The AHA Centre - Communications Officer
Job Title: Communications Officer
Reporting to: Executive Director
Supervising: N/A
Broad Statement of Function
- Manage media relations with respect to the overall activities of the AHA Centre including supporting the implementation of the Establishment of a Disaster Emergency Logistic System for ASEAN (DELSA) Project;
- Develop and continually maintain effective working relationships with the ASEAN Member States and ASEAN communications counterparts. Including developing and maintaining contact lists of individuals, groups, organizations and fora whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives;
- Creating, develop, implement and manage communications of the AHA Centre;
- Develop monitoring and evaluation plans including tools and mechanisms to ensure effective implementation of communication activities;
- Capture ASEAN’s – AHA Centre’s emergency response efforts to the affected country;
- Conduct crisis communications training courses for the AHA Centre’s signature programs;
- Perform other tasks as assigned by the Executive Director of the AHA Centre.
- Manage media relations with respect to the overall activities of the AHA Centre including supporting the implementation of JAIF - the Establishment of a Disaster Emergency Logistic System for ASEAN (DELSA) Project.
- Develop, maintain and update contact lists of journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web, photo, etc. – and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the story of the AHA Centre’s cooperation;
- Establish, document, review and refine the process of communicating with media contacts, including press conferences and events, etc.;
- Collaborate with mass media through activities such as organizing project site visits, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage and utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate.
- Develop and continually maintain effective working relationships with the ASEAN Member States and ASEAN communications counterparts including developing and maintaining contact lists of individuals, groups, organizations and fora whose support are essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives.
- Facilitate effective liaison and work closely with ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Member States, National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs), the Government of Japan as well as ASEAN Dialogue Partners and other organizations;
- Manage and improve relationships with journalists and media houses as well as stakeholders who can deliver our objectives of disseminating mass information to the middle class and grass-root communities.
- Create, develop, implement and manage communications of the AHA Centre
- Provide communications support and update to the Executive Director in responding to the media and to the other team and project members in preparation for public appearances;
- Recommend and prepare support materials for meetings and media outreach opportunities for the information dissemination;
- Organize and coordinate press events for the AHA Centre’s activities, and follow up with media to ensure coverage of public events;
- Design, develop, and produce information materials, print and audio-visual for media, web sites and other public outreach;
- Initiate and manage contacts and other relationships with key stakeholders;
- Compose, edit, design, record and produce publications to enhance the public’s understanding of the AHA Centre including producing reports highlighting program developments, achievements and stories to appropriate stakeholders;
- Identify, develop, distribute and evaluate a variety of media materials in multiple, appropriate formats such as press releases and featured stories;
- Provide monthly content creation and supervision for the production of The Column - the AHA Centre’s news bulletin;
- Ensure rapid and accurate information dissemination to the media, NDMOs, NGOs, relevant sectors and stakeholders, and other appropriate audiences;
- Promote, maintain and regularly update the AHA Centre’s website including the establishment and management of a picture database to document the AHA Centre activities;
- Develop the weekly social media content schedule and provide weekly analytics update.
- Develop a monitoring and evaluation plans including tools and mechanisms to ensure effective implementation of communication activities.
- Develop monitoring and evaluation tools to measure the effectiveness and sustainability of communication activities of the AHA Centre and provide necessary recommendations for improvement and initiatives.
- Monitor and evaluate the use and effectiveness of media materials and provide regular reports related to communication activities.
- Monitor local and international press coverage in the areas of disaster management and information to the AHA Centre staff.
- Travel to the field to get to know projects and capture success stories for dissemination through the website, outreach folders and to media.
- Capture ASEAN’s – AHA Centre’s emergency response efforts to the affected country.
- Assume the role of Public Information Officer and Public Affairs Specialist in times of emergencies based on the guidelines from the AHA Centre Emergency Response Organisation (ERO) manual.
- Take part in possible emergency response deployment to the affected country in capturing the provision of DELSA relief items and ASEAN’s efforts in disaster management.
- Ensure appropriate communication efforts to gain positive coverage from the media.
- Conduct the crisis communications training courses for the AHA Centre’s signature programs.
- Deliver the module for Crisis Communications and Media Management based on the guideline from the AHA Centre Crisis Communications Tool (the ACT) handbook as part of the modules for the AHA Centre Executive (ACE) Programme and ASEAN-Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ERAT) induction courses, among others.
- Liaise and coordinate with key stakeholders/partners of the AHA Centre in particularly the media in ensuring a realistic field simulation exercise as part of the training.
- Coordinate with respective Monitoring and Evaluation officer of the AHA Centre to conduct training evaluation and capture necessary feedback from participants.
- Other tasks
- Assist the Strategic Communication Advisor in developing the strategic plan for effective awareness-raising to increase visibility of the AHA Centre and the Japan-ASEAN Cooperation in the area of disaster management.
- Other tasks as assigned by the Executive Director.
Education
- Preferably a Master’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations or a related discipline.
- At least five (5) years of experience with proven track record and exposure to Public Relations and Communications preferably in international organizations or private sector;
- Profound knowledge in developing strategic communications work plans and its implementation including media relations;
- Profound knowledge of the media context in ASEAN;
- Experience in managing content-creation both digital and printed;
- Proficient in developing multi-media (audio-video) products; including photography, videography, and editing;
- Experience in managing a broad range of activities dealing with various international organizations and related institutions;
- Good skills in developing a variety of written materials for audiences with different levels of understanding of the materials or subject matters presented;
- Good knowledge and understanding of information and communications technology;
- Excellent computer skills, including developing graphics for presentation materials;
- Good command of the English language, both spoken and written;
- Appropriate knowledge of ASEAN and its regional framework would be beneficial.
Core Competency
- High integrity and conscientiousness;
- Ability to develop media materials in a deadline-driven and target audience way;
- Ability to multitask and work independently under pressure;
- Good composure;
- Ability to project professionalism;
- Ability to work as team leader and/or team member;
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural setting.
- Ability to develop and execute multi-faceted media relation tools to disseminate information regarding the project;
- Good level of knowledge and understanding of information and communications technology;
- Sound understanding of the regional knowledge, relevant information, and able to connect the concepts to the practices and application on disaster management issues;
- Sound understanding of concepts, knowledge, and issues on the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER);
- Excellent computer skills.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with members of the media;
- Ability to translate plans into actions;
- Mastery on the cross-cultural diversity in the ASEAN region and the ability to manage cross-cultural communication;
- Strong communication skills and advanced level fluency in written and spoken English.
- Planning and organizing: Ability to establish a coherent course of action to achieve goals, ability to translate plans into actions, organize work, monitor & review outcomes, and communicate the results clearly both orally and in writing;
- Teamwork: Ability to build trust and respect among fellow team members and contribute to the resolution of workplace conflict;
- Communications and interpersonal skills: Ability to expresses thoughts clearly, accurately and succinctly in verbal and in writing to different audiences, and ability to relate well with others and to maintain relations with cordiality and diplomacy;
- Ability to work in a multi‐cultural setting and under pressure: Ability to interact effectively with people from different cultures, ability to multi-task and remain efficient and productive under pressure;
- Effective problem-solving skills: Ability to use sound judgment and initiative, develop options and achieve outcomes;
- Organizational awareness: Ability to align thinking and actions to organizational values;
- Flexibility and adaptability: Ability to respond positively to change and new organizational practices, structures, procedures and technology; and
- Personal credibility: Has high regards for self-discipline, good attendance record, respect punctuality and set an example to others, show consistency in words and actions, has high integrity and is conscientious
You may apply by sending your application to admin@ahacentre.org, highlighting your suitability and potential contribution to the position together with a detailed CV, certified true copies of educational certificates obtained and completed the AHA Centre Application Form, which can be downloaded at CLICK HERE.
Please ensure that the total size of your email including attachments is no more than 5 MB.
Please indicate the name of the position that you are applying for on the subject of your email. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application papers should reach us by 20 April 2020.
The Selection Panel's decision is final and only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
