Communications Officer

• Develop a calendar to ensure regular field trips to IFAW Zimbabwe projects for story mining, content gathering and to develop working relationships with key staff
• Support the Africa Director to develop and manage a strategic communications plan for IFAW Zimbabwe
• Develop strategic communications plans, including branding and media opportunities for major donors
• Work with international communications colleagues to develop media pitches for key foreign media
• Set up a roster of monthly calls with key staff at each IFAW project and partner project and report out of these meetings to senior communications staff and content director
• Work closely with IFAW partners to ensure a steady flow of stories, photographs, and social media content for Communications
• Develop, maintain, and share a detailed editorial calendar of proposed stories with deadlines for delivery, for use across all IFAW channels, to include written articles, video, and photography
• Deliver well-written, engaging stories, blogs, news updates, and press releases—approved for use—to a fixed deadline
• Ensure at least one post per Zimbabwe project, per month on each of IFAW’s projects or activities on the IFAW Africa channels—this can include video
• Work with international Comms colleagues to support outreach, including coordinating visits, by celebrities and social media influencers
• Work with IFAW’s social media team to identify social media posts suitable for international pages
• Develop and maintain a media list of key regional journalists (local and foreign correspondents) with the intention of promoting IFAW’s leadership role in conservation, community development, and climate change via earned media coverage
• Identify and ensure the contracts of at least two photographers, videographers and writer are maintained in each country in Zimbabwe
• Manage content gathering visits by contracted photographers and videographers
• Daily monitoring of regional and international media to stay abreast of trends, interest, and opportunities for opportunities to involve IFAW via comment/thought leadership opportunities
• Support IFAW contracted media partners, as necessary
• Facilitate visits from donors, media, brand ambassadors, influencers, and staff to IFAW projects—including drafting itineraries and managing logistics
• Ensure all IFAW projects are on brand and that signage remains in good order—manage local suppliers
• Plan, implement and monitor allocated budgets
• Consolidate IFAW ZW Annual report

• Degree in communications, journalism or equivalent preferred with five years of experience in media and communications, including strategic communications planning (internal and external audiences), implementation, and evaluation
• Commitment to environmental conservation
• and knowledge of the key role players including non-Governmental organisations such as ZimParks, and the conservation community
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of Zimbabwe media in all its forms including print, broadcast and social media, and international media professionals based in Zimbabwe
• An understanding of and commitment to wildlife conservation, community engagement, and climate change
• An understanding of the political environment in Zimbabwe, and Southern Africa including key role players
• Experience of scheduling and budgeting
• Ability to lead and work as part of a team
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and the ability to be creative and innovative
• Ability to plan strategically and to prioritise projects
• Computer literate –standard office applications including word processing and internet communications

Ability to film and present short video stories for social media will be an advantage