Senior Communications Officer, Southern Outreach / P.4

TGF/08/FT813

23/09/2008  - 14/10/2008

Manager, Media Relations, Branding and Marketing Team

Partnerships, Communications and Resource Mobilization Cluster / Communications Unit

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a global public/private partnership dedicated to raising and disbursing large amounts of additional finance to prevent and treat the three pandemics.  The Global Fund has so far committed more than US$11 billion to over 520 programs in 136 countries.

The vacancy is in the Secretariat of the Global Fund. The
Secretariat manages the grant portfolio, including executing Board policies, disbursing money to grant recipients and implementing performance-based funding of grants. The Secretariat is also
tasked with resource mobilization; providing strategic, policy, financial, legal and administrative support and overseeing monitoring and evaluation. It is based in Geneva and has no staff located outside its headquarters. 

The Senior Communications Officer, Southern Outreach, will report to the Manager, Media Relations, Branding and Marketing.  The position’s role is to develop and implement an information/communication plan and supporting projects, activities, events, and information products to increase awareness and understanding of the Global Fund in developing countries.

The Senior Communications Officer will:

• Supervise the development and execution of communication work plans developing countries.
• Act as focal point for outreach to media in developing countries.
• Forge a network of media contacts
• Organize workshops, training and field visits for reporters and editors in developing countries.
• Liaise with and coordinate activities with “Friends of the Global Fund” organizations in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America.
• Identify and support spokespeople for the Global Fund from developing countries.
• Organize media events in developing countries with Global Fund partners.

Qualifications and Membership

Essential:

• Advanced Degree in Journalism, Communications, Humanities or Social Sciences or related field

Essential:

• Seven to ten years experience working as a journalist or communications officer in an international organization or corporation. A substantial part of this time should have been spent in a developing country.
• In-depth understanding of the workings, priorities and constraints of developing country media and major, international media.
• Experience in managing the development and production of media content.
• Experience in achieving results in complex social and cultural settings.
• Demonstrable knowledge of development issues and global health. 
• Experience in organizing events and travel in developing countries.

Desirable:

• Experience in training of media, journalism education, etc. in developing countries.
• Experience in online media in a developing country context.

Skills:

• Outstanding written and verbal communications skills.
• Strong time management and multi-tasking skills
• Strong project management skills

Core Competencies:

• Solution-Oriented Analysis
• Demonstrating Accountability and Commitment
• Strong writing skills
• Communicating Effectively
• Promoting Team Work
• Sensitivity and understanding of the complexities of multicultural communications
• Results-oriented
• Flexibility and willingness to achieve team priorities

An excellent knowledge of English and French or one of the following: Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish. Knowledge of other languages an asset.

A covering letter not exceeding one and one half pages must accompany all applications. The letter should describe your ability to meet the essential requirements set out in the vacancy notice.

APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY VIA THE GLOBAL FUND WEBSITE www.theglobalfund.org/en/jobs

CLOSING DATE FOR THE RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS:  14 October 2008