Communications Manager - Africa

Title: Communications Manager (Africa)               

Reports to: Region Head

Status: Contractor                                                                                          

Location:  Pretoria & Johannesburg, South Africa (Gauteng Area)

Foundation Overview:

The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For more than 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope. Learn more at www.themaxfoundation.org.

Role Summary: 

The Communications Manager (Africa) is responsible for assisting the region head in developing, planning, and executing comprehensive communications strategies and plans. In addition to offering strategic communications advice, the manager works closely with the global communications team to co-create regional strategies, plans, and initiatives that align with and support the worldwide communications priorities. The primary focus is to strengthen the foundation’s visibility, voice, and reputation.

Responsibilities:

·         Strategy Development
Develop a regional communications strategy – short and long term – that aligns with, supports, and builds upon the objectives and goals of the global communications strategy. Adopting communication strategies according to cultural, context and regional/country audiences

·         Media Relations
Establish and maintain relationships with key local journalists, particularly those covering the nonprofit and healthcare sectors. Responsibilities include writing press releases, talking points, and Q&A documents, crafting compelling narratives, and positioning the regional head and colleagues as subject matter experts.

·         Content Creation

Collaborate with the global communications team to create engaging and impactful content for multiple communications channels and audiences, including supporting site visits, writing patient and physician stories for Max Insider, capturing cell phone photos and video clips, and ensuring compliance with brand guidelines.

·         Stakeholder Engagement

Collaborate with region head and global communications team to develop communications and engagement strategy that will strengthen relationships and elevate awareness/reputation of Max at the country level and across the region. Key external audiences include partner physicians, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals; hospital administrators and key staff; and key positions within local ministry of health, public institutions and multi-lateral representatives.

·         Vendor Management
Identify and manage external vendors, such as professional photographers, videographers, and graphic designers to support implementation of communications strategies.

Qualifications:

·         Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s or relevant certification preferred, in a relevant field such as Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Political Science, Psychology/Sociology, or related disciplines.

·         5-7+ years of relevant experience in the global health nonprofit sector, communications, public relations, journalism, and/or social media. Previous work experience in public relations/advertising agencies, healthcare, and/or nonprofits, is highly desirable

·         Excellent analytical skills and proven ability to make critical decisions

·         Experience working in a global and multicultural capacity across time zones and among a diverse team

·         Excellent written and verbal English communication skills; written and verbal fluency in French, Spanish, or another language, a plus

·         Strong analysis and technical writing skills

·         Self-starter who takes ownership over tasks and has meticulous attention to detail

·         Mission-driven and inspired by our organizational values and guiding principles

·         Willing and able to travel domestically or internationally

Skills and Attributes:

·         Passionate about The Max Foundation’s mission and vision, and determined to lead and accomplish all goals related to current and future strategic plans

·         Strong knowledge and hands-on experience in communications within the region, particularly on global healthcare issues

·         Proven experience in developing and executing effective communications strategies.

·         Excellent journalistic and writing/editing/oral skills in English, with the ability to build and maintain productive relationships with key stakeholders. Fluency in additional languages is an advantage.

·         Skilled in leveraging various communication platforms, including traditional and social media, as well as multimedia tools, to deliver targeted messages to key audiences.

·         Strong analytical skills to measure the effectiveness of communication strategies, initiatives, and campaigns.

·         High attention to detail and a high standard for quality work product

·         Understanding of and comfortable in a global environment, with an emphasis on low and middle-income countries

·         Passion for exceptional collaboration, and flexibility to do what it takes to elevate positive culture

·         Comfort working in a complex, fast-paced, and high-workload environment

·         Caring, humble, and people-oriented servant leader

·         Resourceful, finds solutions using all available data to overcome challenges impacting the organization

Compensation: We offer compensation commensurate with experience.  No relocation provided.

To Apply: Visit our website at https://www.themaxfoundation.org/careers to apply. Please include résumé and cover letter.

The Max Foundation is dedicated to diversity in staff and is an equal opportunity employer.