Communications and Public Relations Officer

Background

The change in lifestyle, demography, health services and disease epidemiology engendered an unprecedented increase in cancer burden in African countries including Ethiopia. However, evidence to guide control interventions and improve health services for cancer patients is limited.  The Delta consortium Research and Excellence in Africa Capacity to Control and Treat CANcer (REACCT-CAN) aims to bridge this evidence gap. We envision establishing Africa-led, interdisciplinary research groups in oncology and cancer sciences. This will help expand global collaborations and contributes to increased research output on cancer. As part of this initiative, we have launched Ethiopia–led consortium on cancer research. The consortium comprises six institutions (universities and research centers) from Egypt, Tanzania, South Africa, Germany and the International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization. The consortium envisions further collaboration with more institutions in African, Europe and the United States of America to form an enduring network of institutions that work on cancer research across the African continent.

Long-term goal for REACCT-CAN project is to generate high quality research evidence to inform policy and programmatic implementation for effective primary and secondary cancer prevention programs in Africa and achieve universal access to affordable, high quality and timely diagnosis, treatment, and care for cancer patients. Morbidity and mortality due to cancer will thereby be reduced and lives will be saved.

Job summary

The communication officer will work closely with team of investigators from all the institutions in the consortium. He/she will develop productive and cooperative relationships both within the REACCT-CAN and external stakeholders. The communication officer will use oral and written communication skills and platforms with the team and different stakeholders. He/she are expected to be highly organized, enthusiastic, and pro-active member of the team. 

Job description

• Work closely with the Principal Investigator of the project, the project manager, and research teams from all the institutions in the consortium.
• Develop communication and visibility strategy to be endorsed by the research team. 
• Establish a standard communication protocol between institutions in the consortium to regularly update the progresses of the project and communicate with relevant stakeholders.
• Engage the investigators and project administrators and solicit data to be shared to stakeholders, the scientific community, and the public.
• Gather and document information pertaining to the progress of the project including preliminary and final research findings.
• Produce digital content about the project, its progress, and the research findings based on information from the research team.
•  Research, identify and develop engaging stories about the project and its achievements that is fit to different digital platforms (news articles, blogs, editorials, magazine articles, social media posts); different channels (web, audiovisual, social media)
• Adapting information and data from obtained from the project into different digital formats (web content, blogs, social media posts etc.) for non-expert audiences, e.g. policy makers, practitioners, and the wider public.
• Formulating key messages for different targets as stipulated in the communication strategy.
• Developing communication materials in line with the REACCT-CAN corporate visual identity (presentations, leaflets, infographics etc)
• Engaging with stakeholders and moderating discussions online and face-to face.
• Will work on other tasks as assigned by the project management team

Number of available locations: 1

Project title: Research and Excellence in Africa Capacity to Control and Treat CANcer (REACCT-CAN)

• Advanced degree (Masters) in Public Relation; or Masters in Public Health (MPH) in Public Health Promotion and Health Communication or related fields.  
• A similar job experience of minimum of two years 

Competencies and personal qualities

• Committed to achieving the project goals.
• Able to work independently as a part of a team to implement the project.
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of a team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, and maintaining impartiality and objectivity.
• Experience working as a communication officer. 
• Experience working in research consortiums or multi-country collaborative research projects. 
• Working knowledge of generic health system operations and that of the Ethiopian health system. 
• Fluency in English – written and verbal.
• Excellent communication skill both in local languages and English and experience in communicating key data in reports and presentations.
• Ample exposure providing training to staff on operational matters related with research projects. 
• Optimal exposure chairing programmatic and scientific meetings and documenting the proceedings. 
• Adept at using all Microsoft Office applications. 
• Past or present experience working with Addis Ababa University is an asset.