Director: Communications - African Center for Economic Transformation

Job Summary

• Building on the successes of the past few years, the Director of Communications will lead an ambitious, forward leaning, integrated communications and reputation management function that delivers bold advancements in ACET’s reputation among African governments and institutions, other key internal and external stakeholders – including current and prospective employees, existing and potential donors, the media, academia, and global thought leaders – in a manner that inspires confidence, trust, and excitement.
• The Director will evaluate and determine how best to structure the global communications, advocacy, and knowledge management function; develop, manage and mentor a high performing global team; create and implement proactive, distinctive, and coordinated communications, advocacy, and knowledge strategies that further evolve ACET’s global narrative and solidify the organization’s position as the clear leader among its peers.
• The Director will serve as ACET’s top advisor and counsellor to the President and executive management team regarding all strategic messaging and institutional positioning matters including events, speaking engagements and partnership opportunities. Specifically, S/he will be responsible for leading all internal and external communications and advocacy, including media relations; strategic convenings, internal communications; executive communications; advocacy partner relationships, policy communications; digital communications; and thought leadership activities.
• This is a distinct, career-defining opportunity to make a lasting impact on ACET’s growth and success as an innovative, rapidly evolving organization that is committed to shaping the future of Africa and its transformation.

Role and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Update ACET’s overarching communications and advocacy strategy to ensure it is aligned with ACET’s new strategy and business objectives and ensure that it is integrated and effectively articulated to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide strategic counsel to ACET’s President and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) on all strategic communications issues. Stay abreast of global trends and storylines ensuring ACET has a voice in key moments and conversations, as appropriate.
• Build out ACET’s advocacy function as a unique influence that includes quiet diplomacy, engagement with African governments and institutions, and plays a leading role among international development stakeholders such as think tanks and foundations.
• Serve as ACET’s spokesperson and senior-most advisor on all issues related to communications and reputation management.
• Ensure that ACET’s digital footprint – including web and social media –is strategic, clear, and compelling, and that it evolves appropriately and uses clear metrics to inform strategy.
• Ensure that ACET is speaking with “one voice” across all channels (editorial, social and digital), and stakeholder groups, both internally and externally.
• Drive and manage executive communications and thought leadership opportunities, including pursuing high-profile media appearances/interviews, speaking engagements and conferences.
• Support the President, ELT and Board in external communications by providing messaging advise and coaching and proactively identify opportunities to drive earned media.
• Direct the overall planning and strategy of ACET’s live or virtual events. This will include defining goals, success metric, and messaging for events and implementing best practice and developing planning standards, policies. and procedures.
• Support ACET’s fundraising and donor outreach strategy by ensuring globally consistent messaging strategies.
  
  

People Management

• Manage and lead a high-performing communications and advocacy team, which currently includes six core team members and a roster of consultants and firms. This includes determining how best to structure the team, building bench strength within the team, and providing ongoing opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Collaborate with HR Manager to determine the most effective team structure to meet ACET’s goals under its new strategy.
• Build and lead an internal communications strategy that engages, inspires and informs staff and further connects them to ACET’s mission, vision and values.
  
  

Portfolio Management

• Work with the Research, Policy and Programs Director to ensure teams in both departments successfully translate ACET’s research into accessible and compelling narratives that influence policy change
• Manage ACET’s branding and editorial content, including the positioning of flagship reports, and the writing, development and pitching of opinion pieces and blogs.
• Ensure a seamless editorial process that cuts across research, policy, knowledge management, design, and the broader communications team. Clearly communicate and ensure adoption of ACET editorial and brand guidelines throughout the process.
• Protect and strengthen ACET’s brand by ensuring editorial content and communications adhere to ACET’s brand guidelines.
• Develop and manage an effective crisis and issues management program that monitors and tracks global political and development events and identifies potential reputational risks that could be disruptive to ACET’s work.
• Oversee the development and implementation of ACET’s digital strategy, including website management and social media engagement to expand the organisations reach and impact. Ensure proactive content management, working across ACET departments to define and implement a content strategy that reflects key moments for Africa, key deliverables for ACET, and a range of ACET staff and network voices.
• Ensure that the communications function is leveraging and experimenting with cutting edge communications tactics and techniques, particularly via digital and social channels.
• Drive quantifiable impact of ACET’s perception in the media, including ACET’s share of voice.
• Develop monitoring and evaluation (M&E) processes to assess the effectiveness of communications activities and share results on a regular basis.
• Manage all creative agency and third-party vendor relationships, as necessary.
• Establish a department budget and manage within expectations.
  
  

Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop, strengthen and manage strategic relationships with top-tier media and influencers.
• Leverage relationships to secure strategic media opportunities that advance ACET’s priorities.
• Establish strong and collaborative working relationships with ACET’s key partners to ensure that all communications strategies are aligned, consistent and synchronized.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, including policy makers, research institutions and international organisations to further ACET’s mission and enhance the impact off its research and advocacy efforts.
• Lead drafting for Presidents external communications and ensure it aligns with ACET’s key advocacy messages.
  
  

Qualification Required & Experience

• Minimum of a Masters degree in Communications, International Development or related field
• Extensive professional or technical experience, with a significant portion of that time spent in managerial roles.
• Have a keen intellect and a strong long-term results orientation; a passion for ACET’s mission; and a relentless commitment to continuously improve, inspire and grow.
• Must be a hands-on, highly collaborative, genuine leader who can define and drive transformational change while also fostering teamwork and building cross-functional partnerships
• Have a deep understanding of, and appreciation for, the relationship between culture, brand identity, and authentic communication, regardless of audience.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• A proven track record of progressive leadership experience in broad-based communications roles with diverse African and global organizations.
• Extensive experience of successfully serving as a primary spokesperson to the media, and managing crises with agility, speed and sound judgment.
• A strong track record of successfully serving as a strategic advisor to CEOs/chairman level and/or senior leaders in an organization, combined with the proven ability to develop and effectively manage strong working relationships with professionals at all levels of an organization.
• Hands-on media relations experience and established relationships with top-tier media and digital influencers in Africa and globally.
• A proven track record of raising the profile of an organization, through effective delivery of a communications and advocacy strategy.
• A Proven track record in developing constructive relationships with influential media.
• Proven success in hiring, developing, mentoring and inspiring a team of professionals who perform at world class levels and deliver measurable results.
• Proven record of developing and executing integrated communications strategies within fast-paced, dynamic, rapidly changing environments that require sound judgement, discretion and speed. This includes the ability to strategically weave social/digital and new media into evolving communications plans.
• Strong ability to take research findings and turn them into compelling communications content, such as blogs, social media content, video and other assets.
• Prior experience in a policy, economic development, a think tank or international development organization with a focus on Africa will be an asset.
• Strong understanding of social, economic, political and public policy issues, and the proven ability to take an institutional strategy and translate it into a communications plan in a clear and compelling manner.
• A strong and relevant media and press contact list based on individual countries, region and global contacts
• Outstanding writing, editing and verbal presentation skills.
• A clear command of leading-edge communications, measurement and analytics tools.
• Proven ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively across business units, functional departments, geographies and disciplines through transparent communication and effective collaborative leadership skill.

ACET VALUES

ACET strives to ensure an equitable and merit-based workplace. We promote ongoing employee development to strengthen staff capacity and further professional goals. We operate around five core values:

• Pioneering: We try to push the envelope in the spirit of being a “think and do” tank.
• Respect: We believe that in respecting each other, we will grow together.
• Integrity: We are transparent and accountable in our actions.
• Collaboration: We believe our best results are achieved by working well together.
• Excellence: We aspire to the highest level of critical thinking to solve difficult problems.

Location: Accra

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