Vacancy title:
Outreach Communications Specialist

Jobs at:
Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI)

Deadline of this Job:
Friday July 21, 2017

Duty Station:
Kampala, Uganda

Job details:
Background:
The Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) is a Ugandan not-for—profit organization dedicated to strengthening health systems in Africa, with strong emphasis on infectious diseases, through research and capacity development. Established in 2002, IDI strives to create a healthy Africa free from the burden of infectious diseases. IDI is an integral component of the College of Health Sciences at Makerere University School of Medicine: and is wholly owned by the university. IDI provides university staff with opportunities to participate in research and career enhancing projects.

With an increasing portfolio, IDI is currently implementing over 80 projects country wide. IDI provides treatment and care services to over 100,000 people living with HIV in urban and rural settings in Uganda (both directly, and in partnership with government and non-government health facilities), This translates into about 10% of the national effort. Of the 100,000 people living with HIV, IDI Outreach department cares for over 90,000. Additionally, IDI provides extensive prevention services such as voluntary medical inhale circumcision and Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission. As a national referral centre, |Dl manages complicated HIV cases. Committed to capacity building, IDI has trained over 22,000 health workers from Uganda and 27 neighboring countries. Training addresses topics ranging from HIV/ AIDS and TB co-infection, malaria, emerging/re-emerging infectious diseases (such as ebola), lab services, pharmacy to systems strengthening (such as monitoring and evaluation, proposal writing and grants management, as well as research capacity building).

Outreach Programme
Health systems strengthening is at the core of the IDI Outreach programme. The goal is to build government of Uganda's capacity to mount sustainable responses to health related issues.
There are four projects within the program:

• Bunyoro HIV Project (BHP)/ West Nile project
• Kampala City Council Authority
• Saving Mothers Giving Life in Kibaale and:
• Two ELMA Philanthropy projects (ELMA PAC and Newborn) focusing on maternal child and adolescent health.

Position: Outreach Communications Specialist
Duty Station; Kampala with frequent travels to the field

Job Summary:

This position will support the KCCA and BHP/West Nile projects. IDI is looking for an individual that will capture the unique story of our interventions using a variety of communication tools and strategies. The Communications Specialist will provide high quality communications content for IDI‘s work. This will include designing and supporting the development of communications materials for programme beneficiaries, donors, and other internal and external audiences. The incumbent may also be called upon to support project reporting, to include collating information from project teams. The Communications Specialist will contribute to shaping corporate communication strategies by working closely with communication focal points on various teams to integrate the different components of IDI.

Key Results

• Communications strategy: develop a clear communications strategy that ensures our Beneficiaries are aware of project impact, challenges and lessons learned so as to increase support for project/funder response and, contribute to fundraising opportunities.
• Global Campaigns: support the successful implementation of global/funder communication priorities by designing and implementing campaigns and sharing updates.
• Stakeholder Database: develop, manage and maintain stakeholder contact lists for active participation in IDI events
• Media relations: In support of corporate communications, maintain an up to date list of medical journalists and media outlets encompassing print, radio and television.
• Video production: Create video footage that§ highlights project interventions at the community level

Scope of work and specific tasks
in order to meet IDI's communication needs, the Outreach Communications Specialists with the guidance of designated IDI program staff will:

• Develop, maintain and update the outreach department communications strategy and work plan
• Work closely with partner communication officers to ensure coordination of all activities
• Engage the media to highlight DI‘s work in partner districts
• Develop press releases, and media briefing kits
• Develop and maintain a partners and stakeholder contact list/database
• Contribute to the development of project communication materials such as one pagers,
• Using the success story tracker, develop success stories and case studies
• Travel to the field and interview beneficiaries, and other key stakeholders
• Represent IDI/Project at stakeholder meetings
• Support the development of video documentaries to highlight outreach department projects
• Share project high level activities with the corporate communications lead

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal candidate should hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Mass communication or related field. Post Graduate training in Media or other relevant field is an added advantage.
•  A minimum of three years’ experience in a similar position in a reputable development organization.
• Prior exposure and experience working with local partners and District Local Government in Health systems strengthening, HIV/AIDS is an added advantage.
• Excellent analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
• Familiarity with the media landscape in Uganda
• Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
• Willingness to travel and work in hard-to-reach areas
• Computer literacy and excellent documentation skills are a must.

Job application procedure
Qualified and interested persons who wish to apply may hand-deliver, email or post an application letter with a detailed CV, naming at least two professional referees, to:

Senior Human Resource Manager
infectious Diseases institute
P. 0. Box 22418, Kampala;
hr@idi.cc.ug 
Deadline for receipt of applications is Friday July 21, 2017.
Only shortlisted candidates will he contacted.