Role Designation: Senior Program Officer Strategic Marketing & Communication [SPO-SMC]
Unit: Strategic Partnerships
Responsible for: 1. Communication, Marketing, and Policy Advocacy
2. System strengthening
Contributing to:
1. Networking and expanding equitable strategic partnerships
2. Implementation and oversight of all RUFORUM operations
3. Science Solutions for Development established
4. Knowledge dissemination
5. Business Creation & Innovation
Reports to: Executive Assistant to the Executive Secretary/ Head Partnership
Position Objective (Summary of placement in the function and broad responsibilities)
The RUFORUM SPO-SMC is responsible for the overall planning, design, implementation, coordination, supervision and reporting on all Marketing, Policy Advocacy, Communication and media related activities of the organization. The aim is to promote the RUFORUM brand, raise its profile, expand equitable strategic partnerships and increase resource mobilization. The SPO – SMC directly supervises two Program Officers [POs] consisting of the PO for Policy Advocacy and Communication [POPAC] and the PO for Networking and Partnership Brokerage [PO NP]. Working together with the POs and the rest of the Secretariat Staff, and under the supervision of the Executive Assistant to the Executive Secretary & Head of Partnerships [AES & HOP], the incumbent will contribute to ensuring that the visibility and profile of RUFORUM are increased within the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems in the RUFORUM member university countries, at the sub regional & regional levels and beyond Africa.
Duties and Responsibilities (Functional statements defining the responsibilities and objectives)
• Promote the RUFORUM Brand and increase its visibility and attractiveness as a leader in Higher Agricultural Education in Africa
• Provide oversight to the strategic marketing and communication at RUFORUM and member universities and ensure that messaging is consistent with RUFORUM ethos and principles.
• Ensure that the content and format of RUFORUM communication products (Document reports, technical proposals, Newsletter, etc) are well aligned with international standards and tailored to partners specific requirements
• Contribute to Effective implementation of all Program areas
• Promote marketing and visibility of technology, and innovations developed at member universities
Activities
• Design and implement the RUFORUM Marketing, Policy Advocacy and communication policies and Strategies
• Design, develop and disseminate RUFORUM communication products (Exhibitions, Newsletter, Press releases, social media posts, Policy briefs, thought pieces, publications, synthesis papers, success stories, testimonies, brochures, etc.) including at RUFORUM’s Partners events.
• Build capacity of Secretariat staff and member universities public relation/communication officers in communication and marketing
• Facilitate the convening of advocacy events such as policy meetings and roundtable dialogues in key areas that impact higher agricultural education and agri-food systems
Deliverable
• RUFORUM Marketing, Policy Advocacy and Communication policies and strategies developed and implemented
• Strategic policy documents such as Ministerial communique, action plans, declaration, developed and disseminated
• Communication products developed and disseminated
• Capacity of Secretariat staff and member universities public relation officers strengthened in communication and marketing
• Periodic and activity based reports timely delivered
Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)
• Masters’ degree in Communication, public relations, multi-media studies and related disciplines
• PhD is an added advantage
• Demonstrated experience in Marketing, Policy advocacy, and Strategic engagement
• Strong knowledge of Agricultural Higher Education Sector
• Experience in engaging with policymakers, media houses and diverse partners
• Good skills in videography, photography, and infographics
• Good written and oral communication with evidence of reports, blogs and other publications on social and other media
• Seven years of experience in marketing, communication, policy advocacy, and strategic engagement
• Fluency in English and working knowledge in French
• Basic knowledge of Arabic and Portuguese is added advantage
Job application procedure
Applications with detailed curriculum vitae (in pdf form), copies of certificates, transcripts, names of three referees and the applicant’s Address; daytime telephone contact should be sent online to our E-mail with the subject: Appointments in RUFORUM followed by the Job title “Appointments in RUFORUM: state the post you are applying for”
Email address: jobs@ruforum.org
Any form of canvassing will lead to disqualification. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
More Information
- Address Kampala, Uganda, East Africa
