Senior Communications Officer, PATH Southern Africa, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Job Title Senior Communications Officer
Organization Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)
CountrySouth Africa
City Johannesburg,
Country South Africa

Job Description
To be considered for this position applicants must have legal authority to live and work in South Africa.
PATH is an international non-profit organization that transforms global health through innovation. PATH takes an entrepreneurial approach to developing and delivering high-impact, low-cost solutions, from lifesaving vaccines, drugs, and devices to collaborative programs with communities. Through its work in more than 70 countries, PATH and its partners empower people to achieve their full potential.
PATH's Communications department, based in the US, plays a central role in developing and managing PATH's visibility and leadership position in global health. This new position seeks to support PATH's overall visibility in southern Africa and provide communications expertise to PATH projects based there.
The Communications Officer for southern Africa will build and strengthen PATH's reach, partnerships, and resources in southern Africa by increasing the visibility of PATH's work in the region and as well as its experience and impact in public health. The Communications Officer will work with leaders in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Seattle, Washington, USA, to develop strategies to help PATH effectively communicate its mission, vision, experience, and impact to priority audiences (including leaders and organizations in the private and public sectors, institutional donors, and foundations). The overall goal for the position is to strengthen PATH's position as a leading public health innovator in the region to enhance organizational sustainability. In addition, the Communications Officer will support the Window of Opportunity project in developing and implementing a project communications plan. She/he will work with the project director and the South Africa and Mozambican communications officers to plan and implement the global aspects of the project's communications plan and support a range of country-level communications activities. Duties and responsibilities:
To increase PATH's visibility and support projects in southern Africa, the Communications Officer will:
Develop and implement a communications strategy that identifies and engages a range of PATH stakeholders (including donors, government, community organizations, and private partners) in the region.
Work with Seattle-based communications staff to ensure internal and external alignment of the brand and identity of the PATH. Orient and train staff in south Africa in general communications principles generally and PATH's brand strategy, policies, and processes in particular.
Serve as a conduit between colleagues in southern Africa and the US. Share programmatic milestones and communications opportunities and needs in South Africa with PATH's US staff; share PATH's institutional communications priorities, resources, and best practices with staff in southern Africa.
Synergise communication systems and channels across PATH's southern Africa projects. Review and adapt guidelines and tools to assist local staff in their communications with external audiences.
Support the HQ media relations team by working with the southern Africa media. Respond to media enquiries, draft crisis communications plans, and proactively building dialogue with journalists and topic experts at PATH. Monitor media coverage and set up systems to keep records thereof.
Coordinate the planning and arrangements of relevant events in the region.
Identify qualitative and quantitative indicators that will show whether PATH has reached the above objectives in southern Africa.
Support projects, programmes, and departments in producing effective and focused communications about their projects and results.
Ensure the quality of all communications and documents, according to PATH quality standards in Southern Africa, by providing or arranging editing, design, and/or proofreading services as well as make suggestions for finalizing the documents.
To provide communication support for the Windows of Opportunity project by:
Collaborating with the South Africa communications officer and Mozambican communications associate to coordinate global and country-level aspects of the Windows of Opportunity (WinOp) project's communications plan.
Select and manage external consultants (e.g., photographer, videographer, PR firm, proof-reader) to complete communications tasks as needed.
Coordinate graphic design and printing services.
Oversee the establishment and maintenance of the project's web presence and social media platforms, such as Facebook.
Providing editing (substantive or copy editing) as needed to make project reports, publications, and other materials compelling and effective
Determining indicators for measuring communications success for Windows of Opportunity globally.
Conducting research on visibility opportunities, such as international conferences and online discussion forums.
Required Skills




Proactive, able to exercise discretion and independent decision-making.
Sound interpersonal, management, and negotiation skills.
Exceptional planning and organising skills.
Excellent communication and presentation skills. Excellent writing skills
Commitment to meeting deadlines and delivering on tasks.
Able to work effectively under tight deadlines.
Creative and resourceful in solving problems.
Strong work ethic and able to work in a multidisciplinary, multi-country team.
Required Experience
Master's degree or equivalent post-graduate qualification in Communications or related field, or equivalent work experience.
5-7 years senior-level experience in a communications role.
Demonstrated experience developing communications strategies, implementing or overseeing implementation of communications activities, and engaging with high-level stakeholders (including donors and the media) to advance an organization's mission.
Demonstrated experience overseeing the communication/publication development process.
Solid experience writing reports and proposals, particularly to corporate and foundation donors.
Previous experience working in the health, scientific, or nonprofit sectors strongly desired.
PATH is dedicated to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.
Job Location Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Position Type Full-Time/Regular