Communications and Advocacy Advisor

Reporting to:  Program Management Unit Director

Employment condition: contract for one Year with the possibility of extensions

Direct reports:  N/A

Duty station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with occasional field travel

Number of positions: One (1)

Salary: As per the organization’s salary scale

Application Deadline: 10 October 2025

The overall purpose of the role:

Communications and Advocacy Advisor lead the development and implementation of communication, visibility, and advocacy strategies for a multi-partner education program. The Advisor will provide overall guidance and coordination to ensure coherent messaging, strong public engagement, and effective advocacy across all consortium members and stakeholders.

This role is responsible for shaping and executing communication plans that align with donor requirements, national education goals, and the consortium’s shared vision. The Advisor will support brand consistency, amplify program impact, and promote positive visibility through traditional and digital media platforms.

Key responsibilities include producing high-quality content, managing internal and external communications, strengthening media and stakeholder relations, and leading strategic advocacy initiatives. The Advisor will work closely with program teams, partners, and government counterparts to ensure the timely dissemination of key messages, promote policy dialogue, and influence change in support of education outcomes.

The position also entails representing the program in communications and advocacy forums, coordinating visibility efforts, and ensuring that all communication outputs meet donor requirements and safeguard ethical standards.

Major Role & Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Communications Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder communications strategy aligned with the program to be implemented by the consortium approach.  ensuring coherence across consortium members, government sectors, and donors.
• Provide strategic guidance on positioning and visibility for Imagine1day and its partners in key thematic areas of the  program

2. Brand and Reputation Management

• Oversee the stewardship of  consortium members and donors’ brand identity and narrative across all internal and external platforms, ensuring consistency in tone, design, and message.
• Ensure communications reflect organizational values and uphold ethical storytelling practices, particularly in the representation of program participants.

3. High-Level External Engagement and Public Relations

• Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with media houses, government communication offices, donors, and consortium communications teams, ensuring strong representation of consortium members’ work and achievements.
• Represent the consortium in public forums, donor events, and inter-agency communication platforms as needed.

4. Content Strategy and Production Oversight

• Oversee the development of high-impact content — including human-interest stories, field updates, reports, video documentaries, and photography — to showcase program results and community transformation.
• Supervise multimedia production and ensure alignment with strategic campaigns and donor reporting requirements.
• Lead the compilation and development of the consortium’s consolidated report by collecting, reviewing, and synthesizing inputs from all consortium partners, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with donor reporting requirements, and submit the final report to the consortium lead and/or donor as per the agreed timeline.

5. Digital and Online Communications Management

• Lead the digital communications portfolio, including social media strategy, website oversight, and email campaigns, ensuring increased engagement, reach, and visibility.
• Ensure digital platforms reflect up-to-date, accurate, and compelling content and are responsive to emerging organizational priorities and crisis communications.

6. Internal Communications and Cross-Consortium Alignment

• Design and implement internal communication mechanisms to enhance information flow across departments, program teams, and regional offices.
• Foster effective communication and information-sharing across consortium members, ensuring alignment of messaging and collaborative advocacy efforts.
• Attend meetings as scheduled in accordance with donor standards and requirements; actively participate, share relevant updates, and disseminate key information to stakeholders.

7. Advocacy and Policy Communication Support

• Develop and deliver evidence-based, policy-relevant communication materials that support the program’s advocacy objectives and influence key stakeholders, including donors, ministries, and education clusters.
• Support national and regional public awareness and behaviour change campaigns through tailored communication strategies and outreach initiatives.

8. Media Relations and Crisis Communication

• Serve as the focal point for media relations, including press releases, interviews, and briefings, ensuring timely and strategic engagement with the press.
• Lead the organization’s crisis communication response, ensuring rapid, transparent, and coordinated actions to protect the organization’s reputation and stakeholder trust.

9. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) in Communications

• Establish systems to track and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of communications initiatives using appropriate analytics tools.
• Prepare and provide regular performance reports and insights to the consortium Senior Leadership Team, including consolidated reports as per donor requirements, using data to inform adaptive communication planning.

·         Foster an environment that supports values of women and men, and equal access to information.

·         Provide a work environment where women and men must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.

·         Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, and children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, or religion. race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.

·         Value and respect all cultures.

Safeguarding Commitment 

Imagine1day has zero tolerance for violations of Child and Adult Safeguarding, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and the Code of Conduct. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment Imagine1day implements a range of procedures and actions including Criminal Background Checks/ International vetting/Certificates of good conduct to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded and abuse is prevented.

• Proven 7-year track record in leading digital communication strategies, managing organizational branding, and producing high-impact content across diverse platforms, including social media, websites, and donor-facing materials.
• Extensive experience in storytelling, advocacy communications, and public positioning, with the ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate with donors, government stakeholders, and the general public.
• Demonstrated success in managing communications during sensitive or crisis situations, ensuring organizational reputation and stakeholder trust are upheld.
• Strong interpersonal and coordination skills, with the ability to engage effectively across departments, with consortium partners, and high-level external stakeholders including media, donors, and government entities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in Amharic and other local or international languages is an added advantage.

Core Competencies and Personal Attributes

• The successful candidate will demonstrate an excellent blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and personal integrity, effectively serving the needs of the unit, consortium partners, and donors. He/she will be expected to lead with vision, communicate with clarity, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism and accountability. Specifically, the candidate must possess
• Superior Writing and Communication Skills: Proven ability to craft clear, concise, and compelling content across a variety of platforms and formats (e.g., press releases, policy briefs, reports, digital content). Adept at tailoring messaging to diverse audiences, including government stakeholders, partners, donors, and community members.
• Digital and Multimedia Proficiency: Strong command of digital communication tools and platforms, including social media strategy, website management, digital campaigns, and the creation or oversight of high-quality multimedia content such as videos, infographics, and photography.
• Strategic Media and Public Relations: Demonstrated experience in cultivating media relationships, managing press engagements, and proactively positioning the organization’s visibility and credibility at national and international levels.
• Project and Time Management Excellence: Highly organized, with the ability to lead and coordinate multiple communications projects simultaneously, under tight deadlines and with a results-oriented approach.
• Cross-Cultural Intelligence and Contextual Awareness: Deep understanding of Ethiopia’s socio-cultural and educational landscape, with the ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across diverse contexts and with stakeholders at all levels.
• Innovative and Strategic Thinking: A forward-thinking communicator who can translate complex ideas into compelling narratives, contribute to strategic planning processes, and respond agilely to emerging opportunities and challenges.
• Integrity, Precision, and Professionalism: Strong attention to detail, unwavering commitment to quality, and the ability to work under pressure while maintaining a calm, solution-focused approach.

• Values-Driven and Purpose-Oriented: A strong passion for education, social justice, and community empowerment, with a demonstrated ability to lead with empathy, equity, and accountability.

Education:

·  A master’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a closely related field is required. A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is strongly preferred and will be considered an asset.

Languages:

·  Language: English and Amharic. An additional national language is an advantage.

·  Level of language required: Fully operational

Key Internal & External Stockholders:

·          Imagine 1day Internal staffs

·          Imagine 1day External partners (Pension Office, Landlord, and other government & private organizations