Job Type: Communications Specialist
Job Location: Nairobi
Department: Graduate School of Media and
Communications, East Africa
Introduction
The Aga Khan University (AKU)
is a not-for-profit institution and an agency of the Aga Khan Development
Network. AKU was founded in 1983 as Pakistan’s first private university and
starting in 2000, is now in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan, and the United
Kingdom.
The Aga Khan University’s
Graduate School of Media and Communications (AKU-GSMC) was established in 2015
as the premier source of education and training of journalists, media and
communications executives, and entrepreneurs in East Africa and beyond. AKU-GSMC
is guided by the principles of global excellence and local relevance and helps
individuals transform their careers and organizations as they reap the
benefits of innovation.
Job Purpose/Summary
Reporting to the Dean, the
Communications Specialist works as a key member of the GSMC team to plan and
develop communications that raise the school’s profile and support its
marketing and business development. Using a keen understanding of GSMC’s targeted
internal and external audiences, the incumbent brings initiative and
consistency to all communications efforts. The Communications Specialist
provides sound communications advice to GSMC administrative and academic staff
and collaborates with communications professionals throughout AKU to align and
coordinate communications priorities and messages. The Communications
Specialist brings exceptional innovation and creativity, time management and
organizational skills, resourcefulness, team spirit, and an entrepreneurial
mindset to the role.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
·
Developing an overarching communications
strategy for the school.
·
Managing the GSMC website and growing its
online/social media presence.
·
Coordinating the development of videos and
podcasts for GSMC promotional work, capturing various activities, and working
closely with program leads.
·
Developing and curating lively web discussions
and content relevant to the school’s work and the interests of the East African
Media and Communication Community.
·
Cooperating with the AKU and GSMC teams to
shape corporate strategy, message development, client pitches, and events
management.
·
Responsible for procuring all GSMC branded
merchandise, tracking, and distribution.
·
Occasionally support the delivery of the
Professional Development Program.
·
Develop, implement, evaluate, and maintain a
social media/web strategy.
·
Help grow the GSMC brand.
·
Manage GSMC’s social media presence across
relevant channels – Facebook, YouTube, Twitter – ensuring consistent and
well-curated content.
·
Support the development of a media-relevant
platform and assist GSMC faculty in communicating their teaching, writing, and
research.
·
Develop a regular newsletter on GSMC’s
activities, as well as media topics of special relevance to regional media and
communications professionals.
·
Act as the voice of GSMC in our own and other
social media communities.
·
Monitor trends, applications, and new
developments in traditional and social media.
·
Curate the GSMC website, creating rich and
creative content from the region that is optimized for search engines.
·
Curate articles on hot topics or ongoing
important issues.
·
Develop, maintain, and improve the GSMC
website, including drafting, editing, and posting content.
·
Develop and execute internal and external
communication plans and promotional material in collaboration with the Dean and
senior GSMC Management
·
Develop dynamic marketing and promotional
campaigns to raise public awareness, recruit students, and assist in
fund-raising.
·
Create compelling messages and stories about
GSMC for potential clients and donors.
·
Create stakeholder maps in developing
communication strategies, refreshed regularly based on internal and external
feedback.
·
Collaborative with AKU’s Office of Strategic
Communications in messaging and strategy, particularly the design of
promotional materials
·
Contribute to internal AKU newsletters and
reports, profiling GSMC activities.
·
Work effectively with Aga Khan Development
Network affiliates.
·
Help organize public events and seminars to
raise GSMC’s public profile.
·
Understand the latest media trends to advance
the priorities of the school.
·
Writing speeches and/or developing talking
points for team members, where necessary.
·
Work with regional media houses to showcase the
school’s activities; book, the school’s experts for interviews, TV and radio
appearances, and conferences that raise the school’s profile.
·
Monitor and report monthly on communications
performance metrics and personal objectives.
·
Manage fast-response or crisis communications.
·
Actively seek opportunities to leverage GSMC
faculty expertise (e.g., media interviews, web chats, etc.)
·
Write media releases and produce content that
publicizes GSMC’s work.
·
Build relationships with media groups, tech
hubs, NGOs, and other interested communities to enhance the brand and identity
of the GSMC.
·
Help develop innovative, original, and
strategic partnerships with corporate, governmental, and non-governmental
partners.
Relevant Experience and Qualifications
·
A master’s degree in communications, Public
Relations, or a related field from a recognized university is required.
·
Professional qualification in a related field
(e.g., Chartered Institute of Marketing, International Association on Business
Communicators) is preferred.
·
At least five (5) years of experience in
communications, media, corporate and/or strategic communications, or public
relations.
·
Demonstrated experience with digital and print
marketing and communications (including writing and editing).
·
In-depth understanding of marketing and
communications value and use of popular social media platforms (e.g.
LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, SlideShare).
·
Demonstrated experience creating successful
communications strategies.
·
Knowledge of web content management.
·
Understanding of stakeholder/community
engagement.
·
Events management experience.
·
Knowledge of Audio-Visual editing software.
·
Professional experience in curating
digital/social media is required; radio or TV experience is highly desired.
·
Experience managing an agency or contractors is
desired.
·
Deep knowledge of the Kenyan and East African
media industry with contacts within various media organizations.
·
Issues management and crisis communications.
·
Experience in teaching and training practicing
professionals is desired.
·
Knowledge of the AKU/AKDN is desired.
·
Excellent writer and critical thinker – an
innovative and creative “thinker-doer” with a flexible, entrepreneurial
approach to the job
·
Digital native, detail-oriented, polished, and
diplomatic
·
Highly energetic self-starter able to build
relationships and work collegially and effectively with colleagues and clients.
·
Superior multi-tasker who enjoys pressure and is able
to work quickly and independently.
·
Understanding of today’s media and
communication landscape and best practices – from strategic communications
planning and proactive messaging to reactive communications and crisis
mitigation.
·
Understanding of audience segmentation and how
to anticipate and target communications to a variety of audiences – general
public, corporate, higher education, media, NGOs, and government – both online
and offline
·
In-depth knowledge and understanding of social
media platforms and their participants (Facebook, Digg, YouTube, Twitter,
Flickr, etc.)
·
Experience in brand-building online and
offline.
·
Commitment to AKU’s vision and values.
Candidates meeting the above requirements are invited to
send their application letter, curriculum vitae, names of three referees, and
copies of certificates to the HR Business Partner – Academic, Aga Khan
University, Nairobi; hr.universityke@aku.edu
Deadline: May 17, 2024.