Palladium recruits a Strategic Communications Manager – Africa Trade and Investment Program (ATIP)

Palladium recruits a Strategic Communications Manager – Africa Trade and Investment Program (ATIP)

Company Overview:

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with foundations, investors, governments, corporations, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits. 

For the past 50 years, we have been making Positive Impact possible. With a team of more than 2,500 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of more than 35,000 technical experts, Palladium has improved – and is committed to continuing to improve – economies, societies and most importantly, people’s lives. 

Palladium is a child-safe organisation, and screens applicants for suitability to work with children. We also provide equal employment to all participants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran or marital status. 

Context   

Palladium is seeking a Strategic Communications Manager to support a new flagship USAID-funded program: Africa Trade and Investment Program (ATIP). The overall ATIP program, currently valued by USAID at $400-750 Million and expected to be based in Washington, DC, with field offices in West, East, North, and Southern Africa, will be the principal vehicle for implementing the whole-of-government Prosper Africa Initiative. The purpose of ATIP is to mobilize enterprise-driven solutions that will help unlock Africa’s growing markets, expand U.S.-Africa trade and investment relationships, and achieve development outcomes across all sectors, in line with USAID’s Private Sector Engagement Policy and the USG Prosper Africa Initiative.

The five objectives of ATIP are:

1. Increased trade;
   
2. Increased investment;
   
3. Improved business environment;
   
4. Leveraging strategic African, U.S., and international partners and resources; and
   
5. Institutional support to USAID to assist in tracking, managing, implementing and publicizing the Prosper Africa Initiative
   

The anticipated proposal release date is September 2020.  The program would start in 2021. Specific program activities, upon award, may include both cross-cutting “core” activities as well as “buy-ins” from regions or countries in Africa, which may identify sectors of interest as well as specific programmatic objectives and target outcomes.

Candidate Profile   

The ideal candidate would be an individual with demonstrated leadership in communications, marketing, and/or public relations, prior communications experience contributing to trade and/or investment related programs, and familiarity tailoring messages to a variety of audiences and stakeholders. This role will enable an individual who wants to build upon that experience to lead communications activities around an extremely high-visibility U.S. government initiative to bring increased trade and investment levels to Africa.

Purpose of Position  

The Strategic Communications Manager will be based in Washington DC and will be responsible for developing and implementing the project’s integrated communications and knowledge management strategy, with targeted messaging for both public and private stakeholders. Duties include assessing communications needs and crafting comprehensive communications plans, developing outreach and messaging materials, and curating communications materials.

Duration:          5 years
Location:      Washington, DC

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
The candidate’s responsibilities will likely include:

• Develop and implement a creative, innovative and state-of-the-art integrated communications strategy with targeted messages for both public and private stakeholders demonstrating results, success stories, outcomes, and learning from ATIP program implementation
  
• Lead project-related communications and outreach efforts for the project directed at targeted project stakeholders
  
• Write, edit and oversee the production of publications, including articles, newsletters, project reports, photos, infographics, social media messaging, etc., in compliance with branding guidelines and organizational policies
  
• Compile, edit and format regular updates to USAID, in line with best practices and contractual requirements
  
• Facilitate discussions with project staff to conceptualize, design and develop infographics, charts, maps and other visual content to translate technical findings into user-friendly products for non-technical audiences
  
• Lead the development and dissemination of marketing materials, social media content, and other mediums to amplify content generated from project activities
  
• Collaborate, as required, with the broader Palladium Communications team on the development of a strategic communications plan that includes participation in key events, targeted communications materials development, and other strategies as defined in the plan
  
• Attend industry and relevant private-sector events (i.e., conferences, workshops, professional networks/communities of practice working groups, training events, and symposia) to share and promote ATIP’s work and successes, and to reinforce impactful in relevant technical areas
  
• Carry out representational duties to USAID and contribute to project management and coordination among partner organizations
  
• Establish and implement standard operating procedures and mechanisms for collection and distribution of information and knowledge materials from project staff and stakeholders
  
• Collaborate with the ATIP technical team and stakeholders, and facilitate organized forums designed to foster ongoing learning and adaptation
  
• Other duties as assigned
  

Position Requirements 

• Advanced degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or similar field is preferred
  
• Demonstrated leadership in communications, marketing, and/or public relations
  
• Demonstrated understanding of and experience developing materials for the trade and investment communities, preferably in developing and emerging markets
  
• Experience engaging both international development and private sector communities
  
• Demonstrated experience in strategy and message development and implementation
  
• Ability to synthesize complex trade facilitation and investment mechanisms and deal structures into language that is accessible and compelling to external audiences; experience working on trade, investment, business environment, or related areas
  
• Strong writing and editing skills with an ability to tailor the tone, content and form of written output in line with a range of different audiences and to suit a variety of formats; ability to synthesize and simplify information and communicate it in a lively, accurate and understandable manner
  
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, creatively and to find innovative ways to respond to emerging organizational and project needs
  
• Excellent attention to detail and track record of designing and implementing a dynamic communications and knowledge management strategies
  
• Detail-oriented and deadline-driven with strong organizational skills, and ability to work in a dynamic and agile environment with changing requirements and priorities
  
• Knowledge and understanding of USAID programs, branding, communications style, and learning frameworks
  
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills
  
• Strong cross-cultural, interpersonal, management and collaboration skills in highly complex structures involving multiple teams and stakeholders
  
• Advanced critical thinking, sound problem solving and decision-making skills
  
• Highly self-motivated and able to work independently as well as in team settings
  
• Ability to meet critical deadlines, build consensus, engage a variety of stakeholders, and work with diverse groups of people
  
• Experience in sub-Saharan Africa and/or North Africa strongly preferred
  
• Fluency in English required; familiarity with one or more other languages spoken on the African continent (French, Arabic, or Portuguese) would be desirable
  

Note: Applicants must be US Citizens OR authorized to work in the US.

Apply here