Host & Impacted Community Resilience Activity (HICRA)

Organization:
 Friends In Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB)
Position:
 Officer - Communications
Location:
 Cox’s Bazar Contract Length: Open ended
Grade:
   Post Type: Regular

INTRODUCTION:
Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari districts are among the lowest ranked in Bangladesh for education, skills training, food security, poverty and agricultural productivity. The situation has worsened since 2017, with the Rohingya refugee influx, which has put enormous pressure on the local economies, resulting in loss of livelihoods, depressed local wages, and distorted local markets. Moreover, these districts are prone to chronic and rapid onset disasters.
In response, the USAID Host and Impacted Communities Resilience Activity (HICRA) led by Friends In Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) is taking an integrated approach to improve the overall well-being and resilience of people residing in the communities hosting or impacted by the Rohingya refugee crisis.  This includes implementing livelihoods; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH); natural resource management (NRM); and disaster risk reduction (DRR) interventions with an estimated 114,000 households across the four prioritized districts.

ROLE PURPOSE:
The Communications Officer provides vital support in implementing HICRA’s communication strategy  including but not limited to supporting public awareness campaigns, ensuring field staff follow the Branding and Marking plan, collecting stories, and producing materials for internal and external audiences. The person in this role is an efficient and effective Communications professional with strong interpersonal skills, a keen eye for attention to detail, and the ability to create and maintain effective processes and systems to meet the department’s and organization’s objectives.
S/he will be responsible for addressing HICRA’s communication needs including developing content and coordinating the production of videos, ensuring timely completion and appropriate dissemination of Social and Behavior Change Communications (SBCC) products and other communication materials to staff and/or to the public through social media platforms. The communications officer will guide communications activities, publications and social media to consistently articulate HICRA’s programmatic objectives and results and ensure compliance with the project’s marking and branding policies. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring quality control, production of HICRA’s varied and integrated communications products and services, including videos, success stories, Facebook page, and YouTube account, supervising communications interns and ensuring proper archival methods for communications and training/program materials produced under HICRA.

SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Specialist  - Communications
Dimensions: Cox’s Bazar-based, with field visits as required 30-50% travel
Staff directly reporting to this post: Direct: Specialist, Communications
Doted: Deputy Chief of Party
Budget Responsibilities: No
Key contacts: HICRA team
KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Planning,  Management, Training  and Reporting

  •  Support supervisor to develop detailed action plans for communication products based on overall HICRA work plans and lead their implementation.
  • Oversee the day-to-day activities of the communications functions at the regional and district level, including planning and implementation of each product.
  • Submit the monthly report of HICRA’s participation in government events and observance days in accordance with program activities.
  • Oversee development of video and print communications and manage relationships with associated vendors.
  • Support project staff in development of documents, banners, success stories, etc. including finalizing packaging for publication
  • Properly archive all communications and final training/program materials in compliance with organizational policies and USAID regulations

Compliance

  • Ensure quality of communication materials
  • Train staff on HICRA’s Marking Plan and Branding Strategy and ensure compliance

Production of Content

  •  Support the development of informational and SBCC products including videos, success stories, and Facebook posts.
  •  Provide support in composing content; translating; and editing various documents required for internal and external use.
  • Work with district based staff to prepare briefing materials for program visitors and speakers, etc. including key messages, talking points, scene setters, and ensure visit preparations.
  • Contribute to learning dissemination events
  • Keep communication materials for use with participants and other stakeholders up to date
  • Produce communication and advocacy materials e.g. Facebook posts, images, audios, videos, briefing notes, translations, publications, printing materials that represent HICRA’s activities
  • Maintain and update the media relations contact database
  • Support coordination with government and non-government stakeholders and share with HICRA’s internal and external personnel when necessary.

Events and Outreach

  • Organize the HICRA supported special events and activities, participate in observance days and fairs to promote our program goals.
  • Organize regional and district project launches, as needed
  • Coordinate and collaborate with HICRA’s other team members to accomplish the successful event management, success story collection and audio and video production from the field.
  •  Support the dissemination of program results online and through in-person events

ESSENTIAL

  • Minimum of five years of experience working in Communications for an international donor funded program - preferably USAID
  •  Excellent communication and presentation skills.
  • Advanced English communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Excellent organizational skills including strong attention to detail.
  • Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets PowerPoint, excel, photoshop, designing software, video editing, web designing, and desktop publishing.
  •  Ability to initiate and cultivate relationships with media personnel and journalists.
  •  Knowledge and experience liaising with GoB, private sector counterparts and development partners; ability to coordinate with appropriate stakeholders.
  • Knowledge of evolving social media technologies (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc.); with proficiency in design and visual media
  • Technical knowledge on photo and video shooting, editing, etc.
  • Working knowledge of MS Office, Google Suite, and software such as Photoshop/Illustrator etc.
  • Knowledge of gender equality and social inclusion approaches.
  • Fluency in English and Bangla both written and oral.
  • Well-organized and process-oriented and with strong attention to detail.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to perform with limited supervision
  • Strong training and facilitation skills

Networking:

  • Credibility to represent HICRA at all levels
    • Leading and inspiring others
    • Delivering results
    • Developing self and others
    • Problem solving and decision making
    • Innovating and adapting
DESIRABLE

Academic:

  • Post Graduate degree in Mass Communication, Journalism, or relevant field

Expertise:

  • Fluency in one of the ethnic languages (preferred)
  • Prior work experience in Cox’s Bazar and CHT (preferred)
  • Familiarity of Cox’s Bazar and CHT socio-political history and multi-cultural environment (preferred)
  • Working knowledge of and experience with USG-funded program management, policies, regulations and procedures (preferred)

Attitudes:

  • Ability to work independently or as a member of the team, ability to thrive in a matrix organization,
  • Ability to be detail-oriented, and ability to manage stress effectively in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality on work-related matters.
  • Non-discriminatory and gender sensitive
  • Willing to work in remote, rural locations

Additional job responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Health and Safety:
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with HICRA Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Application Deadline : December 21, 2024