Sightsavers is an international organisation that changes lives for the long term. We work in more than 30 countries to eliminate avoidable blindness and support people with visual impairments to live independently.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Regional Stories and Media Lead, WARO
Location: Nigeria
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Contract: Fixed Term Contract with remote working
Project: DID Project Nigeria CO
Reports To: Stories manager and dotted line to the Head of Media
Department: Campaigns and Communications
Job Purpose
Sightsavers have a large UK based communications team responsible for sourcing stories, producing creative content and securing international coverage. We have a growing requirement to extend our communications reach into the countries our programmes are implemented, supporting global and national communications requirements.
While we work extensively with photographers and videographers based in programme countries, we need regional stories resource to help us tell authentic written and audio stories in an agile way, and to support creative suppliers and programme country offices during stories collection activity.
We also need knowledge and expertise of regional media to pitch and place these stories in targeted news outlets where they can help raise the profile of Sightsavers and support campaign and programmatic goals.
This exciting new role sits across the global Media and Content teams with responsibilities to both. The right candidate will need to be fluent in English and French, be a passionate and responsible storyteller with excellent regional media knowledge and strong communications strategy experience.
They will be adept at building strong relationships across the region, remotely and in person. They will be able to manage their own time effectively, balancing competing requests while identifying joint content and media opportunities.
Purpose of the Role
The Global Media and Content Teams are excited to be hiring a Regional Stories and Media Lead in West Africa. The role is available in one of our programme countries listed.
The purpose of the role is to extend Sightsavers’ communications reach throughout our programme countries within West Africa. The post-holder, supporting global and national communications goals will have knowledge and expertise of regional media with the ability to pitch and place stories in targeted news outlets where they can help raise the profile of Sightsavers and support campaign and programmatic goals.
If world class relationship building skills, authentic story telling at a regional level in West Africa, a passion for news and a passion for telling stories sounds like an opportunity you have been waiting for then we are keen to hear from you.
About the role of Regional Stories and Media Lead WARO
This new opportunity sits across the global Media and Content teams with responsibilities to both.
The right candidate will need to be fluent in both written and spoken English and French, be a passionate and responsible storyteller with excellent regional media knowledge within West Africa and strong communications strategy experience.
They will be adept at building strong relationships across the region, remotely and in person. They will be able to manage their own time effectively, balancing competing requests while identifying joint content and media opportunities.
Accountabilities
Stories:
Work closely with West African programme teams to identify story opportunities across our three main thematic areas and priority programmes
Feedback insight back to UK based teams, leading regular discussion which story opportunities to proceed with, working with stories producers to follow up on leads
Fulfil in person, high quality stories collection across West Africa, predominantly focusing on written/audio stories and working alongside and managing freelance photographers and videographers to deliver visual stories
Take on story collection projects as required from start to finish, planning each step of the process, working remotely through staff and local suppliers and in person.
Fulfil briefs from UK based communications and fundraising teams, sourcing content to support their aims
Support and deliver stories training to West African programme staff, including basic photography and video – office based training plus on the job during story assignments
Support programme staff to document their work
Media:
Support country teams with media outreach and media trips - providing advice, guidance and training by setting up workshops and then ongoing as needed.
Provide us with expertise and knowledge about how the media operates in West Africa.
Build relationships with key media in the West African region, potentially via media engagement events, and support country teams to do the same.
Point of contact for any media issues which result in a reputational crisis in West Africa.
Available to support media trips in West Africa.
Support West African media pushes in each of the three thematic areas, working with and supporting country teams and the three thematic global media officers. This would include national media outreach in support of key campaign objectives, media outreach for key moments such as World Sight Day and NTD Day.
Input a more diverse, global influence to all our media outreach including influencing media engagement plans in support of three thematic communication strategies
Both:
Indirect management and support of country office and UK comms team staff, increasing knowledge about the regional media landscape, establishing processes in the region and supporting country office staff to identify and fulfil communications opportunities
Jobholder Entry Requirements
The essential knowledge, skills and behaviours required Knowledge (Education & Related Experience):
Proven experience of sourcing and documenting emotive, contributor led stories
Proven experience of managing photography and video documentation projects
Proven track record of building strong internal networks and maintaining relationships and communications across teams and borders
Proven experience of developing and delivering communications and content strategies
Proven experience of working in a policy or campaigns focussed media role
Excellent knowledge of national and international media and social media
Ability to sell international/development stories to the consumer, national and international media
The ability to work with internal and external stakeholders and create an understanding of how media and PR can contribute to the delivery of organisational objectives.
Understanding and demonstration of ethical content and safeguarding best practice
Excellent time management
Proven awareness of disability inclusion and wider global development issues and an understanding of the power of individual stories
Experience of training and skills transfer.
Skills (Special Training or Competence):
Fluent French and English
An overwhelming passion for telling stories
A passion for news
World class relationship building skills
Excellent written and presentational skills
Ability to present complex information in an appropriate and engaging form suitable to the audience
Good networking skills
Ability to work under pressure and manage conflicting priorities
Ability to work with multiple internal and external stakeholders simultaneously
Audio, photography and videography / video editing skills preferred but not essential
Knowledge, skills and experience for Regional Stories and Media Lead WARO
Excellent knowledge of national and international media and social media, ideally within international development
Extensive experience sourcing and documenting emotive, contributor led stories; managing photography and video documentation projects; developing and delivering communications and content strategies within West Africa
Experienced in building strong internal networks and maintaining relationships and communications across teams and countries
Professional experience working in a policy or campaigns focussed media role
Ability to sell international/development stories to the consumer, national and international media
Advocate both internally and externally with stakeholders to showcase how media and PR contribute to achieving organisational objectives
Awareness of ethical content; disability inclusion; safeguarding best practice, wider global development issues; understanding of the power of individual stories
Experience of training and skills transfer
Excellent time management
Team builder, line manager
Fluent English and French, both written and spoken
Current and ongoing right to work in one of the countries detailed
Core Behaviours:
Creative
Empathetic and sensitive
Self-starter
Passionate and enthusiastic
Confident communicator
Excellent listener
Collaborative
Resilient Key Relationships:
Internal
UK based Campaigns and communications colleagues – media, social media, content and stories, communications, campaigns
UK based fundraising teams
West Africa country teams – especially those with direct access to programme work External
Interviews are likely to take place from 20 October onwards. This will be a two stage process with a written task followed by a virtual interview.
To apply for this exciting new opportunity, please complete an application via our recruitment portal. We are particularly interested in learning of your motivations for applying.
Note
As an equal opportunity Employer we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community.
Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader therefore qualified people living with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply
We are not able to sponsor any type of visa requirement.