Director of Communications Full Time

We are searching for an experienced Director of Communications at our Growth Poles Project in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Project Overview and Role:

The Diversified Agriculture-led Growth Poles for Inclusive, Sustainable and Resilient Wealth Creation (Growth Poles Project) contributes to USAID/Malawi’s goal of advancing a more inclusive, diversified, and resilient private sector that drives sustainable wealth creation.

The Director of Communications will lead implementation of the Growth Poles Communications Plan and related project communications tools and media and will disseminate these to inform key audiences as well as the client of project progress and successes. Communications outputs include USAID client deliverables such as monthly, quarterly, and final reports; Growth Poles Fact Sheet updates, and other assignments as required. The Director of Communications will supervise the Communications Manager and Analyst.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Director of Communications will complete the following tasks:

• Support the development of project deliverables, including coordinating information gathering for monthly, quarterly, annual reports and one pagers, fact sheets, other deliverables, etc.
• Developing strategic behavior change campaigns with partners through social media, radio, live theatre, and other media sources
• Contributing to the sections of deliverables related to communications and outreach
• Ensuring appropriate branding and marking for all communications tools in accordance with the approved Branding and Marking Plan
• Overseeing the design and roll out of all tools to effectively communicate project activities and results
• Maintaining project library of all communications tools, photos, and events in digital format
• Conducting media relations for the project, including targeted publicity for project activities an responses to queries from press
• Writing press releases, organizing press conferences, and scheduling interviews of spokespersons for the project, etc.
• Designing and implementing media messaging related to the project
• Overseeing gathering of all news for digital clipping booklet highlighting the work of the project and partners
• Maintaining a close and collaborative relationship with USAID and the U.S. Embassy teams on all outreach and communications efforts
• Supporting development of project events and workshops in collaboration with project teams
• Developing success stories for the quarterly report
• All other duties deemed necessary, including support of the Chief of Party as required.

Required Qualifications:

The following qualifications are required or preferred for consideration for the Director of Communications:

• Minimum 3 years previous experience providing communications, reporting, and branding support to a donor funded program, USAID program is preferred
• Written and spoken English fluency
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, marketing, or related field
• Approval of a relevant writing sample by the hiring committee
• The Director of Communications is a full time, 40 hours per week position based in Lilongwe, Malawi. The Director of Communications will report to the Growth Poles Chief of Party or his designee.

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.