Communications and Outreach Manager

1. Summary of Position

The Communications and Outreach Manager (COM) is a senior member of the ARE team responsible for overseeing ARE’s strategic communications and outreach activities. The COM will lead the design of ARE’s strategic communications plan and will coordinate with social media outlets to ensure that we are raising awareness about ARE’s outcomes and results with target audiences. In general, strategic communications and outreach includes three parts:

1. Effective communication with relevant stakeholders and the general public to raise awareness and amplify the impact of ARE interventions in Lebanese communities,
2. Program reporting to USAID. This includes sharing program success stories to promote ARE’s impact as well as capturing compelling narratives.
3. Advisory and direction to ARE’s SME partners related to general communications and branding-related matters, including liaising with marketing/branding sub-contractors that may support ARE SME stakeholders to ensure effective support and technical direction.

All strategic communication and outreach activities should be in compliance with the USAID-approved branding and marking plan. In addition, the COM will provide technical direction to Short Term Technical Assistants, and other communications-related sub-contractors as well as provide communications and outreach support to grantees. The COM will integrate gender and social inclusion in communications material if and when applicable.

2. Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Working closely with the DCOP and other stakeholders, lead the design and drafting of ARE’s comprehensive communications and outreach plan;
• The COM will bring experience in donor-funded activity communications,  including outreach, online media, and written reporting;
• Support technical team leads and Lebanese counterparts in the dissemination of public information and effective outreach efforts through working with internal and external ARE stakeholders;
• Organize public events such as launching events and press conferences, with assistance as needed from STTAs, subcontractors and the project operations team;
• Contributing to developing press releases and overseeing media monitoring activities for project-supported events and activities;
• Assist in the selection of public information campaign mediums (online, TV/radio ads, posters, etc.);
• Prepare or lead the preparation of the content – with appropriate input from technical leads – for all ARE promotional and public outreach activities, in line with approved work plan, including – but not limited to – online materials, brochures, posters, TV/radio ads, etc., and oversee their production and distribution;

• Support the creation of and build the capacity of information units within partner SMEs and counterpart institutions, as needed;

• Manage and supervise the work of local communications STTAs and subcontractors to ensure the necessary support is available when required;

• Ensure that the project is adhering to USAID’s branding requirements and draft and maintain appropriate communication templates;
• Integrate gender and social inclusion point in all ARE’s communication materials as appropriate;
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party or Deputy Chief of Party.

III. Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years working in a senior communications-related role in the private sector
• Proven track record creating strategic communication plans
• Proven track record of successful communications and marketing campaigns and materials within the agricultural and agro-food sectors, specifically around product launches
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills in English and Arabics with an ability to communicate to a wide range of stakeholders (donors, media, partners, the public)
• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Communication, Public Relations, Journalism, Media Studies, International Relations or Marketing.
• Masters’ Degree in Communication, Public Relations, Journalism, Media Studies, International Relations or Marketing is desirable.