Communications Officer

Job Description

Position Title Communications Officer

Long Term / Short Term Fixed Term – Two years with possibility of extension

Place of Work Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) Hub (Bangkok)

Salary 70-80,000 BHT/month

Reports To Communications Adviser

Program Background

Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) is Australia’s new flagship infrastructure initiative for Southeast Asia. The goal of this regional initiative is to contribute to quality infrastructure development that drives inclusive growth in Southeast Asia.

P4I has three core themes: infrastructure planning and prioritisation; procurement; and sector policy and regulation. It will also focus on the crosscutting issues of climate change, disaster risk reduction, gender equality and social inclusion. P4I will provide flexible support to Southeast Asian partner governments (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam) and ASEAN through government-to-government partnerships, high-calibre private sector advisory services, and knowledge-sharing and networking activities.

P4I commenced in December 2020 and will operate initially for three and a half years (December 2020 to May 2024), with a core team located in Bangkok, Thailand. It will be delivered collaboratively by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) together with four Delivery Partner organisations (Ernst and Young, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One).

Job Specification

The Communications Officer will work closely with the Communications Adviser and other P4I Hub staff to deliver the Communications and Public Affairs Strategy (CPAS).

The CPAS will set out the Program’s communications strategy and may include, but not necessarily be limited to:

• identifying principles and objectives for stakeholder and public engagement to support DFAT’s overall objectives for the Program;
• identifying opportunities and activities to establish a strong identity and brand for the Program, including through targeted communications, broader engagement activities, ad hoc advisory services, and/or co-branding activities where appropriate and agreed with DFAT;
• specifying engagement communications protocols and parameters for undertaking CPAS activities, including with respect to co-branding;
• processes for identifying and assessing the performance of CPAS opportunities (noting that this may be addressed in greater detail through the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) Framework); and
• resource planning for the delivery of CPAS activities.

The CPAS may be supplemented as needed by smaller-scale plans focused on particular countries as appropriate. It will be updated at least annually to ensure the Program’s approach to communications, including identity and branding, continues to be relevant to the evolving operating environment.

In addition to assisting with the CPAS, the key responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Support the Communications Adviser in establishing a strong online presence and following for the Program
• Provide support to the P4I team in planning and developing relevant information and communication products to inform and influence key stakeholders.
• Obtain approval processes for public domain materials and ensure processes for engaging with the media are followed.
• Assist with managing and supporting other staff, suppliers and consultants (e.g. designers, web manager, editors, writers, filmmakers and others as required from time-to-time) to deliver communications outputs.
• Ensure that Program communications and signage align with DFAT policy, and as appropriate, to the Program goal, objective and End of Investment Outcomes.
• Assist with tracking relevant online media, e.g. maintaining a twitter deck, monitoring online articles and newsletters of relevant programs.

Qualifications and Experience

• Tertiary qualifications in international relations, communications, journalism or a related field (post graduate qualifications highly desirable);
• At least two years’ experience in marketing, advertising, journalism, corporate communications, civil society/NGO or other types of externally facing communications roles;
• Demonstrated experience using cutting edge communication tools and technologies to engage and influence stakeholders;
• Proven experience crafting messages in various formats (articles, press releases, websites, photos, success stories, blog entries, tweets, etc.) targeting a variety of audiences;
• Exceptional, proven writing and editing skills (English) and the ability to summarise and repackage technical information in clear, compelling language;
• Ability to engage with diverse audiences. This includes donors, governments, the private sector and the diverse P4I team and partners;
• Ability to edit and write an engaging story that gets to the core of who, what, when and why it matters and spot the details that make a story stand out;
• Strong literacy in Microsoft packages. Knowledge of Adobe products is a distinct advantage;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in Thai and English;
• Working proficiency in additional South East Asian languages is desirable;

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivation, creativity, excellent organisational skills, proven ability to perform multiple tasks, and ability to work with both internal and external stakeholders;
• Ability to work proactively and independently; and,
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality principles.

How to Apply

Interested applicants are requested to submit a CV and a short covering note in an email to nick.martinez@adamsmithinternational.com. Unfortunately, due to high application volume, only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Applications close 26 March 2021.

About the Organization

Adam Smith International is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies more stable, and governments more effective. Our clients are governments, international organisations, companies, and foundations. They come to us to develop strategies and to design, deliver and evaluate programmes that address the big challenges facing the world.

As a company with experience of delivering lasting results, including in fragile states and where there is conflict, we are prepared to manage a high level of risk to achieve our purpose. For nearly three decades in almost 100 countries, we have been working in partnership with governments, the private sector and civil society in countries at all stages of development.

Our core team of staff and technical experts, in offices around the world, ensures the quality of delivery and high ethical standards that we and our clients require. We bring together a global network of specialist experts, who contribute their experience and know-how, where and when it is needed.

ASI is owned and operated by its employees. We are committed to corporate integrity and a triple bottom line of social, environmental and financial performance. That is the way we work, and that commitment was formally recognised when we became a certified B Corp. The certification indicates we balance profit and purpose through the highest standards of transparency and accountability as well as social and environmental performance. We are also a participant in the UN Global Compact, which certifies our respect for standards of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. By sharing our knowledge and experience, we help to improve learning in our industry, as well as the positive impact we can have on people’s lives. We are strategic, operational, and on a mission to take on global challenges.

Adam Smith International (Australia) Pty Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Adam Smith International. It was established in February 2012 as the company’s Asia Pacific regional office, responsible for leading business development and project delivery across the region. Current locations of operations outside Australia include Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Vietnam. ASEAN more broadly is serviced by a regional hub in Thailand.

Headquartered in Sydney, the company’s Asia Pacific office is responsible for the management of our portfolio of projects funded by the Australian Aid Programme (managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), the New Zealand Aid Programme (managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and other donors. Our team is engaged in business development, project management and consulting activities across a range of sectors including private sector development, governance, agriculture and agribusiness, human development, extractive industry regulations and infrastructure development.