PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The Regional Director of Communications leads the World Vision West Africa Regional Office communications and engagement strategy through efforts that build trust in World Vision and 1) bring World Vision’s brand and Christian identity to life, 2) leverage evidence and technical expertise to position World Vision as a humanitarian leader, 3) deliver content for impact across Partnership goals and 4) create a borderless, agile, efficient global communications network.

The role matrix manages National Office communications leaders and emergency response communications deployments to the region.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy:

• Lead and implement an integrated communications and public affairs strategy for the region in consultation with key stakeholders; advise national offices/national office communications teams in planning processes to ensure alignment of communications work with national office strategy and World Vision communications and public engagement priorities; input into World Vision communications strategy development and management.
• Delivery of key business outcomes with clear contribution to overarching regional strategy.
• National office communications leaders contribute to the national office strategy development.
• National office communications operating plans contribute to delivering both the national office strategy and World Vision’s communications priorities.
• World Vision communications strategy reflects national and regional communications priorities.

Leadership:

• Leadership of region-wide communications and representation to Partnership of West Africa communications business via membership on Regional Office Directors Team, Regional Communications Directors Team and Global Communications Council.
• High performing teams, motivated to serve, succeed and effectively support and enable World Vision’s ministry.
• Effective performance management of matrix reports.
• High-level advice, guidance and reportage on key strategic and operational issues impacting region’s business.

Reputation Management:

• Lead and facilitate business initiatives that build and protect the reputation of World Vision in the region – especially in times of emergency responses and reputation crises.
• Strengthened content, messaging and channel management for external engagement that reflects the region’s value proposition and offering around its key sectors.
• Effective external positioning with key public stakeholders as part of the Global Engagement Campaign.
• Strategic, high-impact media coverage facilitated during emergencies that illustrates World Vision’s on-the-ground presence, expertise and child focus.
• Advice on the management of sensitive media issues and their potential risks, ensuring coordination with relevant Partnership stakeholders.
• Reputational Risk Management principles and processes shared with all national leadership teams.
• Regular liaison and networking with public affairs and communications leaders in the region, building World Vision’s brand presence, collaboration and public speaking opportunities.

Quality Assurance:

• Operationalise (with required technical expertise) those Global Communications policies, guidelines and standards of importance and relevancy to the region.
• National Offices are managing business activities in alignment with global standards, processes and meeting Partnership stakeholder needs.
• Regional Office communications, including print and electronic publications, digital platforms and communications resources are produced to a high standard and monitored for audience engagement.

Knowledge Management & Talent Development:

• Facilitate a process of continuous learning on appropriate communication systems, processes and tools, as appropriate to the context and priorities of the Western African Region.
• Demonstrated mutual learning on communications best practices between national offices and between regions.
• Best practice and innovations shared to the Global Communications Community of Practice and replicated elsewhere in the organisation.
• Access to key communications resources, materials, learning and support opportunities for National Offices. These may include engagement of trainers, establishing institutional links, identifying opportunities for staff exchanges, or mentoring and active involvement in training for high-level strategic capacity building.

Executive Communication:

• Guidance and support provided to the Regional Leader and other regional office and national office executive leaders on strategic communications, issues-management and messaging.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• A University Degree or equivalent in Communications, Media, Journalism, Public Affairs or related fields.
• At least 10 years of professional experience in areas of international communications, media and journalism, with a minimum of 5 years leading and managing teams.
• Demonstrated strength of experience in the development of effective strategic priorities, as well as execution of operational work.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written), and a proven ability to train and coach staff and peers.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, plan and meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with proven team leadership and participation.
• Experience in project management and the development and production of a wide array of communication materials such as publications, video segments, web, and other modern media.
• Ability to communicate fluently in English, and to relate cross-culturally with a wide range of international constituencies; French language skills a significant asset.
• Strong interpersonal, networking and organisational skills, including a multicultural awareness, particularly of the Western African context.
• Demonstrated facilitation and collaboration skills.
• High level of awareness of global and regional socio-economic, political and environmental issues.
• Advanced competency in the use of Microsoft Office computer programs including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience, ability and willingness to travel extensively throughout the Western Africa region.
• Ability to work virtually with other teams across different time zones, and in different cultural contexts.
• Personal commitment to Jesus Christ, World Vision’s mission statement, and the core values of World Vision.

Preferred:

• Master’s Degree in Communications/Media/Public Affairs or other relevant Master’s programme.
• Experience living and working in the Western African Region.

Work Environment/Travel:

• The position requires ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 30% of the time.