Job Description

USAID Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH), is an adolescent co-led initiative to empower girls and boys, 10-19 years and including the most marginalized, to attain their adolescent reproductive health (ARH) rights. The goal of the program is to support adolescents to reach their full potential by; ensuring they receive correct and appropriate reproductive health (RH) information and guidance to decision-making skills, creating an environment conductive to making healthy reproductive health decisions and facilitating translation of these decisions into healthy behaviors.

Communication and Branding Specialist is responsible for leading, coordinating and managing internal and external communications, documentation, branding and marking requirements, public relations, and event management of USAID-ARH project. S/he is responsible for delivering effective internal and external communications with refined media relation and networking, should provide communication support to project initiatives. Incumbent ensures compliance with USAID branding, marking rules and helps develop effective communication materials. Manage the core activities and guidance on project publications.

The employee shall fully comply with CARE policies and procedures and should be accountable for it. KEY

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

R1. Deliver effective internal and external communications

• Writing and dissemination: Draft and disseminate documents, important links, and relevant write ups, change and issue-based stories, program/project briefs, media kits, etc. through internal communications systems, CARE/ ARH project managed social media sites and CARE websites.
• Website: Assist to develop content of ARH for CARE Nepal’s website and social media platforms as required
• Press: Support in preparing press releases, dispatch press approved releases (and provide any follow-up required), organize press conferences
• Media Relations: Maintain relations with key media persons, maintain a database of press contacts, and receive any media inquiries (such inquiries will be considered and responded to by the relevant SMT member of the project on a case-by-case basis).
• Representation: Represent various program initiatives in different communication forums, networks and public fairs, as and when required.
• Networking: Provide support to the various program initiatives so that USAID-ARH project develops and maintains appropriate relationships and coordination with external actors
• Compliance: Ensure that project has maintained the compliance and branding of USAID in every internal and external communication of project as well as visibility document
• Contracting: Commission and oversee the work of photographers, journalists or film crews, designers, as required, to cover project activities and special events.
• Accompaniment: As and when required, accompany visitors, journalists and film crews to project areas, and provide briefings, on-the-spot assistance, and translations
• Monitoring: Track, compile and share with program team members and other relevant CARE staff important media coverage of the project work. Also, monitor the impact of media work to identify any resulting program-related outcomes.

R2. Provide communications support to the project initiatives

• Provide support, leadership and guidance in communications work to advance and promote the objectives of project initiatives. This includes defining strategy, preparing plans, analyzing policies, identifying opportunities and tactics for influence, and engaging and building relationships with key allies, coalitions, advocacy targets and other key stakeholders to advance advocacy goals
• Support the project partners and consortium members to plan, develop, deliver and monitor communications initiatives, particularly by building the capacity of partner staff to undertake advocacy, public relations, media relations and communications effectively
• Establish professional relationships with the press, and journalists at different levels about project, its activities and impact;
• Support in designing and implementing the behavior change communication initiatives of the project in coordination with GESI and BCC Coordinator, NHEICC and ensure the branding of USAID in BCC document/ materials
• Support project staff with the review and editing of human-interest stories and their publication
• Ensure that the program initiatives have the social behavior change communication approach embedded in their communications plans to maximize the impact of the initiatives’ communication activities.

R3. Manage the core and guidance on project publications

• Take overall responsibility for the quality and timely publishing of publications and videos
• Publish posters, pamphlets, brochures and other promotional materials (both organizational and related to projects or programs)
• Oversee the layout and design of core documents published for external audiences
• Manage the photographic requirements of project publications
• Ensure that all publications follow USAID and CARE’s visual identity guidelines
• Oversee a well-managed archive of project’s publications, video films, documents and photo archives.
• Provide oversight and guidance to project related communication materials as per donor regulations.

R4. Upholding CARE’s Core values and ensuring its principles

• Link and demonstrate CARE Nepal's core values, programming principles, strategic objects, gender equity and equality in programming and behavior
• Comply and exercise organizational values and culture
• Help to promote rights and good governance

Authority:
Spending Authority: None
Supervisory Authority: Technical support and guidance to the relevant staff of partners.

Working conditions: Based in Kathmandu with estimated 30% travel to project implementing districts.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience
Master’s degree in mass communications/ sociology with at least 3 years of experience in a relevant field.

Skills and knowledge:

• Report writing skill along with basic formatting skill required to prepare report.
• Communication skills including strong verbal and written language skills in both English and Nepali.
• Interpersonal and facilitation skills.
• Strong coordination, networking and advocacy skills.
• Computer skills, including knowledge of relevant software e.g. Microsoft Office and others

Competencies:

• Analytical thinking – Able to analyze and draw conclusions on the budget and actual data of project.
• Initiative – Deals with situations and issues proactively and persistently.
• Team work and People Management – Able to work effectively with other people within a work group
• Writing – Able to communicate ideas and information in writing to ensure that information and messages are understood and have the desired impact
• Communicating and sharing ideas and information - Able to present findings/recommendations and express opinions confidently.
• Planning and organizing – Able to define work goals and objectives; develop and execute work plans; and contribute to the achievement of work group objectives