Communications & Marketing Officer

About RefuSHE

RefuSHE protects, nurtures, educates, and empowers young refugee women and girls in East Africa through a unique holistic model that provides protection, shelter, education, case management, counselling, childcare, vocational training, and legal support. RefuSHE’s holistic programming meets the imminent needs of unaccompanied, separated, and orphaned refugee girls, young women, and their children.

Founded in 2008, RefuSHE is a registered non-governmental organization with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and a 501(c)3 charitable organization with offices in Chicago, USA. It is the first and only organization dedicated to refugee girls in East Africa. Over the past fifteen years, RefuSHE has grown to become a leading institution and global thought-leader in the field of refugee protection.

JOB PURPOSE

The purpose of the Communications and Marketing Officer role is to contribute to the development and implementation of the overall RefuSHE communications, marketing, and external relations strategy, develop organizational marketing materials, editorial content, and program-related communications, and manage all photography and video projects and media relationships in Kenya. This position reports to the Chief Fundraising Officer.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work in partnership with the US-based Senior Director of Brand Strategy and External Relations, to design, develop, and implement a communications, marketing, and external relations strategy to advance RefuSHE’s mission.
• Design and develop organizational marketing materials, including brochures, impact reports, blogs, articles, thought pieces, videos, graphics, and photos.
• Develop editorial content for posting and promotion across various digital platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, website, and Mailchimp.
• Support programs in the evaluation of communications and documentation needs, and development of communications budgets and annual work plans.
• Develop and build-out processes to share communication updates between the U.S. and Kenya offices regularly.
• Provide programmatic updates and needs to incorporate into communication pieces throughout the year for campaigns, events, blogs, media, etc.
• Collaborate directly with the Senior Director of Brand Strategy and External Relations on campaign communications, especially as they relate to capital and programmatic fundraising.
• Work closely with the Program Managers to recognize each program’s story, craft the narrative, and prepare materials accordingly.
• Train the Programs Team on storytelling techniques and how to produce effective communication pieces.
• Craft ideas, messaging, and talking points for external use, to solidify strategic partnerships, especially across East Africa.
• Identify and manage relationships in traditional and non-traditional spaces for RefuSHE to promote its story.
• Design, develop, and launch communications plans and print and media outputs for fundraising campaigns that match the organization’s overall business development goals.
• Oversee all video and photography production for capturing of program activities in Kenya.
• Oversee all media relations in Kenya, including cultivating relationships with journalists, writing press releases, and coordinating interviews.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all on-campus events in Nairobi; communicate and coordinate with the Executive and Programs Teams to ensure all events and public relations visits run smoothly.
• Stay abreast of changes in the global and national refugee landscape so that RefuSHE can publish timely content and serve as a thought leader in this space.
• Collaborate with the Artisan Collective team to create marketing content for new and existing products.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in digital marketing, communications, information technology, journalism, or related field; master’s degree is desirable.

RELATED EXPERIENCE/ QUALIFICATIONS

• 3 years of experience in content development, marketing, and media relations.
• Experience working for a global non-profit preferred.
• Experience working with at-risk populations is a plus.

TECHNICAL & BEHAVIORAL SKILLS

• Professional-level fluency in English, with outstanding writing and editing skills, including a strong ability to turn data and numbers into concise and compelling narratives.
• Administrator-level knowledge of content development, email marketing, and social media management systems.
• Strong knowledge and demonstrated use of social media and other communications channels to engage and deepen relationships with the media and public.
• Understanding and proficiency in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Funnel Marketing.
• Strong networks with local and international media organizations and experience designing and developing press releases.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse staff across teams and time zones.
• Extraordinary attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of audience analytics and/or experience with assessing campaigns and/or social media posts is preferred.
• Experience creating short-form videos and podcasts is desirable.
• Professional photography and/or graphic design skills are desirable.
• Demonstrated public relations and event coordination experience is a plus.