Communications Manager/Senior Communications Officer

Position description

The full-time position of Communications Manager/Senior Communications Officer leads the implementation of SFP’s communications and media advocacy objectives in line with multiannual strategy and annual work plan, driving media advocacy campaign and people management. They will work closely with the SFP Director as part of a policy team and will have cross-cutting responsibilities to ensure coherence between policy/advocacy, communications, and Coalition management.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Communications Strategy and Plan:

• Designing, implementing, and evaluating an annual communication plan in line with SFP Communication Strategy, Multiannual Strategy and political environment in collaboration with the Director;
• Increasing SFP outreach through all communications channels;
• Ensuring coherence of content, and purpose-driven messaging designed to reach the appropriate target audience;
• Keeping track of changes in policy environment and lead the communications work in an agile manner;
• Developing and executing media advocacy campaigns;
• Regularly updating key messages to proactively react to relevant developments at the EU and national level.

Initiate and cultivate relationships with journalists:

• Write, review, and publish media content (create compelling and accurate press releases, news articles, opinion pieces, and statements on key SFP campaigns, ensuring consistent messaging);
• Coordinate media outreach activities to reach the target audiences;
• Building and maintaining relationships with journalists, editors, and media outlets to amplify SFP’s campaigns, events, and advocacy work. This involves organising interviews, sharing insights, quotes, and evidence;
• Monitoring and analysing communications performance: use tools to track media coverage, engagement, and social media metrics, producing reports to assess the reach and impact of communications;
• Utilising insights to refine strategies, ensuring continuous improvement in media advocacy;
• Proactive media engagement to build relationships and increase coverage of SFP’s initiatives;
• Anticipating trends and identify opportunities for SFP to contribute to ongoing public and policy discussions, ensuring the organisation remains visible and relevant in the media.

Coalition Management:

• Proposing and organizing capacity-building activities and meetings, both online and in-person, for SFP Coalition members;
• Organising in-person Board meetings;
• Organising policy events with decision-makers;
• Ensuring prompt follow-up for events and meetings;
• Providing on call support to SFP Coalition partners (gathering and sharing data, evidence; drafting letters of support and preparing joint letters of support);
• Taking the lead on bi-lateral cooperation with Coalition partners and working groups on specific media advocacy and policy campaigns;
• Preparing joint op-eds, press releases, statements, briefs, infographics with Coalition partners;
• Coordination of gathering feedback and endorsements from SFP Coalition partners to SFP position papers, policy briefs, etc.;
• Leading efforts to keep SFP Coalition partners informed about EU developments, achievements, and national progress by encouraging them to share updates with the Coalition;
• Coordination of support to the SFP Coalition at the request from partners;
• Connecting Coalition partners with experts;
• Monitor publications of the EU for policy developments, which may be of interest to the SFP Coalition members;
• Publishing news shared by SFP Coalition partners at SFP website;
• Identifying new organisations who could benefit from joining the SFP Coalition members, scheduling calls with potential partners to present SFP Coalition and win-win outcomes for new partners;
• Administration of SFP Coalition (keeping track of updating and signing the MoUs).

External and Internal Communications:

• Manage SFP’S social media accounts X, LinkedIn;
• Manage SFP’s subscriber database;
• Produce materials including, but not limited to policy briefs, position papers, analysis, infographics;
• Liaise with EU policy-makers, experts, stakeholders to disseminate relevant positions and evidence;
• Develop and maintain relevant contacts for own policy files including academia, civil society and government bodies on both national, European and global level;
• Prepare presentations, reports and briefings on campaigns and events;
• Draft and publish the SFP newsletter.

Representation and team work:

• Representing SFP and communicating SFP position on policy related matters to the media, Coalition partners and other stakeholders in collaboration with the SFP Director;
• Maintaining cooperation with international networks in the fields of tobacco control, and government bodies on both national, European and global level;
• Supporting the implementation of the fundraising strategy;
• Supporting the general administration and functioning of the SFP secretariat;
• Drafting short reports of calls and meetings.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

• University degree in a relevant field (Master’s level in communications, politics, international relations, public health).

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• A minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience;
• Experience in navigating EU institutions and processes;
• Experience in tobacco control field or commercial determinants of health;
• Management experience preferred;
• Proven professional experience in the coordinated management of organisational communications, media advocacy, project planning and management, social media, and public relations;
• Excellent writing skills;
• Ability to synthesise and analyse policy issues;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including relationship-building;
• Proficiency in English with excellent writing skills;
• Knowledge of French would be an advantage;
• Canva, Mailchimp.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Commitment to core values of public health and SFP’s vision;
• “Hungry, humble, smart”;
• Strong communicator and networker;
• Ability to work independently and as part of the team;
• Know-how and can-do attitude;
• Multitasker, quick thinker, self-starting and proactive attitude.

Application instructions

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