting the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well is to infectious diseases.
Gender Equality Commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse
Foster an environment that reinforces values of women and men, and equal access to information.
Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff.
Help to prevent any type of abuse including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.
Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
Value and respect all cultures.
Action Against Hunger-USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network, which provides humanitarian relief in over 40 countries worldwide in the sectors of nutrition, health, water/sanitation, and food security. Action Against Hunger-USA, an independent NGO, currently manages operations in 7 countries: Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Action Against Hunger-USA has over $55 million in programs, and approximately 1,600 permanent staff based in New York City, Washington D.C, Nairobi, and country offices. Additional growth is anticipated.
