COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
PORT-AU-PRINCE
I. Job Summary
The Communication Specialist, reporting to the Program Quality, Development, and Learning Director, will play an integral role in CARE Haiti’s Program Quality Unit and the Country Office generally by working to increase local, national and international understanding of CARE’s work and role in Haiti acting as a liaison to local and national media as well as all CARE international offices. This includes developing and writing Media articles, Human and Local Interest Stories (to include photographs), hosting donor visits, updating CARE Haiti website and other social media, as well as reading and editing all donor reports and proposals.
S/he will support CARE’s commitment to transparency and accountability by reporting and sharing information about CARE’s activities in development programming and in case of an emergency response.
S/he will work in close collaboration with other members of the Program Quality and Learning Unit (PQL), the Country Director and the Assistant Country Director, all Program Coordinators, project level communications staff, and as necessary project and field staff.
The Communication Specialist’s principal responsibilities will fall into five primary categories: 1) strategy, knowledge, and learning; 2) program development; 3) technical assistance, capacity building and learning; 4) representation and advocacy; 5) Emergency Preparations & Response.
As a member of the PQL team, the position will contribute to supporting the Country Office transition from a project to a program approach, including transforming Country Office program structure from ‘Sectors’ to ‘Programs’.
Fonctions
II. Responsibilities and tasks
Job Responsibility #1
Strategy, Knowledge, and Learning
• Support the production of a communication strategy / plan for CARE Haiti including sign off protocols;
• Track issues that could impact CARE Hait’s image or brand in Haiti and advise the CD and programme coordinators on potential steps forward.
• Maintain library of communication tools on Shared Drive and regularly inform CARE Haiti staff of availability and use of tools.
• Write Quarterly Newsletters: one for Country Office and one for Programme Quality and Learning Unit.
• Chair the CO Public Relations Working Group.
• Archiving the Country Office and PQL files on the Shared Drive as related to communication
• Work with PQL team to document and communicate learning.
Job Responsibility #2
Program Development (and Implementations)
• Provide support to sectors/programmes in the development of communications plans (when required); ensuring that donor requirements and included activities are in line with the CARE brand and the Country Office communications strategy/policy.
• Edit for grammar/spelling/donor compliance/coherence all CARE Haiti narrative donor reports (French or English depending on the donor). Archive as needed.
• Edit as necessary all CARE Haiti narrative Concept Notes or Proposals (French or English depending on the donor). Archive as needed
Job Responsibility #3 40%
Technical Assistance & Capacity Building
• Produce and distribute timely, accurate and accessible information outputs (with and without the support of projects) on CARE Haiti projects/programmes and PQL– these could include human interest stories, photos, factsheets/briefing, press releases, and/or reports (ie 5 year earthquake report).
• Provide basic training for project/programme staff on media and communication as necessary;
• Develop, monitor, and update CARE Haiti’s website and other social media (Facebook, Twitter);
• Develop contacts within the Haitian Media and maintain a database of contacts;
• Manage CARE Haiti’s photograph library;
• Translate existing communication documents (between English, French and Creole) as needed
• Work closely with Accountability and Communications staff in the projects/programmes to be aware and monitor quality of communications with beneficiaries.
• Review all project funder/media communications tools such as brochures, banners, promotional items, newsletters, HIS, etc to ensure they adhere to CARE Branding Policy.
• Act was Master of Ceremonies when necessary.
% of time
Job Responsibility #4 15%
Representation & Advocacy
• Act as a point of contact on media matters; respond to, prioritize and co-ordinate media and CI requests. Act as a spokesperson where appropriate and as agreed by the Country Director.
• Liaise with CI members on media visits, use media visit request form/protocols to make go/no-go decision related to a proposed visit.
• Assist in donor, media, and other organizational visits to Country Office and Programme Sites.
• Participate in the CI communications working group (COMWG).
• Participate in other Communications forums such as CCO. % of time
Job Responsibility #5 5%
Emergency Preparation & Response
• Serve on ERT as necessary mostly related to communication, media and proposals.
• Participate in all relevant Emergency Preparation and Response meetings.
• Write Situation Reports as necessary.
% of time
Ensure that the principles of equality and diversity are respected within the current project and in the management of human resources.
Help identify capacity building needs of its staff on the topic of gender integration and develop strategies to address them.
Ensure the availability of sex-disaggregated data for the project
III. Authority / Autonomy
This position is supervised by the PQL Director and Unit.
IV. Contacts/Key Relationships
PQL Director and Unit Collaboration on Program Quality and Learning
CD and ACD
Contribution to strategic planning/capacity-building support
Staff in PaP and Field Offices Working together on communication materials, stories, and preparing for/hosting visits
Donor and Media
CI Member and COMWG
V. Living Conditions
Location Port-au-Prince
Expected percentage of time traveling 40%
Special Conditions
The Communication Specialist will be based in Port-au-Prince. The Specialist will be expected to travel approximately 40% of the time in-country.
Qualifications Requises
VI. Qualifications, (KNOW-HOW)
• 4 years experience in journalism, social media and public relations skills under strict deadlines.
• Français/Créole ; Connaissance de l’anglais souhaitée
1 year in humanitarian aid experience with experience in journalism, social media and public relations skills under strict deadlines
• Knowledge in journalism (broadcast or print), or related field such as communications or media/public relations, and strong understanding of print, radio, television and social (online)media;
• Excellent visual and written communications skills;
• Experience in community-level communication;
• Experience as spokesperson
• Strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, photo editing software, etc);
• Photography and video competence;
• Fluent in English, French, and Haitian Creole.
Website updating and maintenance
