Regional Manager, External Relations at the Micronutrient Initiative (MI)

The Micronutrient Initiative (MI) is the leading organization working exclusively to eliminate vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the world's most vulnerable populations.

Micronutrient Initiative is recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Regional Manager, External Relations

Job Code: #2014-AFR-REG-18
Location: Dakar, Senegal
Reports to/Position Title: Regional Director
Supervisor 2 Director External Relations

Job Description
Overall Purpose/Broad Function:
In liaison with the Regional Director, Africa, the Regional Communications Officer, Africa and the External Relations Unit in HQ, and in line with MI's strategic plan:

• Manage communication tasks and events aimed at positioning MI in the Region as the world's leading organization dedicated to eliminating micronutrient deficiencies.
• Identify internal and external communication needs, and support advocacy initiatives, to advance MI's goals and objectives in Africa and develop and implement strategies to address them.
• Work with HQ Resource Development team and country teams on donor prospecting and stewardship, in keeping with overall Resource Development Strategy.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Implement global corporate identity policy and positioning in Africa.
• Identify and coordinate corporate/program materials for MI Africa and country programs, reflecting the in-country and regional communications needs.
• Provide regional leadership for content submission for global internal and external communications materials including annual reports and web-based tools.
• Maintain contacts with journalists in Senegal and throughout the Africa region, both nationally and Regionally-focused; write and disseminate timely, proactive and reactive, media materials in support of MI's work.
• Support country and regional teams with identification of and advice, tools and hands-on support in writing up key lessons learned from programs (e.g. innovative approaches) that can be disseminated and used by MI or externally for proposals and reports.
• Coordinate MI representation at key regional and global conferences and events taking place in the region, including identifying key opportunities, managing corporate displays, side events, speaking opportunities for MI staff.
• Coordinate and deliver communications training to country staff - so they can better respond the communication needs of their work.
• Support country teams to effectively communicate with collaborators including government, international and national non-profit organizations, industries and academic institutions.
• Support participation in regional groups such as the Regional Nutrition Working Group based in Senegal.
• Support CDs in effectively promoting the SUN Initiative.
• Support other regional or in-country advocacy initiatives to advance MI's goals and objectives.
• Work with headquarters, regional and country teams on strategic resource development, based on organizational strategy.
• Provide briefing materials for country teams and regional managers about partners who have approached MI to collaborate in the region on resource mobilization and support the decision-making process on possible collaborations.
• Support country teams and regional managers and the Director, External Relations in preparing funding proposals and related documents as needed.
• Support country teams, regional managers and HQ in donor relations and stewardship activities.
• Support global systems to track resource development efforts (e.g. proposals, reports).
• Other duties and responsibilities as may be required.
• Any other duties as requested

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• External Relations Officers

Education/Professional Designations/Experience

• Degree in relevant area such as Communications, International Development, Marketing
• Experience of working in an international and/or non-governmental organization.
• 10 years relevant experience e.g. communications, media, project management, donor stewardship, etc.

Language Skills:

• Excellent English and French, particularly written fluency in English

Travel Requirements:

• Occasional travels in the region may be required not expected to exceed 20 days p.a

Other Specific Skill Requirements:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strategic communications planning and implementation
• Project management skills in the area of publications, events, communications
• Excellent proposal and report writing
• Creative, innovative
• Competent IT skills, e.g. Word, Excel advanced, Outlook, Great Plains will be an advantage
• Competent researcher
• Planning and organization skills
• Attention to detail.

Application Closing Date
23rd September, 2014.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit the following documents in one file: your curriculum vitae in English (typed), a presentation letter, in English, explaining how you meet the qualifications for the job and your motivation (typed), plus the name of 3 referees by email to the following email address: [email protected]. Please quote number 2014-AFR-REG-18 on your application.

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