Position Title: Senior Communications Officer (Press and Media)
SCA Background
The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) has been working in Afghanistan since 1982, presently managing development Programs concerning Health, Education, Rural Livelihoods, and Community Governance, with a total annual budget of roughly USD 40 million. The total number of staff is over 6,000. During the last 10 years, SCA has undertaken a change process moving from a primarily humanitarian service delivery approach towards more of a developmental role, putting increasing emphasis on capacity development, rights-based programming, and outcome orientation. The mission of SCA is to empower individuals, communities, and local organizations, primarily in rural areas and with a particular focus on women, girls, boys, and vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, so that they may participate fully in society and influence their own development. SCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment based on their skills, abilities, and experience without regard to age (18-65 years), ethnicity, religion, marital status, gender, or physical disability.
Job Description:
Main responsibilities
- Manage SCA’s website and social media (Facebook for now) and consistently update the general contents as well as website news contents, in coordination/cooperation with head of COMA, and if/when needed the advocacy team, the related program unit heads/program director, and any messaging protocols.
- Manage the development of strategic messaging protocols, and work with advocacy, programs, and country management to ensure messaging is consistently up-to-date and appropriate.
- Proactively build a network with national and international journalists in Afghanistan, and proactively and strategically build SCA’s media presence through these contacts and other opportunities.
- Proactively identify and pursue publicity communications for SCA’s work.
- Support advocacy team in communications that strengthen coordinated influencing objectives.
- Monitor and manage the visibility of SCA in Afghan media, identifying, escalating, and managing response to any PR or program-risk issues immediately.
- Support and cooperate with the Editor in Chief of the staff magazine, Hemmat, with editing and translation of articles from Dari/English into Pashto and vice versa when needed.
- Write texts for the staff magazine, the website, Facebook, and other publications and materials of SCA when required.
- Identify and procure text, photo, and video for SCA communication from external consultants when required.
- Coordinate and collaborate with the Regional Communications Senior Officers, acting as a focal point and unifying lead.
- As needed, design and support rollout of systems, protocols, and related training for SCA’s COMA team, and manage structured and strategic communications team coordination in Afghanistan.
- Coordinate consistently with the Communications Unit in Sweden, providing mutual support, ideation, and aligned messaging, through the concerned counterpart/s.
- Undertake any other tasks within the auspices of the position that may be assigned by the head of COMA.
Values, Accountability, and Integrity
The position holder works both independently, and together with others in the COMA team. S/he is also able to motivate, coordinate, and lead a team. The position holder is expected to always ensure to live by the SCA values as expressed in the Code of Conduct and other policies, be loyal to SCA and other staff, protect the reputation of SCA by acting with integrity and dignity, taking responsibility for the work, and treating colleagues with respect. S/he works actively building and maintaining effective relationships with the team, colleagues, and external stakeholders. The position holder should be approachable, diplomatic, supportive, strategic, and hardworking, with good listening skills.
Job Requirements:
Qualifications & Requirements:
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field e.g., journalism or communication/have equivalent qualifications. Master’s degree holders in the related fields/commensurate experience in the same will be preferred.
Experience: 3 -4 years relevant experience in communications, with responsibilities and duties relevant to this position. Some experience, informal or formal, in advocacy communications is required. Experience working in media or with media relations is required. Experience with an NGO or UN agency is preferred.
Others:
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- Share the vision and values of SCA and actively stand up for them.
- Have worked with mass media, journalism or as press secretary.
- Have experience in the production of printed media such as news, magazine, and/or other relevant printed materials.
- Ability and experience in writing and editing texts.
- Have fluency in English and either Dari or Pashto and knowledge of the other local language.
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- Have experience in planning and organizing communication projects.
- Be a good team leader.
- Have integrity, stellar interpersonal skills, and a positive problem-solving attitude.
- Ability and willingness to travel to project sites within Afghanistan.
- Be honest, proactive, and well-mannered.
- Have excellent/good knowledge in using MS Office.
- Skills in photography and video are desirable, including the ability to work with publishing and imaging software.
Required Competency
- Professional profile and experience within ICT, Logistics Supply Chain Management and Administration
- Demonstrated work experience in team management, including financial and administrative management of a unit or department
- Strong records on strategic and procedural development in ICT and logistic operations
- Excellent command of spoken and written English
- Experience from work in conflict/posts conflict areas and Muslim countries
Desired competence
- Good knowledge supporting Program implementation
- Experience from work within international development and/or humanitarian work
- Understanding of rights-based development theory and approaches
- Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto
- Previous working experience coordinating Administration units.
Submission Guideline:
Application Procedures:
- Interested qualified candidates should submit a full CV with a cover letter explaining their motivation in applying for the job and highlighting their relevant skills and experience.
- To apply online please send your application / CV through LINK below:
- https://scahris.odoo.com/jobs/announcements/detail/senior-communications-officer-press-and-media-22
- Academic certificates or references need not be submitted at this time. These will be requested if called for an interview.
- Only short-listed candidates will be invited for written tests and/or interviews.
- Applications after the given deadline are not accepted.