Background
- DFID Pakistan’s Communications Team has a wide range of responsibilities at the heart of DFID Pakistan’s business in support of the country plan and new White Paper. The team provides development communications advice and support to the Head of Office, programme teams as well as the British High Commission. DFID Pakistan’s Communication Strategy prioritises building awareness of, and support for, UK aid in Pakistan (in Pakistan and in the UK) and promoting communications activities that support development outcomes in areas such as health, education, governance and growth.
General description
- This is a high-profile opportunity for someone with strong press and/or marketing background in Pakistan and experience of delivering well-crafted communications products to join DFID Pakistan’s expanding Communications Team. Reporting to the Head of Communications, the successful candidate will proactively project manage DFID Pakistan’s press briefings, media events and publicity working closely with colleagues in the British High Commission’s (BHC) Press and Publicity Affairs Section.
Main Duties
- Responsible for building and maintaining contacts with the English and Urdu-language print, electronic and audio-visual media in Pakistan
- Lead on proactively organising regular press briefings and media opportunities to promote DFID Pakistan objectives working closely with the Head of Communications, the Head of Office and BHC Press team
- Work with colleagues to develop DFID Pakistan’s external-facing communications activity grid to complement the new DFID Pakistan communications strategy including producing messages for an external audience
- Play an active role in the development and implementation of the external communications strategy and deliverables including: drafting and designing case-studies, press releases and marketing material (including advertorials, newsletters). Responsible for delivering dissemination plans across print, electronic and audio-visual national and provincial media in Pakistan
- Support to the Communications Team to develop and roll-out the UK aid brand to Pakistan across the programme portfolio where appropriate
- Provide an advisory service to colleagues across DFID Pakistan on their external-facing communications needs and activities
- To be a proactive member of the Communications Team, working with the Head of Communications, Communications Officer and BHC Press and Public Affairs to identify and promote best practice in external communications
- Act as a media/events monitor for UK aid stories in Pakistan and maintain the external communications tracking grid and forward planner
Qualifications and experience
Essential
- At least 3-5 years experience of working with the print, electronic, audio-visual media in Pakistan and/or marketing background with a proven track record of producing and disseminating quality communications products.
- Excellent English and Urdu written and oral communication skills.
Essential knowledge:
- You will be passionate about great communications and have a background in media, marketing or communications for a development organisation
- You will have good knowledge of media and marketing methods and current trends and be able to hold your own when advising colleagues
- Ability to measure the impact of external communication campaigns and take appropriate action
- Experience of regular writing and editing, with experience of covering complex and dry material in interesting ways.
- Excellent relationship management skills/interpersonal skills and the ability to influence and gain credibility
- Ability to work flexibly, efficiently and often under pressure while paying attention to detail
- Desirable
- Knowledge of donor assistance and development issues in Pakistan.
Desirable knowledge:
- You will have a thorough understanding of the role of communications in helping raise awareness of development issues in Pakistan
- You will have experience of delivering external communications or marketing communications products for development organisations
Key competencies
- Working with others
- Communicating with others
- Influencing
- Planning and Delivery
- Decision-making
Additional technical competencies
- Communications – drafting, layout and design: produces clear, persuasive and accessible communication products
- Channels and technologies – uses the most effective and appropriate channels and technologies to deliver communications