We are looking for someone to support Bridge through external communications. The role will include telling the Bridge story across all channels, creating content, and strengthening communications with journalists, stakeholders and opinion leaders.
Our ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of all mass communications channels and the ability to design content that optimises news and social media. They will be an extremely effective written communicator, a planner, creative, and able to plug into an international Communications team. A keen sense of ownership, speedy execution, and scrappiness is a must.
The PR and Communications team is the hub for all press and media work that comes into the organisation or goes out from it. It works proactively to generate positive media coverage for all activities and campaigns. It delivers media plans and develops opportunities both proactively and re actively to service a huge array of media/journalists that make contact for comment, information and sign-posting on day to day events and upcoming issues. The team is responsible for developing a comprehensive media approach including statements and press releases to feature/audio visual material and campaign packs. It also continually monitors and evaluates all media coverage gained.
We strive for top performance and excellence in all that we do. We are committed to building positive staff and stakeholder engagement, a high public profile, strong reputation and a world-class brand.
The Public Relations Officer reports into the Uganda PR Manager who is based in Kampala.
What You Will Do :
contribute to media team’s role of delivering media coverage and ensuring that all communication is of an appropriate high standard, consistent Bridge’s brand and key messages.
Help deliver the agreed departmental strategy, plans and standards.
To work effectively with other teams and departments in promoting communications work, policies, campaigns and publications.
Key Relationships – Internal
Work closely with other colleagues in the media team to implement media
Liaises with staff in other Bridge directorates, to ensure clarity of key messages.
Key Relationships – External
The media across all mediums in a given geographical area
Work with individuals and representatives from a range of agencies, media organisations and suppliers.
Proactively work to develop contacts in relevant external organisations in order to assist with stakeholder management.
Main Responsibilities :
Perform well in the role of media assistant by carrying out tasks as assigned by the line manager to agreed standards and deadlines and meeting corporate standards of customer service.
Carry out research through a range of sources, including the Internet, Intranet, publications and other external contacts, including government bodies, organisations and other charities, in order to obtain relevant information that can contribute to communications strategies.
Work within short term and long term media plans as conveyed by the team.
Analyse and present research findings in a written or verbal format, including preparing briefing notes, press releases, operation notes, summarising papers and publications and making recommendations in order to contribute to the agreed departmental strategy plans and standards.
Draft and produce written correspondence such as press releases, quotes, operational notes, letters, reports and other documents as required, using word processing, databases and spreadsheets to required standards.
Undertake specific communications projects as necessary.
Responsibilities for all Communications as Staff
Actively participate in regular department and team meetings, contributing to strategy, discussions and decisions which will be beneficial to Bridge’s communications activities.
Maintain an awareness of own and others’ Health and Safety and comply with Bridge’s Health and Safety policy and procedures.
Take personal responsibility for keeping up to date with Bridge work to end cruelty to children, including securing updates on project and service developments and general Bridge news.
What you should Have:
A Degree in PR/Communication/Marketing or any related field.
Experience working in a busy Press Office or in the Media.
Proven ability to produce material for external audiences such as Press Releases, Marketing materials or digital materials to a high standard.
An awareness of the media and political landscape both locally and nationally.
Well-developed written and verbal communication skills to deal effectively, efficiently and appropriately with internal and external stakeholders including the media.
Ability to successfully influence and negotiate with individuals and achieve objectives through excellent relationships.
Experience of collecting data from various sources, and ability to analyse and present findings clearly for internal and external communications including for press releases.
Proven ability to prioritize and organise own workload effectively and efficiently and meet deadlines.
Well-developed ability to work well with others as part of a team, providing support as required, and build and maintain effective working relationships.
Understanding and experience of using digital media and social media channels.
Personal characteristics:
Ambitious with a determination to succeed
A confident and motivated self-starter who can operate independently with guidance
Positive can do attitude
Team Player
A commitment to high standards of service delivery and customer care.
Commitment to apply Bridge’s values and behaviours to all aspects of work.
Willingness to work flexibly in approach to work and work time requirements.
You`re Also:
A detailed doer – You have a track record of getting things done. You’re organized and responsive. You take ownership of every idea you touch and execute it to a fine level of detail, setting targets, engaging others, and doing whatever it takes to get the job done. You can multi-task dozens of such projects at once and never lose sight of the details. Likely, you have some experience in a start-up or other rapid-growth company.
A networking mastermind– You excel at meeting new people and turning them into advocates. You communicate in a clear, conscientious, and effective way in both written and oral speech. You can influence strangers in the course of a single conversation. Allies and colleagues will go to bat for your ideas.
A creative problem-solver– Growing any business from scratch comes with massive and constant challenges. On top of that, Bridge works in volatile, low-resource communities and runs on fees averaging just $6 a month per pupil. You need to be flexible and ready to get everything done effectively, quickly, and affordably with the materials at hand. Every dollar you spend is a dollar our customers, who live on less than $2 a day, will have to pay for.
A customer advocate– Our customers – these families living on less than $2 a day per person – never leave your mind. You know them, get them, have shared a meal with them (or would be happy to in the future). You would never shrink back from shaking a parent’s hand or picking up a crying child, no matter what the person was wearing or looked like. Every decision you make considers their customer benefit, experience, and value.
A life-long learner – You believe you can always do better. You welcome constructive criticism and provide it freely to others. You know you only get better tomorrow when others point out where you’ve missed things or failed today
yoms opportunities 