Advocacy, Communications and External Engagement Manager
Job Description
The Advocacy, Communications and External Engagement (ACE) Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating the organization’s work in advocacy, communications and external engagement. The ACE Manager will oversee strategic and policy engagement in advocacy, including the global campaigns while ensuring advocacy activities remain focused on established priorities and contribute to concrete deliverables. The ACE Manager will further position, build the profile and manage the reputation of the National Office (NO) via government, UN, peer agency engagement and media, focusing on expanding our digital and social media footprint. The ACE Manager will also oversee critical national-level external engagements related to advocacy and communications. This function will provide leadership and technical support to the National Office, guided by the NO strategy and Our Promise
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic leadership
Lead and manage the WV Zimbabwe (WVZ) Advocacy, Communications and External Engagement Department; lead advocacy & Policy engagement based on strategic priorities and Campaigns for World Vision.”
Ensure WVZ’s communication strategy and plan are aligned with WV’s broader communication strategy (Africa and Global), with a particular focus on impact-based initiatives and further leveraging our digital and social media footprint. Review, align and implement WVZ national advocacy, communication and external engagement strategy as needed;
Ensure that our advocacy, communication and external engagement interventions can contribute to our overall resource development strategy and revenue generation.
Advocacy
Develop an advocacy and campaigns strategy and policy agenda for the country focusing on the National Office strategy
Coordinate documentation of best practices and evidence related to WVs advocacy work and campaign Ensure that children’s voices are represented through local-level advocacy efforts and local-national-global linkages
Build strategic partnerships with civil society, donors, governments and corporations, UN entities, and other organizations to enhance collective responses to child well-being.
Resource Development and cross-sector collaboration
Explore potential funding sources for advocacy work and WV campaigns.
Work with the Support Office, Regional Advocacy & campaigns, and other regional ministry functions to ensure that grants and other specially funded initiatives incorporate advocacy and EVAC campaign elements.
Provide support in the development of multi-country proposals.
Act as a focal point person for external and media engagement on child protection and gender issues, which may require profiling and advocacy interventions In times of emergency responses, support messaging and policy briefs in collaboration with the region
Research and Analysis
Support assessment and research activities to gather information and analysis that would inform policy and advocacy briefing documents, assessment reports, and research papers;
Support the process of gathering information on the key National advocacy themes – from WV Zim’s programs, other humanitarian actors, communities in the province, and other primary and secondary sources- to inform advocacy products and tools;
Communications
Ensure a yearly communication and digital platform action plan with deliverables in place.
Ensure increased communications focus on stories and publications that effectively communicate “evidence of impact” in alignment with the national strategy and resource development plan and priorities
Engage local and international media around stories and issues that pertain to WV’s core focus on children and their well-being
Ensure there is an effective and coordinated use of relevant social media platforms by WVZ based on a plan
Ensure more field-based staff receive basic training and support so they can more effectively capture information and visuals that can be used across our various communications platforms – focus more on “telling the story from the field” and ensure the voices of children are heard
Review and enhance internal communications using relevant internal platforms (with a primary focus on staff, AC, SO and Regional partners and other key stakeholders)
Build an executive communications plan for the National Director to ensure the ND is known, heard and engaged in two-way dialogue with staff
Coordinate, monitor and manage reputational risk narrative and brand issues associated with the organization;
Facilitate a process of continuous learning on appropriate communication systems, methods, and tools suitable for WVZ.
Support the National Director and other senior staff to serve as key spokespersons and can be positioned as opinion leaders on relevant topics and issues
Public and External Stakeholder Engagement
Lead WVZ, national government, and partner engagement, representing WVZ in key internal and external forums, including relevant government entities, partners, and other stakeholders. This will be done in coordination with the Resource Development Department (RDD) Provide strategic direction for business development to pursue advocacy funding through support in the development and implementation of the external engagement plan as well as via identification of resources, key stakeholders and relationship building and management;
Work with the RDDE Unit to develop advocacy-related capacity statements and funding proposals.
Mentoring and Coaching
Lead, manage and provide capacity building support to staff in the ACE Department by ensuring clear goals and accountabilities are established and achieved;
Ensure individuals’ performance and development needs are met and staff are high-performing and engaged;
Identify capacity gaps in NO in advocacy communications and public engagement with SLT and Region to address them.
Champion/Facilitate advocacy and communications training within field-level programs
Qualifications and Experience
KNOWLEDGE/ QUALIFICATIONS
University Degree in Communications, International Relations, Social Sciences, Humanities, or its equivalent
A postgraduate qualification is a plus
5 – 8 years experience in advocacy, campaigns, communications, government and stakeholder engagement
Experience working in an NGO, UN or other relevant organization in the same or related capacity
Must have the ability to manage a multi-disciplinary portfolio
Advanced understanding of social accountability methodologies
Demonstrated team management and leadership experience
Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with diverse teams (cross-cultural & cross-functional) to achieve shared goals
Ability to engage at a strategic level and build collaborative relationships with government, donors, media and peer agencies
Experience in developing an array of communication materials such as publications, video segments, web and other modern media
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
Able to work within a faith-based organizational environment
I have experience in resource development and donor engagement, especially regarding the grant cycle, humanitarian and development donors, and proposal development.
Demonstrated experience in developing and leading advocacy and communications strategies within the humanitarian and development sector.
Advanced understanding of policy analysis and engagement processes.
How to Apply
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