Vital Strategies is a global public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury, and death. We currently work in more than 80 countries, supporting data-driven decision-making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include noncommunicable disease prevention, tobacco control, road safety, food policy, environmental health, and data for health. Our programs are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries and cities in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.

Job Purpose:

Vital Strategies is a leading technical partner for the Food Policy Program. Through strategic media campaigns and partnerships, Vital Strategies provides support to partners to introduce policies that include: taxation on sugary drinks and junk food; clear front-of-package nutrient labeling; restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children; and promoting healthy food policies in the public sector, especially in schools.

The Regional Communications Advisor is a new role within the Food Policy Program. The role manages Vital Strategies’ contribution to food policy communication initiatives across selected African countries, maintains key stakeholder relationships, and provides technical assistance to our in-country and regional partners, as well as governments, in the development and implementation of communication strategies designed to amplify broader advocacy for the Food Policy Program. The Advisor also engages with other aspects of Vital Strategies programming and when needed, acts as an ambassador for Vital Strategies work in Africa as a whole.

This is a full-time position based in Nairobi, Kenya. Vital Strategies offers highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits. The candidate must have authorization to work legally in Kenya at the time of hire.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Stakeholder Management -

• Represent Vital Strategies and provide on-the-ground coordination of food policy communication projects in Africa (specifically Kenya and Uganda).
• Assess country political feasibility and identify in-country stakeholders, partners, and local grantees to lead communication efforts.
• Ensure alignment of communication plans with the overall advocacy agenda and public health priorities in countries and the region.
• Keep abreast of countries’ political context regarding food policy and public health.

Campaign Development & Execution -

• Provide guidance on strategic planning, development, and evaluation of mass media, digital media, and public relations campaigns.
• Manage the development and execution of industry-accountability integrated communication strategies across up to three African countries.
• Work with staff, partners, and agencies to develop messages, guide production, plan media, and evaluate campaigns.

Grant & Budget Management -

• Manage and monitor all food policy program sub-grants in Africa.
• Collaborate with the leadership team, senior grants manager, and country-level communication managers on grants.
• Ensure deliverables, budgets, and reporting align with agreements and deadlines.

Team Coordination & Collaboration -

• Coordinate communication managers in Africa to facilitate timely information sharing between leadership, country teams, and external partners.
• Collaborate with the internal PR team to draft materials like press releases, newsletter copy, and fact sheets.

Public Relations & Event Management -

• Monitor news and trends to pitch story ideas, interviews, and statements from key spokespeople.
• Manage and participate in events including workshops, training sessions, conferences, campaign launches, and press briefings.

Qualifications:

Education and Degree -

• Master’s degree

Skills And Abilities -

• Strong project management skills
• Expertise in strategic communication, public relations, policy advocacy and media campaigns, including digital media
• Ability to bring new, creative ideas to communicating the organization's work
• Excellent judgment and strategic thinking
• Self-starter with ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams
• Ability to foster a collaborative team environment that encourages different perspectives and new ideas
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across time zones and platforms
• Ability to effectively address multiple complex activities and tasks concurrently and to work under the pressure of deadlines
• Strong skills in organizing resources and establishing work priorities and timely meeting of deadlines and milestones

Experience:

Required -

• Minimum of 10 years work experience with at least five years of job-related experience in advertising, digital marketing, strategic communications, public relations, and/or public health
• Demonstrated capacity to think strategically, to lead and work within diverse teams, to work in multi-cultural settings and with a high degree of independence
• Experience with grants management and negotiation, financial management, and compliance
• Advanced-level proficiency with Microsoft Office packages
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing productive relationships, partnerships and collaborations

Preferred -

• Experience in communicating complex concepts for non-technical audiences
• Experience in communication and government relations
• Familiarity with public health and advocacy work
• Experience working with NGOs and public interest groups on public policy initiatives
• Experience working at the international level and in cross-cultural settings
• Experience in working with donors, multilateral organizations, foundations, and technical assistance agencies

Language Requirements:

• Expert command of both written and spoken English

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Travel internationally as needed (up to 20% of the time).

• Represent Vital Strategies and provide on-the-ground coordination of food policy communication projects in Africa, specifically Kenya and Uganda.
• Assess country political feasibility and identify in-country stakeholders, partners, and local grantees to lead communication efforts.
• Ensure alignment of communication plans with the overall advocacy agenda and public health priorities in countries and the region.
• Keep abreast of countries’ political context regarding food policy and public health.
• Provide guidance on strategic planning, development, and evaluation of mass media, digital media, and public relations campaigns.
• Manage the development and execution of industry-accountability integrated communication strategies across up to three African countries.
• Work with staff, partners, and agencies to develop messages, guide production, plan media, and evaluate campaigns.
• Manage and monitor all food policy program sub-grants in Africa.
• Collaborate with the leadership team, senior grants manager, and country-level communication managers on grants.
• Ensure deliverables, budgets, and reporting align with agreements and deadlines.
• Coordinate communication managers in Africa to facilitate timely information sharing between leadership, country teams, and external partners.
• Collaborate with the internal PR team to draft materials like press releases, newsletter copy, and fact sheets.
• Monitor news and trends to pitch story ideas, interviews, and statements from key spokespeople.
• Manage and participate in events including workshops, training sessions, conferences, campaign launches, and press briefings.

• Strong project management skills
• Expertise in strategic communication, public relations, policy advocacy and media campaigns, including digital media
• Ability to bring new, creative ideas to communicating the organization's work
• Excellent judgment and strategic thinking
• Ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams
• Ability to foster a collaborative team environment that encourages different perspectives and new ideas
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across time zones and platforms
• Ability to effectively address multiple complex activities and tasks concurrently and work under the pressure of deadlines
• Strong skills in organizing resources, establishing work priorities, and meeting deadlines and milestones
• Advanced-level proficiency with Microsoft Office packages
• Expert command of both written and spoken English

• Master’s degree
• Demonstrated capacity to think strategically, lead and work within diverse teams, work in multi-cultural settings, and work with a high degree of independence
• Experience with grants management and negotiation, financial management, and compliance
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing productive relationships, partnerships and collaborations
• Preferred: Experience communicating complex concepts for non-technical audiences
• Preferred: Experience in communication and government relations
• Preferred: Familiarity with public health and advocacy work
• Preferred: Experience working with NGOs and public interest groups on public policy initiatives
• Preferred: Experience working at the international level and in cross-cultural settings
• Preferred: Experience working with donors, multilateral organizations, foundations, and technical assistance agencies
• Must have authorization to work legally in Kenya at the time of hire