Communications and Advocacy Officer needed, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at PATH Organization

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Job Description

PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multi-sector partnerships, and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges.

The Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (MNTD) program, as a leader in the effort to end malaria illnesses and deaths, refines and develops tools and approaches, supports national programs, and builds evidence and data to empower national governments to pursue malaria elimination. This position will work within MNTD while working closely with the PATH Center for Malaria Control and Elimination (CMCE), which brings together leaders from across the organization’s malaria portfolio to pursue cross-cutting initiatives.

PATH’s robust malaria portfolio includes projects includes promising projects in vaccines, diagnostics, drugs—both developing new drugs and using existing drugs in new ways, as well as system and service innovations. We collaborate with ministries of health to strengthen health systems and create malaria-free zones; tech companies to use data in better and new ways; manufacturers to improve and develop drugs and diagnostics; global agencies like the World Health Organization; and governments to support evidence generation and policy formulation. We work closely with communities to understand local context and build skills. Our projects are currently supported by grants from numerous funders, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, United States Agency for International Development, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and Unitaid, among others.

We are seeking a Communications and Advocacy Officer who will help elevate and position PATH malaria as a go-to partner and thought leader for malaria control and elimination. This person will help report directly to a Senior Policy Advisor within the MNTD program helping to:

  • Translate evidence generated from projects, package information appropriately based on target audience, and share through strategic channels
  • Bolster relationships and partnerships with external stakeholders to enhance visibility and positioning
  • Articulate MNTD’s story and enhance overall messaging of our unique capabilities and capacities

Responsibilities:

  •  Develop, manage, and implement a portfolio of communications activities that align with programmatic objectives and are coordinated with project workstreams, including increasing awareness, mobilizing resources, and shifting the policy landscape
  • Create and support publication of creative and compelling communications and advocacy materials and content, including fact sheets, web content and articles/blogs, press releases, talking points, routine donor reporting, strategic documents, scientific publications, policy briefs, case studies and reports, and social media content
  • Work with technical teams to identify successes, synthesize information, and translate into visually and narratively compelling communications materials for external audiences, including donors and high-level stakeholders
  • Create and disseminate compelling visual and narrative programmatic stories, and also strengthen ability of malaria staff to tell these stories
  • Ensure that all media and external communications messages and activities are in-line with PATH communication policies; review content to ensure it is on-brand, consistent in style, quality and tone of voice, and in compliance with branding, strategy, and marking plans and policies
  • Support collection, interpretation, and analysis of communications and advocacy metrics; use metrics to proactively inform prioritization of activities for self and team.
  • Manage and facilitate external events, panels, and webinars
  • Contribute to the design of overall programmatic communications strategy – with internal and external engagement goals – and identify and develop collaborations and activities to ensure long-term sustainability and impact
  • Develop, maintain, and build strong relationships with PATH colleagues and stakeholders; establish credibility as a domain-knowledgeable thought partner and leverage community to source content in-line with programmatic objectives and priorities
  • Serve as malaria communications focal point to ensure effective coordination and collaboration with other PATH teams, programs, and divisions
  • Ensure engagement activities and events are following diversity, equity, and inclusion policies
  • Project-manage or collaborate on the production process and work with graphic designers on materials requiring professional design
  • Act as a PATH representative where needed, including delivering presentations about our work

Required Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in public health, international development, communications, or a related field, with a minimum of five years working in public health communications and/or advocacy fields, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
  • A strong track record of making highly technical content accessible to target audiences while maintaining credibility with a technical community is required
  • Excellent English writing and editing skills and a demonstrated capacity to synthesize and translate sophisticated health and development issues into compelling persuasive writing
  • Experience managing scientific or malaria communications is preferred
  • Two or more years of experience in contributing to and managing communications and/or advocacy strategies, with an emphasis on strategic communications
  • Two or more years of experience developing digital communications, including social media, web content, wikis, knowledge management platforms, etc. preferred
  • Experience creating and disseminating versatile communications and advocacy products for global, regional, and national audiences, including for partners, policymakers, implementers, governments, and funders
  • Strong interpersonal communication, presentation skills, and relationship-building skills demonstrating a client-centered approach to opportunities
  • Strong design skills including document layout and PowerPoint slides/presentations strongly desired
  • Experience developing, running, and implementing communications projects and activities independently, including working with partners on the definition of objectives and deliverables and monitoring and evaluation of results
  • Experience facilitating externally facing events – virtually and in-person
  • Ability to work with flexibility, entrepreneurship, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a complex team effort
  • Demonstrated problem solving skills and ability to work under pressure, adapt to change, and cope with the unexpected
  • Cover letter required
  • Must have legal authorization to work in the PATH country office location

PATH is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued.

PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Job Location DRC, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia

Company Location Africa – Any existing PATH Africa Office

Position Type Full-Time/Regular

For application: https://path.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.jobinfo&jobid=305479&company_id=15780&version=1&source=ONLINE&JobOwner=1012648&startflag=1

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