Senior Strategic Communication Advisor

PACT Overview

Pact is an international nonprofit that works in nearly 40 countries building solutions for human development that are evidence-based, data-driven and owned by the communities we serve. Founded in 1971, Pact works with partners to build resilience, improve accountability, and strengthen knowledge and skills for sustainable social impact.

Department

Programs - Pact strives for a world where all people are heard, capable, and vibrant. The Programs Team helps realize this objective by bridging program management, technical support, and business development, enabling Pact to achieve its global strategy. We ensure program excellence through continuous learning, monitoring and evaluation and provide organizational and industry-wide thought leadership by leveraging a complementary set of cross-functional, multi-disciplinary skills, expertise, and experiences. The Programs team: influences progressive change through the development and implementation of global and regional strategies and business plans; supports advancement of innovative solutions; pursues new business opportunities; and drives effective internal and external engagement to maximize Pact’s impact across the globe. Across all aspects of its role, the Programs Department adheres to and promotes a culture of inclusion, accountability, and respect.

Position Overview

Pact is implementing the USAID-funded Enhance Non-Governmental Actors and Grassroots Engagement (ENGAGE) project in Kyiv, Ukraine. The purpose of ENGAGE is to increase citizen awareness of and engagement in civic activities at the national, regional and local levels. ENGAGE builds coalitions and supports non-governmental advocacy and watchdog initiatives. The ENGAGE activity focuses on key democratic reforms and cross-cutting themes: democratic local and national governance, electoral processes, inclusive development of persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, intersex and other vulnerable groups, sustainable development, and EU integration. To address citizen demands for anti-corruption reforms ENGAGE mainstreams anti-corruption in all its program components.

The Senior Strategic Communication Advisor is responsible for managing and leading the production of project deliverables and analytical research documents. This position will report to the Chief of Party and will be required to closely collaborate with ENGAGE’s Communication unit and technical team members.  The position is responsible for editing and packaging ENGAGE analytical materials produced by ENGAGE local partners and the project team into highly effective written documents for international audiences. This position is contingent upon donor funding.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead content creation for externally distributed materials on civil society advocacy products.
• Copy and line edit draft communications, including ENGAGE’s weekly updates and newsletter on Ukrainian civil society advocacy.
• Compose ad hoc program updates within short turnaround.
• Analyses based on local vendor quantitative and qualitative research products.
• Peer review of all learning materials produced internally by ENGAGE staff and externally by consultants and local partners.
• Draft feature stories, reports, technical briefs and other communication pieces for ENGAGE's external communications and outreach.
• Copy and line edit draft donor reports & project success stories.
• Copy and line edit policy memos, analytical materials developed by ENGAGE partners and project staff.
• Manage external communication with vendors.
• Assist ENGAGE’s Communications unit in storytelling, writing skills, style, and provide frequent feedback.
• Contribute to marketing and promotion of ENGAGE partner and Pact project products.
• Contribute to ENGAGE’s adaptive management by identifying areas of communication improvement.
• Contribute to ENGAGE’s analysis, evaluation and learning by undertaking program research, assessment, and analysis.

Basic Requirements

• Master’s degree in relevant field, such as political science, law, media, journalism, public policy analysis.
• At least 5 years of related work experience in political communications, copy-editor role, political marketing, strategic communication.
• Knowledge of and understanding inclusive development, gender inclusion, inclusion of marginalized, vulnerable populations.
• Native English speaking and writing skills.
• Understanding of political-economy and governance.
• Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher) fluency.
• Demonstrated commitment to the goals of ENGAGE.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage a complex workload and deadlines.
• Proactive, fast-thinker, and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to organize routine data and maintain the established procedures.
• Strong critical thinking and attentiveness to detail.
• Ability to assume various team roles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with development and humanitarian aid programming, especially with evaluation, as well as collaboration, learning and adaptation principles.
• Knowledge of and experience in quantitative research methods and social listening methods.
• Knowledge of and experience with data visualization software (Tableau, PowerBI, Infogram, ArcGIS).
• Background in Ukraine and/or knowledge of Ukrainian