JOB DETAILS:
Job Title: Communications Officer
Department/Group: Operations
Reporting To: Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Years of Experience 3+ years
Location: Kampala
Travel Required Up to 85%
Languages: English, Luo, Rutooro, Rukiga, and Lusoga. Rufumbira and/or Runyankole are considered
an asset

About Raising The Village
We are Raising The Village (RTV) – an international development organization and a registered charity – on a mission to end ultra-poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. Raising The Village is a fast-growing organization on an accelerated growth path. We have 180+ national staff in Uganda and a team of 10 people in North America working together to lift communities out of ultra-poverty in last-mile villages. We operate at the intersection of direct implementation and advanced data analytics to inform progress, decision-making, and impact. To date we have supported more than 1 million people through our innovative holistic approach and are on track to expand to reaching one million people annually in the region by 2027. We have achieved this tremendous growth with the support of our incredible partners from all around the globe who believe in our model and impact. Find out more about our programs and impact at: www.raisingthevillage.org

Role Description
The Communications Officer is a seasoned photographer, videographer, and writer who loves storytelling in a multi-platform and multi-stakeholder environment. The role requires someone who is excellent at creating content, loves capturing stories from the field in challenging environments, and is passionate about community development and equity. You understand the power of storytelling for meeting the organization’s objectives and are able to work both independently and in collaboration with various teams to build RTV’s brand, and reputation, and effectively communicate impact to partners, government stakeholders, staff, and the general public.

Key Responsibilities
External Communication
• As a photographer and video maker, document and communicate RTV’s work through powerful storytelling using various mediums, including photos, videos, design, and impact stories. This includes traveling to the field and capturing stories, editing, and publishing.
• Ensure that RTV’s publications, reports, and videos are of high quality and disseminated appropriately.

• Provide content and ideation in the production of a range of publications, including annual reports, impact reports, donor reports, and newsletters.
• Support in developing and implementing the communications strategy.

• Support in managing RTV’s digital presence through the website and other social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Youtube etc.
• Provide editorial, design, and creative support during the development of materials such as reports, briefing notes, and Information Educative (IEC) materials to ensure that appropriate language is used.

Internal Communications
• Collaborate with HR and the Communications team to plan and implement staff-focused communications campaigns.
• Provide creative documentation of staff events.
• Work with Implementation and PEAL teams to identify core areas of focus for impact stories.
• Provide training and support to the Implementation team for growing field staff-led documentation of impact through photos and testimonials.

Stakeholder Engagement
• Strengthen links with relevant stakeholders including Government departments, donors, partner organizations, staff, and community partners for developing multi-faceted storytelling.
• Liaise with various media houses for publicity and promotion as required.
• Identify/manage logistics for stakeholders for communication activities as required.
• Engage staff and key stakeholders in promoting RTV’s mission. This includes establishing rapport with them and ensuring visibility.

Reporting
• Prepare accurate and timely communications reports for internal stakeholders.
• Provide written and verbal presentations on communications as required.
• Undertake an evaluation of communications initiatives, maintaining accurate data, including reviewing and reporting against the objectives of the various events.
• Maintain current analytics/statistics and fact sheets on the RTV’s social media platforms and website, periodically presented to the Management Team and used in presentations when required.
• Complete administrative reporting on a weekly basis and provide support with information sharing for reporting.
• Coordinate the development and maintenance of relevant communications-related databases for contacts, reporting, and upcoming deadlines.
• Perform relevant duties as required.

Required Skills
• Exceptional skills in photography, videography, video editing, and design for social media.
• Knowledge of computer systems and applications, specifically interactive digital media and, in particular, advanced Adobe Suite (Lightroom, Premier pro and Photoshop), Canva, MailChimp, WordPress and productivity tools.
• Demonstrated skills in program communications, development of Information, Education and communication material, documentation and publication (including web-based documentation).
• Knowledge of best practices in communication research, planning and strategy, and execution of social media and the presentation of key audiences including donors, government, general public, and media.
• Excellent spoken and written English: general ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral forms; specific skills in writing press releases and articles/stories for traditional and electronic media.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively negotiate and liaise with a wide cross-section of people, including internal staff, partners, service providers and the wider community.
• Ability to meet demanding deadlines with strong attention to detail.
• Fluency in English, Luo, Rutooro, Lusanka, Rukiga, and Lusoga. Rufumbira and/or Runyankole, and French fluency are considered an advantage.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to last mile villages in Uganda for documenting RTV’s work, stories, and impact. Ability to ride and possession of a riding license would be considered an asset.
• Skills in using social media platforms and website maintenance using Content Management Systems (CMS) will be considered an asset.

Required Education and Experience
• A minimum of 3 years of experience as media or communication officer. Experience of working with donor funded projects will be an added advantage.
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or a related field.
• Demonstrated track record and portfolio of work in photo/video/social media.

Raising The Village is committed to Equity and Inclusion in the workplace and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer.