OXFAM PURPOSE: To work with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering.

JOB PURPOSE:

Contribute to Oxfam Kenya’s role as an influencing organisation, by maximising the quality and impact of Oxfam’s work and its partner’s programmes through the incorporation of enhanced communications messaging and tools.  Lead the development and implementation of the country media strategy & communications activities, linking country/regional/global priorities.  Develop and builds media partnerships and support programme and humanitarian teams to communicate effectively.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and programme communications - 40%

• Leads on the development, review and implementation of the country communications strategy.
• Develops, in consultation with staff, annual communications plans including story gathering and dissemination plans to profile the work of Oxfam Kenya (OKE) Affiliate. Act as a specialist advisor to the team on all communication matters.
• Identifies and communicates with key internal audiences and manage information flows that meet the organization’s strategic needs.
• Commissions and manages communication consultancies (print, audio and video), ensuring that consultants are properly briefed and work to meet Oxfam Kenya’s minimum standards for publication.
• Develops and supports staff to use communication tools at all stages of the programme cycle.
• Supports programme staff in the design, delivery and documentation of public events in support of programmatic, advocacy and campaigns goals.
• Encourages innovation in the communication space, working towards a cost effective and efficient approach to media and publicity for the work of the Oxfam programme in Kenya. This will include a strong focus on the strategic use of community radio, social media, etc.

External media - 40%

• Network with national, regional and international media organizations and influential individuals to develop positive working relationships towards achieving the country strategy and goals.
• In collaboration with the team, identifies, trains and supports effective external representation of OKE programmes.
• Work with staff to identify opportunities for profiling stories, including the identification of and providing support to the people profiled in these media actions.
• Act as the focal point for communications work for the OKE programme, working in tandem with regional and global colleagues to manage proactive and reactive work with the Kenyan media.
• In collaboration with regional and global colleagues, support emergency responses as these arise through fast, accurate media work that has a strategic impact.

Learning, reporting and fundraising support - 20%

• Manage the development and production of OKE  publications including situation reports, information summaries, annual reports, policy briefs, etc.
• Lead on the development and submission of OKE information for regional, global and donor publications e.g. reports, pamphlets, brochures, case studies, updates, etc.
• Manage the production of clear, analytical, comprehensive case studies and human interest stories emerging from OKE and partners work.

Person specification

Most importantly, every individual at Oxfam Kenya needs to be able to:

• Live our values of INCLUSION, ACCOUNTABILITY, EMPOWERMENT, COURAGE, SOLIDARITY and EQUALITY.
• Ensure you commit to our ORGANIZATIONAL ATTRIBUTES (including adhering to the Code of Conduct).
• Be committed to our feminist principles, and to applying them in your day-to-day behaviour and your work. Be ready to keep learning, with accountability to those who experience oppression as a result of their identities, such as their gender, race/ethnicity, disability, class, or LGBTQIA identity."
• Be committed to undertaking Oxfam’s safeguarding training and adhering to relevant policies, to ensure all people who come into Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Skills

• Professional/Technical qualifications – undergraduate/postgraduate degree in Communication related field (Communication, Journalism or Public Relations).
• Demonstrated ability to analyse and communicate complex information to a wide audience including non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team, providing strategic advice and support at a range of organizational
• Excellent English language writing skills and a working knowledge of Swahili.
• Demonstrated ability to manage large amounts of complex information, to produce clear, well written summaries and story lines and to package these in attractive accessible formats.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and produce compelling human interest stories.
• Able to advise/train/support staff at various levels of an organiza
• Good computer literacy skills including knowledge of digital media.
• Photography, video production and editing skills.
• Proven influencing, negotiating and interpersonal skills in a range of contexts and for multiple audiences.

Knowledge

• Is an authority in their field, a role model for peers and fellow team members.
• Expert knowledge of the programme context and communications environment in Kenya.
• Demonstrable knowledge of communications/media in humanitarian settings.
• Expertise in the use of a range of social media tools.

Experience

• At least five years’ experience of working in a communications, public relations or media role.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, simultaneous projects, to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
• A confident communicator with significant experience in representing organisational issues in a strategic manner with a wide range of external actors.
• Experience of working as a journalist or media liaison and supporting spokespersons in a context similar to OKE.
• Demonstrated experience of campaign design and management and the use of social and mass media for advocacy.

How to apply

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.  

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.