Communications Lead

Supervisor: Deputy Head of Performance and Knowledge
Long-Term/Short-Term: Long-term
Duration of engagement: June 2024 – 31 December 2025
Closing Date: 11:59pm (Bangkok time) on Monday 3 June 2024

P4I Background

Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I – the Program) is an Australian Government initiative partnering with Southeast Asia to drive sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth through quality infrastructure. P4I works with and provides services to Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The focus is on the early stages of the infrastructure lifecycle – infrastructure planning and prioritization, procurement and project preparation, and policy and regulation – using infrastructure advisory services, government partnerships, and knowledge and learning. All services integrate the cross-cutting priorities of gender equality, disability, and social inclusion, and disaster risk reduction and climate change. P4I’s priorities are the economic infrastructure sectors of energy, transport, utilities, telecommunications and digital.

Delivered through a single team, P4I is led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in collaboration with Ernst & Young, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One.

Brief Role Background
P4I’s is seeking an experienced Communications Lead to support the Performance and Knowledge Team in servicing the communications needs of the program in line with DFAT’s public diplomacy and communications requirements. The Communications Lead will drive and oversee all communications-related aspects of the program, inclusive of provision of strategic communications advice and guidance, delineating
and adjusting the internal communications processes, driving the delivery and quality assurance of communications products, and coordinating with relevant internal and external stakeholders involved in generating content. The Communications Lead will work closely with the P4I Head of Performance and Knowledge to provide overall communications technical advisory to P4I and targeted support to communications activities and content such as event coverage, social media posts, web stories, video and photo production. The Lead will also liaise with other members of the Program Executive, ASEAN and Australian High Commission posts as well as Performance and Knowledge team members to deliver required outputs and obtain necessary approvals for timely publishing of communications content.

Scope of Work

Strategic Communications (approx. 20% of time):

• Work closely with the P4I Executive Director, Head of Regional Engagement, Head of Performance and Knowledge, Head of Technical Advisory, Delivery Partner organizations and other P4I Program Office staff to design and deliver communications strategy for the next phase of the initiative.
• Create content and products to increase engagement, visibility and awareness of P4I for key audiences, across owned and partner platforms. This includes program key messages, feature stories and case studies, digital and multimedia content, factsheets, guidance notes etc.
• Drive and oversee all communications-related aspects of the program, including:
  o Guidance on communications processes and workflow to ensure timely and high-quality communications output promoting P4I expertise and activities.
  o Ensure that program communications align with DFAT policy, and as appropriate, to the Program goals, objectives and End of Investment Outcomes.
  o Ensure that all communications activities undertaken by P4I are aligned to P4I’s brand and co-branding requirements and agreed with DFAT.
  o Ensure approval processes for public domain materials are obtained, and processes for engaging with the media followed.
  o Contribute to and maintain the program website and social media (updating/generating new content; liaising with relevant service providers to ensure the website is active).

Communications Team Leaderships (20%):

• Oversee the work of the communications team, including the in-house locally engaged specialist, external consultants, content drafters, videographers and photographers to ensure a seamless and timely delivery of required communications products.
• Provide support, mentorship and general pastoral care to team members.
  Provide technical advice and support to the broader P4I team in planning and developing relevant information and communication products to inform and influence key stakeholders.

Coordination (30%):

• Coordinate the commissioning of content for communications products, including but not limited to videos, photos, social media post drafts, to third party providers.
• Liaise with P4I, ASEAN and DFAT officers to ensure that all the approvals for communications products are obtained ahead of publishing.
• Oversee the publishing of the cleared communications content through appropriate channels.
• Collaborate as needed with the Knowledge Lead to delineate a smooth process of preparing joint communications and knowledge products and events where required.

Content Production and Quality Assurance (30%):

• Design and deliver high-quality communications products, such as media releases, web stories, social media posts and other outreach, as needed.
• Oversee and quality-assure the quality of the commissioned deliverables.
• Assist in the drafting of communications content where needed.
• Quality-assure articles generated by staff and for reports to donors and partners.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in international relations, communications, journalism or a related field (post graduate qualifications highly desirable).
• Experience working in Southeast Asia highly desirable.
• At least eight years’ experience in corporate or government communications, journalism, civil society/NGO or other types of externally facing communications roles.
• Demonstrated experience using cutting edge communication tools and technologies to engage and influence stakeholders.
• Experience in social media strategy planning, content creation, and community management.
• Proven experience crafting messages in various formats (articles, press releases, websites, photos, success stories, blog entries, tweets, etc.) targeting a variety of audiences.
• Exceptional, proven writing and editing skills (English) and the ability to summarise and repackage technical information in clear, compelling language.
• Ability to engage with diverse audiences. This includes donors, governments, the private sector and the diverse P4I team and partners.
• Strong literacy in Microsoft packages with knowledge of Adobe products is a distinct advantage.
• Experience in on-the-job mentoring.
• Self-motivation, creativity, excellent organizational skills, proven ability to perform multiple tasks, and ability to work with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to drive work seamlessly and cordially as a part of a broader team working in a fast-paced environment.
• Resilience to tight deadlines, flexibility in aligning communications products to changes arising from the dynamics of the development sector.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality principles.

The following skills and experience are also preferred:

• Working proficiency in one or more Southeast Asian languages.
• Experience working on Australian development programs and/or on programs funded by other development donors.

Reporting Requirements

The Communications Lead will report to:

• P4I’s Deputy Head of Performance and Knowledge
  ASI Focal Point on matters related to ASI’s project management, performance and employment.

On an annual basis, the position is required to prepare an individual Annual Work Plan and undertake an Adviser Performance Assessment.

How to apply

Interested applicants are requested to submit a CV and a short covering note in an email with subject “[Candidate Name] – Communications Lead” to recruitment@partnershipsforinfrastructure.org

Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm (Bangkok time) on Monday 3 June 2024.
Due to the high volume of applications for P4I positions, only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

This position will be recruited through Adam Smith International (ASI). ASI is committed to continually improving the diversity of our workforce through the attraction, retention, and development of a diverse range of talented people. Women, people with disabilities, Indigenous and ethnic minority groups, and nationals of P4I’s partner countries are encouraged to apply. We want people to be comfortable bringing their whole self to work and recognize that inclusion brings further opportunities for innovation and creativity.