erm of Employment: One Year with possibility of extension
Duty Station(s): Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Required Number: One
Application Deadline: November 26, 2022
Job Description
BACKGROUND
The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) has been established by the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to identify and address systemic bottlenecks to Ethiopia’s agricultural development. The Institute does this through problem-solving, implementation support, and capacity building of stakeholders involved in implementation of interventions that address the systemic bottlenecks.
ATI provides a unique platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our teams with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.
The programmatic focus of the Institute responds to a core set of needs identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and other sectors along commodity value chains. Across the programs, the ATI engages public, private, and non-governmental stakeholders to support strategic planning, manage and strengthen implementation capacity and test innovative models. Currently, ATI is tasked to coordinate the revised Agriculture and Rural Development policy agendas of the sector and such sectoral level delegation requires high level expertise in the policy areas and skillsets in coordination and networking with multiple stakeholders.
Our Culture
We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results. Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great team work to achieve excellent results.
At ATI, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector. We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training. We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.
Purpose of the position
The Communications team is responsible for building ATI’s image internally and externally by creating visibility to target audiences, stakeholders, and broader public on the ATI’s vision, programs, projects, and achievements, as support to ATI’s program delivery. The team will be responsible for leading the Institute ’s internal and external communication efforts to reach all segments of ATI’s audiences with the use of tailored communication materials and platforms using appropriate media.
The Director, reporting to the CEO, is responsible for the development and successful implementation of ATI’s Communications Strategy and management of the Communications Team. The Director will primarily work in close collaboration with the CEO and Deputy CEO, Senior Management and program teams to lead ATI’s external communication efforts for shaping public awareness, understanding, and opinion of the ATI by showcasing ATI’s implementation progress, achievements, and stories to external audiences. In addition, the Director will lead internal communication efforts to break silos and encourage interactions among individuals and teams by keeping staff informed of progress, updates, and developments in program implementation, organization, and sector-wide issues.
The Director’s roles also include leading ATI’s brand management by ensuring that all physical projects as well as internal- and external-facing materials are appropriately and correctly branded. A successful Director will manage their staff well, build and facilitate relationships to successfully collaborate with Senior Management and other ATI teams for implementing the Communications Strategy, they should possess a deep understanding of the Ethiopian Communication landscape and communication expertise in both English and Amharic languages.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES
Responsibilities for Director of the Communications Team include, but not limited to:
- Develop and lead the implementation of ATI Communications Strategy in order to manage communication efforts and build favorable images of the ATI among its stakeholders
- Review and track the communication landscapes, design messages, and use appropriate channels of communication
- Maintain ATI’s internal and external communication platforms in order to ensure audiences are kept up to date on implementation progress, milestones and achievements. Activities include:
- Manage a contacts data base of recipients of ATI’s newsletters, Annual Report, links to news and feature updates on the website, invitations, and other information
- Manage the ATI website working with project teams to develop and update content
- Produce and circulate quarterly newsletters among its key newsletter recipients and subscribers
- Produce and circulate ATI Annual Reports to its key partners using the organization’s, the CEO’s, Management teams’, and the Communications Team’s contacts data bases
- Produce up-to-date project briefs in English, Amharic and other local languages of ATI’s implementation regions to be circulated among government partners, policy makers, parliamentarians and the private sector
- Manage the ATI internet with regular project updates, case studies, staff stories and interviews
- Coordinates and conducts stakeholders’ perceptions survey periodically.
- Produce visual evidence of ATI’s program implementation through photo repositories and video documentaries, engaging professionals as required. Activities include:
- Consolidate annual photo repository and video documentary needs across the organization, by engaging teams and reviewing annual plans
- Lead the development of photo repositories or documentaries working with outscoring partners, project teams and other relevant stakeholders
- Maintain media relations, send media alerts and provide press materials during key project milestones in order to reach wider public. Activities include:
- Maintain an up-to-date media data base of key media contacts and champions
- Send media alerts ahead of any major ATI milestones followed by press release
- Actively seek media interviews with ATI’s CEO and other members of Management with key influential media on important updates and milestones.
- Brand ATI’s past and present projects that offer the platform for branding in order to build ATI’s visual identity. Activities include:
- Consolidate branding or rebranding needs and opportunities across ATI’s projects and periodically conduct branding
- Train staff on ATI’s existing and new brand manuals and style guidelines and support staff to comply with requirements
- Lead the organization of ATI wide events such as high-level program launches, anniversaries as well as All-Staff and Leadership Offsites. Activities include:
- Develop full event plans and organize events or outsource to event organizers and oversee activities
- Train new staff on ATI’s communication practices and guidelines and provide tailored media skill training to SMT and leadership in order to improve staff’s communication practices
- Build and maintain a positive and favorable image of the ATI, foster collaborative engagement with stakeholders, and the public at large
- Manage the performance of all Communications staff and conduct operational activities
- Manage performance review of Communications staff
- Reporting: Director of Communications will report to the CEO
- Approvals: Review/approve leaves, Communication team plan, performance goals/targets, budgets, reports, procurement, travel, etc.
- Report Writing: Provide qualitative info/narrative for reports
- Other
- He/she is also responsible for any additional roles as assigned by the CEO or his/her delegate, in line with ATI’s communication strategy
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- A minimum of a Master’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, international relations, business/marketing management, media relations or other relevant field.
- At least 12 years of experience with relevant professional experience, preferably in a generalist corporate communications role with a national or international focus, including a minimum of 6 years of experience in a managerial or leadership role.
- Experience in leading the communication efforts of a large organization
- Extensive experience in written communication or content development, in both Amharic and English languages
- Ability to organize internal and external events, press releases or other large communication events
- Understanding of various communication platforms (website, social media platforms, etc.)
- Strong management skills for optimal allocation of resources for making progress against Communication goals and KPIs
- Collaborative attitude for working with Senior Management, other Directors, and teams
- Insightful thinking for proactive, evidence-based decision-making.
- Self-motivated team-player with proven ability to contribute to organizational success at both strategic and operational levels
- First-rate oral and written communication skills, and ability to shift smoothly between storytelling and structured technical communication to fit the audience
- Sophisticated stakeholder engagement skills with a successful track record dealing with government bodies, development agencies, media, and the general public
- Passion and talent for training, coaching, and capacity building
- Ability to thrive in a fast-moving, start-up environment, with an emphasis on high performance, teamwork, accountability and results
- Strong set of personal values, including integrity, honesty and desire to be of service
- Experience in the agriculture and/or development sectors preferred.
- Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic.
HOW TO APPLY
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
We invite all candidates meeting the required qualifications to submit (i) a cover letter and (ii) a CV (maximum 5 pages) to https://apply.ata.gov.et
It is mandatory to mention the position title under the subject line of your cover letter.
Please DO NOT submit scans of certificates with your application.
Women are highly encouraged to apply.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.