United Nations Foundation
Position Overview
The Digital Impact Alliance (DIAL) is a “think, do, replicate” tank that investigates digital transformation best practice at the national, regional and global level. We combine practical research with evidence-based advocacy to identify which digital efforts work, package them as reusable solutions, and encourage their use.
DIAL is funded through a collaboration among the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Kingdom’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCDO) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and hosted within the UN Foundation in Washington, D.C.
The communications team works across DIAL to shape our communications strategy, support the objectives of the program groups, market our products and communities of practice, disseminate our publications, and raise our profile. The Senior Manager, Communications, will be a key and dynamic member of the DIAL team, responsible for managing and implementing select marketing and communications projects. The Senior Manager, Communications will collaborate closely with the communications team and others at DIAL, including DIAL’s Senior and Technical Leads, Project Managers and select United Nations Foundation Public Affairs staff, external vendors and consultants, and on joint campaigns with DIAL’s donors and other partners.
S/he will have a particular focus on communications for influence, working closely with DIAL’s country team to promote DIAL’s increasing thought leadership on digital transformation on the continent. S/he should be an organized and effective digital-first thinker, with strong social media skills primed to help DIAL influence the wider digital transformation sector.
This is a remote position with a preference for Africa.
Essential Functions
- Position the organization as a partner-of-choice with government, donors, private sector, and regional partners in Africa through online presence
- Strengthen DIAL’s position as a leader in accelerating National Digital Transformation.
- Build DIAL’s brand & profile in the areas of digital economy, digital transformation, enterprise architecture, responsible data use and other key thematic areas
- Serve as a key advisor to senior management on a wide range of communications, advocacy and marketing topics including brand-building and reputational risk management.
Communications
- Develop and execute an overarching communications and advocacy annual strategy that delivers on the organization’s priorities in the region in close coordination with DIAL communications and country teams
- Raise the visibility of DIAL’s country partnerships and elevate the voices and profile of the leadership team and national champions by identifying ideal events and speaking positions in the region, polishing opinion pieces/talking points and prepping country leadership team for interviews etc. to amplify DIAL and national goals
- Drive excellence in digital communications that align closely with DIAL’s resource mobilization efforts both regionally and globally
- Work with DIAL’s web team to ensure that the website and communications material is compelling, accurate, updated, and in line with the organization’s strategy in the region and ensure a coordinated single approach
- Amplify country events and activities through social media e.g., creating suitable hashtags, teasers, interviewing panelists/speakers or audience etc.
Advocacy
- Formulate, execute and manage an advocacy plan that supports DIAL’s Beacons Strategy in the region, underpinned by strategic policy analysis. This includes developing and driving policy and advocacy messages for in-country, regional and international stakeholders and policymakers, ensuring that national/regional priorities and perspectives are integrated into global messaging.
- Work with communications and country teams to develop clarity and focus on DIAL’s country messaging, image and branding to strategically position the organization amongst key stakeholders and audiences.
- Overseeing events in the region and work with DIAL country and communications teams on planning including identifying invitees and speakers, developing agendas, talking points and/presentations etc.
- Support the development of policy and advocacy material for regional and global use including position papers and advocacy reports.
Media Support
- Conduct local, national, and regional media landscape assessments and make recommendations around brand-building and reputational risk management across these African media landscapes.
- Monitor media for topics related to digital development and government affairs at the local, national, and regional levels
- Establish relationships with key media actors and outlets
- Support the development of media pitches, press releases, op-eds, and talking points, ensuring national and regional priorities and perspectives are integrated into global messaging
Social Media Support
- Develop an editorial calendar specific to local, national, and regional conferences, events, and holidays
- Develop social media campaigns and content for use across DIAL’s social media platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, WhatsApp) around the editorial calendar in addition to program updates and successes, as well as leadership, team, and national champion profiling
- Tailor measurable metrics to the local, national, and regional contexts
Events Support
- Identify potential speaking and/or sponsorship opportunities at the local, national, regional, and international levels and liaise with event coordinators
- Support all event logistics on the ground, including venue, catering, signage, photography/videography services, material printing, speaker/moderator/participant outreach and invitations, booking reservations, developing itineraries, arranging transportation, etc.
- Develop and distribute social media toolkits in advance of events, and manage all social media posting during and after events
- Develop and distribute press kits in advance and at opening of events, and serve as the primary point of contact for press and media follow-ups
- Other duties as reasonably assigned
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Selection Criteria
- Bachelors’ degree required
- At least 7-10 years experience and leadership deploying a broad range of communications, advocacy and marketing strategies and translating messages across a variety of mediums to target various audiences
- Advanced university degree in communications, journalism, international relations or a relevant field, or first university degree with additional years of related work experience or training/courses
- Demonstrable exceptional writing and reporting skills and ability to articulate complex problems while generating support among target audiences
- Demonstrable political awareness and sound judgment in resolving issues and managing reputational risk
- Strong interest in DIAL’s mission
- A keen understanding of political complexities and dynamics in Africa and its impact on country partnerships and regional implementation is required
- Experience with Adobe Suite of creative tools (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) or Canva and familiarity with Salesforce Marketing Cloud, WordPress, Salesforce, Hootsuite and Google Analytics
- Experience in publishing to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn corporate accounts
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Strong creativity and organizational skills
Language
- Fluency (level C) in English
- Knowledge of an additional language preferred
Benefits & Compensation
For full-time, benefit eligible employees, UNF offers an excellent range of benefits, including:
- a choice between two health plans through UnitedHealthcare (PPO or HDHP with HSA)
- dental insurance
- vision insurance
- flexible spending accounts
- 403b retirement savings plan with a generous matching contribution
- group term and supplemental life insurance
- short-term disability
- long-term disability
- health club discounts
- commuter subsidy
- back-up care
- employee assistance program
Additionally, all benefit eligible employees have 12 paid holidays, 20 vacation days, 10 sick days, 3 personal days, and 8 weeks of family leave care.