The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The CORE Group Partners Project (CGPP) supports a multi-lateral, multi-sectoral approach by strengthening capacity to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease threats whether occurring naturally or accidentally or being deliberately spread. Achieving global health security requires an inclusive and collaborative effort that builds on the interdependence among communities, civil society, the private sector, and governments, to ensure member countries meet targets identified by the international Health Regulations (2005) as measured through Joint External Evaluations. One of the core activities with

in the GHS project is disease surveillance and community engagement.

The CGPP is implementing community-based disease surveillance and community engagement as part of its ongoing polio work and global health security. The CGPP project coordinates and collaborates with key stakeholders and line ministries in addressing human health, livestock and wildlife health, as well as environmental health, through a “One Health” approach. This new approach provides the opportunity to record and report unusual events for prompt investigations before they could become outbreaks.

The CGPP Kenya project are implemented in Turkana County, Garissa County, Marsabit county, Lamu county, Wajir county, Mandera county and Kamukunji subcounty dedicated to addressing infectious disease threats through community programming in cross-border Counties. Additionally, the CGPP activities in Somalia is implemented in 3 regions i.e. Lower juba, Gedo and Bakool regions.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

Under the supervision of Deputy Director, the Senior Communication Coordinator develops and implements comprehensive communication strategies, manages media relations, creates compelling content, engages stakeholders, documents success stories, and oversees overall communication activities. The incumbent will strengthen community engagement, enhance visibility, and support evidence-based messaging for disease prevention, surveillance, and response activities.

The role involves leadership, strategic planning, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders to enhance the organization’s visibility, impact, and advocacy efforts for the CGPP project.

PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Internal Communication Strategy:

  • Implement an internal communication strategy involving regular team meetings and collaborative platforms.
  • Work with Country secretariat technical lead and CGPP HQ communication advisor to conceptualize and implement communications strategies and campaigns.
  • Conduct training sessions for implementing partners on effective internal communication, utilizing SharePoint, Teams, and other communication platforms.

Knowledge Management:

  • Establish and maintain a centralized repository (SharePoint) for project-related content.
  • Implement knowledge-sharing mechanisms for exchanging best practices among project teams and external partners.
  • Utilize project documentation to contribute to the broader knowledge base in CGPP projects

Content Development and Distribution:

  • Collaborate with project subject matter experts to develop project communication instruments, including presentations, bi-weekly bulletin, briefing material, for dissemination to different audiences.
  • Develop and disseminate projects programmatic quarterly, and annual reports to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Coordinate with various project departments to gather updates, achievements, success stories, and upcoming programmatic events for inclusion in the quarterly newsletters
  • Develop a systematic approach to document and showcase project successes, impactful outcomes, and innovative practices.
  • Research, develop, and edit public relations materials, brochures, information sheets, capacity statements, for public relations and social media content.
  • Support field teams with to develop context- specific communications materials for sharing with county government and local stakeholders.
  • Coordinates the translation, proofreading and editing of information, education and communication documents as required.
  • Develop and produce project videos such as testimonials, expert interviews, how-to guides, and documentary-style content in collaboration with implementing partners
  • Promote communications and project materials through appropriate social channels
  • Maintain digital media archives, including photos and videos
  • Ensure all communication and IEC materials align with DOS and CGPP branding and marking guidelines
  • Lead the creation of success stories, case studies, and human-interest testimonials highlighting project achievements.

Publications and Evaluations:

  • Develop of scientific abstract, manuscript, research publications, policy & technical briefs.
  • Understand peer review system, journal submission guidelines and open-access publishing
  • Familiarity with statistical literacy and development of data visualization tools
  • Conduct regular evaluations to assess the impact of communication efforts on project success.
  • Collaborate with the secretariat to ensure high-quality, visually appealing, and compelling publications.
  • Support in documentation and publication of project work in reputable scientific journals.

Team Communication and Coordination:

  • Organize regular team meetings and conference calls/videoconferences, managing different time zones.
  • Facilitate Secretariat and field team meetings, write minutes, and ensure good communication and creating action points.
  • Support field teams with communication materials for local stakeholders.

Project Documentation and Reporting:

  • Write, review, and edit program reports and other documents for submission to donors.
  • Coordinate the translation, proofreading, and editing of IEC documents.
  • Work with the M&E coordinator to maintain the project management information system and databases to monitor various aspects related to project implementation and monitoring.
  • Document best practices, lessons learned, and project achievements.

Event Management and Administrative Support:

  • Plan and execute events, conferences, and workshops related to the project, supporting promotional materials.
  • Coordinate the dissemination of internal and external materials for project events.

Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Conduct quarterly and ad hoc field monitoring visits to all project areas i.e joint spot checks, polio SIA campaigns, data quality audits, training of frontline workers including healthcare workers, animal health assistants and community volunteers on community-based disease surveillance, routine immunization and Risk prevention and community engagement.
  • Support the partners in the implementation of community-based disease surveillance systems for polio and other infectious diseases including other vaccine-preventable diseases and priority zoonotic diseases.
  • In coordination with other secretariat members, support the development of CGPP programmatic reports, including quarterly and annual polio project reports, GHS semiannual reports, and Far-Reaching integrated delivery (FARID) project reports.
  • Track performance of planned activities, outputs, and project indicators to measure achievement and track progress towards intermediate results and overall program strategic objectives
  • Perform other duties as requested by the CGPP Director/Deputy Director

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in public health, communication or other medical related fields with minimum of 5 years of experience in health communication, public relations, scientific or medical writing, research publications or regulatory documentation, stakeholder engagement, preferably in NGOs or development sectors.
  •  A master's degree in scientific discipline, with strong writing and health communication experience is an added advantage.
  • Experience with various media types, including newsletters, web, social media, videos, graphics.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Ability to understand public health data, scientific research findings, and technical information, and translate into common language messaging understandable by the general public.
  • Expert command of Content Management System platforms e.g., MS Office suite, WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite, digital communication tools
  • etc.
  • Fluency in English & Swahili both in oral and written. Knowledge of the local language where CGPP works is an added advantage.
  • Website design/content planning skills would be an added advantage
  • Willingness to travel frequently to Northern Kenya and border regions of Somalia.

Skills

  • Experience in disease outbreak communication, immunization campaigns, risk prevention and community engagement programs is an asset.
  • Expertise in content creation, media relations, and campaign management with high quality of writing, editing, and storytelling skills in English
  • Strong interpersonal and leadership skills to engage with internal teams, partners, and external stakeholders, with solid experience in supervising staff and leading communication initiatives.
  • Ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.
  • Ability to analyze program statistical records/data using available data analytical software’s Stata, SPSS, QGIS/Arc GIS
  • A creative and strategic thinker.
  • Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
  • Proficiency in MS Office packages and digital communication tools

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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