Columbia Global Centers | Africa is part of Columbia University’s global network of centers, which together aim to create opportunities in research, scholarship and teaching around the world, and expand Columbia's mission as a global university. Established in Nairobi in 2011, CGC Africa links the continent to Columbia’s scientific rigor, technological innovation, and academic leadership. It provides Columbia students and academics with a base from which to conduct research in and for Africa, in disciplines including sustainable development, urban planning and climate change. The Centre also works closely with policymakers, governments, and regional institutions in order to provide them with objective, science-based evidence for their pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals and the fight against global poverty. Operations span across East and Southern Africa, including support for six Millennium Village sites (MVs) in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The Millennium Villages Project (MVP) (http://www.millenniumvillages.org/index.htm) is a joint initiative between Columbia University’s Earth Institute, Millennium Promise (NGO), the United Nations, and various partner organizations. Launched in 2005, the project has been implemented in fourteen village clusters across ten African countries and reached approximately 450,000 beneficiaries. Under the MVP model, project personnel work alongside rural communities and local governments to implement a package of interventions in four sectors: health, education, infrastructure, and agriculture. The interventions were designed to help the Millennium Villages achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
The position
The Columbia Global Centers|Africa is seeking a qualified candidate to fill the position of a Regional Communications Specialist to be based at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya working in East and Southern Africa and reporting directly to the Columbia Global Centers |Africa Director.
Principal Responsibilities
Media relations:
- Organize field visits for international, regional and locally-based journalists, in coordination with field teams.
- Establish a strong relationship with the international, regional and national media
- Field media requests for interviews, village visits, and data, and link journalists to appropriate colleagues and information sources.
- Identify outreach and media opportunities and write related press releases and media advisories. Disseminate to broad and up-to-date mailing lists.
- Track and promote media coverage of the MVPs and other high impact projects
Regional public relations:
- Act as a PR liaison with regional and pan African organizations
- Coordinate the production of corporate publications such as the annual report
- Supervise the production of videos on the latest initiatives and interventions
Media Content / Webmaster:
- Keep the website www.globalcenters.columbia.edu/nairobi up-to-date
- Undertake field trips and bring back human interest stories, text, photo, and if possible video, to be used online and in publications.
- Solicit stories from field teams, edit and upload them online.
Internal communications:
- Act as a catalyst for information and knowledge sharing within the 20+ strong regional team, by circulating reports, news stories, press releases and other valuable data to the team.
- Gather information from the sites and share it with regional and NY-based teams, with a special focus on audiovisual material that is used in all outreach projects (videos, posters, and social media).
- Facilitate information exchange across the Global Centers network
- Track media related news and events that take place in Columbia University across the different schools and Centers
- Other communications duties as assigned by the Director of the Columbia Global Centers | Africa and MDG Centre
Qualifications and Experience
- Post-graduate qualification (MSc/MA) in communication studies or related fields.
- Minimum 5 years relevant experience in an international organisation
- Demonstrated success in working in cross-sectoral and multi-cultural teams.
- Excellent communication skills, verbal and written in English.
- Pan-African experience strongly recommended
- Ability to travel on short notice
How to apply:
The Columbia Global Centers |Africa is an equal opportunity employer offering a competitive salary and benefits package, and a collegial working environment. The contract is for an initial period of one (1) year, renewable subject to a three (3) months probation period, assessment of performance, and availability of resources. Columbia Global Centers |Africa offers a gender-aware working environment and qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply. Applicants are invited to send a cover letter illustrating their suitability for the position against the listed qualifications/competencies/skills and a detailed curriculum vitae, with names and addresses of three referees (including telephone and email addresses). Applicants should indicate “Application for the Regional Communications Specialist” in their applications letters and in the subject line of email submissions. All correspondence should be addressed to the Human Resources Manager, Columbia Global Centers |Africa, P. O. Box 51412, Nairobi-00100, Kenya or via email to recruitment@cgcafrica.org. Applications will be considered until 17th October 2014 or until a suitable candidate is identified and selected.
Only short-listed applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.
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