STRIDES Technical Advisor, Communications

Job Summary:

The STRengthening Infectious disease DEtection Systems (STRIDES) Activity's Communications Advisor oversees strategic planning, development and coordination of all communications activities to promote STRIDES objectives. The position provides communications guidance and leadership across the Activity, consulting with STRIDES management, technical units, FHI 360's policy and advocacy team, and other FHI 360 projects to produce communication products and plan thought leadership activities for STRIDES to improve delivery of service. STRIDES Communications Advisor manages the preparation of STRIDES technical products to ensure alignment with the Activity's brand, leads public relations activities and sub activities, including press releases and social media coordinated with FHI 360's corporate communications team, and recommends media resources best suited to promote project implementation. The position will interact with FHI 360's Design Lab to produce templates and materials to support work planning, reporting, thought leadership, templates, presentations, etc. The Communications Advisor leads the planning of external events, such as webinars, presentations, thought leadership meetings, and conferences to promote STRIDES approaches and accomplishments. The Communications Advisor will be responsible for STRIDES project management, planning, scheduling, reporting, and budgeting related to all communications activities. As STRIDES expands, the Communications Advisor will select, develop, and evaluate personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the communications functions.

Accountabilities:

• Develop and implement STRIDES comprehensive communications and outreach strategy, aligned with donor branding and marking guidelines, consistent with FHI 360's overarching communications policies and priorities, and aligned with the global health security (GHS) technical space.
• Provides technical leadership across all STRIDES communications activities and products to ensure objectives are met and success stories shared.
• Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining solutions, with some supervision.
• Networks with key internal personnel, including FHI 360's policy and advocacy team, design lab, and communications counterparts across other projects.
• Develops technical communications materials for websites, web pages, social media, and other platforms for a range of audiences including, but not limited to, governments, donors and partners, leaders in key sector areas, and local audiences around the world.
• Leads the day-to-day communications activities of STRIDES, including tracking delivery of Activity outputs.
• Coordinates communications requests from STRIDES in-country programs for technical assistance.
• Establishes and maintains vendor relationships for STRIDES communications programs and products.
• Ensures robust documentation of STRIDES activities, lessons learned, and innovations for donor reporting and public dissemination.
• Develops tools for the design and implementation of specific technical components; oversees development, execution, budgetary planning, training and maintenance of communications plans for STRIDES.
• Collaborates proactively with FHI 360 headquarters communications staff to share STRIDES stories, leverage organizational communication platforms, and contribute to corporate visibility and advocacy efforts.
• Manage STRIDES photo library in accordance with FHI 360 photo consent requirements.
• Leads the day-to-day technical activities of STRIDES communications portfolio.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Ensures appropriate and timely communications support for STRIDES global and in-country activities.
• Ensures the quality of STRIDES communications technical activities and systems at all levels of the Activity.
• Conducts routine coordination with employees and consultants, on-site and in the field.
• Comprehensive knowledge of concepts, practices, and procedures with communications strategies.
• Solid knowledge of standards for the technical area/field, operational processes and procedures, work, and task flow.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects, set realistic priorities, and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
• Proficient writing and verbal communication skills.
• Strong computer software skills, including various software and web applications.
• Ability to manage their own work to job and performance standards.
• Ability to influence, motivate, negotiate and work well with others.
• Must be able to read, write and speak fluent English. Fluency in a second language (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and/or Arabic)