Communication Specialist Full Time

Vacancy Announcement #095/2023

Communication Specialist

Skills Development Cluster / Social Transformation Cluster

Contract duration: 30.04.2026

Application deadline: 17.05.2023

Duty station: Addis Ababa 

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a German public-benefit federal enterprise. GIZ works worldwide in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas. We work to shape a future worth living in over 120 countries around the world.

The “Programme to Support Good Governance in Ethiopia” aims to strengthen state and civil society frameworks to support the transformation into a democratic and inclusive constitutional state. The program advises central governmental and non-governmental actors who hold key positions in the transformation process of the Ethiopian governance system.

A.   Overall Responsibilities

GIZ is seeking a qualified candidate for the following position:

Specialist for Communication

The specialist will be responsible for tasks related to communication and PR.

General Tasks

• Ensure the compliance with the required communication standards and guidelines.
• Address all questions arising in the area of public relations and communications.
• Project communication to different stakeholders.
• Managing knowledge by disseminating and documenting know-how, experience and information.

Strategic Tasks

• Supporting the programme’s objectives by developing and implementing communication measures in close cooperation with partners.
• Developing a concept for the programme internal and external communications aligned to the country-level strategy of GIZ, including the systematic planning of communication measures with partners (incl. defining target groups, drafting key messages, budgeting)
• Coordinating, implementing and monitoring communications work (e.g. effectiveness, content quality and quantity)

Cooperation with Communication Unit

• Following the guidelines and toolkits provided by Communications Unit.
• Adhering to contributing to the country-wide communication strategy.
• Sending final version of communication products to the Communications Unit for quality check before mass production.
• Addressing internal and external communication-related queries within the given deadlines.
• Sending PR material samples (print/online) for GIZ Ethiopia archives and to GIZ Germany when necessary.
• Participating and contributing to the Comms.Net (Best practices, knowledge and information exchange, part of the editorial team for country-providing information for internal media, etc)
• Developing content for internal and external communication channels (websites, IDA, social media, etc) per the editorial plan.
• Providing material for the country photo archives.
• Actively contributing to the programme’s communications folder on DMS.

Coordination with external service providers at programme/ project level

• Liaising and coordinating with communication-related service providers, including providing technical inputs and dealing with any required administrative procedures (e.g. consultants, agencies, photographers, trainers, writers,etc.)

Media work at project level

• Coordinating programme’s press activities on site in cooperation with local partners and under the guidance of the Communications & PR Unit.

• Addressing press queries in consultation with the programme management and the Communication & PR Unit.
• Contribute to maintaining/updating a local press contact list, particularly for sector/regional contacts
• Drafting press releases (distribution via Communication & PR Unit)
• Collecting and preparing press kit for specific events
• Liaise with the national/regional partner’s press office for distribution of press releases via partners (incl. securing contact information of journalists’ GIZ press contact list)
• Coordinating/supporting press events/visits
• Press monitoring (collecting press clippings related to programme/project and compiling reports of event/news appearance) & submitting regularly to Communications & PR Unit Unit
• Providing support to the Communications & PR Unit in drafting or preparing material for the Press Department in Germany/ at the German Embassy

PR activities at project level

• Further developing appropriate communication instruments for PR work (e.g. brochure, flyers, factsheets, banners etc.) in line with the overall communication strategy and guidelines.
• Preparing/maintaining a standard presentation set for the programme.
• Developing (if applicable) corporate design and corporate wording standards for programme.
• Contributing to GIZ Ethiopia/Djibouti core communication products (e.g. factsheets, website, project location map, success stories, etc)
• Quality check of communication materials.
• Coordinating/drafting the update of the programme/project section on the GIZ website regularly or upon request.
• Managing the stock of leftover promotional items (note that promotional items will be handled centrally by the GIZ Office)
• Managing programme’s events.
• Contributing to supporting delegations and VIP visits.
• Providing information/Supporting the update of the partner-owned programme’s website.
• Maintaining programme’s/project’s photo archives and communications product knowledgebase.

Internal communication

• Actively contributing to generating content for internal communication channels or activities aiming to improve information exchange.
• Actively supporting information exchange and dialogue between different staff groups, including those outside the programme team such as office staff, other projects, clusters.
• Developing and implementing appropriate instruments for the programme’s internal communications (e.g. emails, internal events, meetings etc)
• Distributing key information and materials to programme staff.

Qualifications

• University degree in Communications, International Relations, Journalism, Social Science, or a related field.

Professional experience 

• At least 5 years professional experience in a comparable position in the field of Communication & PR.
• First-hand experience in dealing with political decision-makers, civil society, scientific institutions.
• Experience with integrating gender and inclusion considerations.
• Work experience in the field of Communication & PR.
• Editorial experience/experience in writing articles and press releases.
• Experience of production of publications and communications materials.
• Experience in press management and monitoring.
• Knowledge of event management.

Other knowledge, additional competencies

• Basic knowledge of national development policy issues, development cooperation and international cooperation.
• Strong organizational, planning, and self-management competences, ability to deal with multiple tasks simultaneously, solve problems (solution-oriented mindset), and meet deadlines while maintaining a high level of empathy and quality of work.
• Strong commitment, team spirit, reliability, and context sensitivity.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively, with a focus on joint results.
• Very good working knowledge of ICT technologies (related software) and computer applications (e.g. MS Office).
• Social, intercultural understanding and interest, flexibility, sense of diplomacy, ability to work in a politically sensitive environment, highly motivated.
• Willingness to upgrade skills as required by the tasks to be performed.
• Ability to work proactively and independently.
• Exhibits conscientiousness, integrity and loyalty.
• Experience in event management.
• Very good communication skills, both verbally and written.
• Ability to synthesize and translate technically complex information into plain language communication products.
• Excellent writing, reading and speaking of English and Amharic.
• Readiness to travel to project sites and event locations, if required.