Vacancy Announcement

ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AGENCY

Position:                          Communication Officer

Term of Employment:   One year with possibility of extension

Duty Station(s):              Addis Ababa

Required Number:         One

Salary & Benefits:           Competitive

Application Deadline:    February 13, 2020  

BACKGROUND:

The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency (ATA) is a strategy and delivery-oriented government agency created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of the country’s agriculture sector. The ATA envisions that, by 2025, smallholder farmers are commercialized with greater incomes, inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability, contributing to Ethiopia’s achievement of middle-income country status.

The agency focuses on two primary national approaches to catalyze agricultural transformation. First, we support the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Resources (MoA), its affiliate institutions, and other partners to identify and address systemic bottlenecks within an Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Second, we support Regional Governments to accelerate development of high-priority commodity value chains in clearly defined geographic clusters, through the Agricultural Commercialization Clusters (ACC) Initiative.

Our major activities include conducting strategic and analytical studies, providing technical implementation support, coordinating platforms to better integrate partners and projects, and designing and directly leading a number of implementation projects. Our headquarters are in Addis Ababa, and we have regional offices in Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, and Tigray regional offices, allowing us to work closely with a wide range of public, private and development sector partners across the country.

Our Culture

We have an exceptional team of highly competent employees with a proven track record of success in managing complex activities and achieving transformational results.  Our culture is one where talented, dedicated and adaptable individuals are committed to doing their best and exhibit great team work to achieve excellent results.

At ATA, we provide an exceptional platform for people who want to achieve their highest potential and make a meaningful contribution in changing the country’s agricultural sector.  We offer rewarding work in a young, fast-paced growing organization with passionate, committed, motivated colleagues and excellent career development and training.  We recognize our most valuable assets are our staff and are committed to providing our employees with the tools, training and mentorships necessary to achieve their career goals.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Communications Officer will be responsible for executing the ATA’s communications strategy together with other members of the Communications team. Primarily, this role will involve crafting consistent messaging that accurately and positively conveys the work of the ATA in order to build awareness and understanding of the ATA’s work. The Communication Officer also helps to ensure that ATA staff are able to effectively engage and utilize media to promote the organization’s work.

In addition to working across all areas of the organization as a communications generalist, the Communication Officer will provide specific communications support and assistance to help ATA program and project teams achieve maximum impact. The successful applicant will be driven, dynamic, possess a problem-solving mindset, as well as excellent communication skills. The positions will report to the Communications Manager and will have a dotted line working relations with the Senior Communications Officer.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Implement the ATA Communications Strategy together with the other Communications team staff.

• Develop consistent and appropriate communications materials (reports, brochures, newsletters, press releases and presentations) for various target audiences, including ATA’s partners, government institutions, media agencies, and the public.
• Lead or support the organization of events, such as project launches, field days, and press conferences, for priority projects or on an ad hoc basis.
• Build and maintain relationships with communications/public relations teams at key partner institutions.
• Work with priority project teams to assist their communications activities, particularly by providing coaching regarding media engagement.
• Develop and maintain an up-to-date contacts database of partners and donors.
• Maintain and manage a database of key media ensure a pool of agriculture-reporting journalists is developed, Develop and maintain an up-to-date contacts database of partners and donors.
• Facilitate media interviews with appropriate ATA staff.
• Maintain and regularly update the ATA website and the ATA Hub.
• Write, edit and proofread Amharic documents, as needed.
• Assist with translation of organizational publications from Amharic to English or vice versa, taking the lead in translation as needed.
• Liaise with ATA program/project teams to remain abreast of progress and developments and maintain up-to-date information relevant for the production of communications materials.
• Work closely with the Senior Communications Officer and follow his guidance to ensure alignment of outputs and products.
• Oversee, and. as needed, handle the regular dissemination of “the week ahead at ATA” to all ATA staff.
• Manage the weekly highlight and updates from the ATA Hub.
• Conduct media monitoring and report on any developments of concern or impact to ATA’s work.
• Engage in other internal and external communication activities as assigned by the Communications Director or her/his designee.
• Liaise with service providers such as consultants, external translators, photographers and printing companies.
• Take minutes at Communications team minutes and archive all meeting notes.
• Track project timelines and develop plan to meet deadlines.
• Manage the ATA and Communications team email accounts.
• Handle any other related tasks as requested, shifting roles with other team members as the need arises.

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in communications, public relations, journalism, international relations, media relations or equivalent.

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in a generalist corporate communications role with a national or international focus.

• Self-motivated, organized team-player, capable of working under pressure to meet deadlines.

• First rate written and verbal communication skills in both English and Amharic, with some experience with translation work.

• Experience dealing with government bodies, development agencies, media, and the general public.

• Strong professional commitment and orientation within the agriculture and/or development sectors.

·       Innovative and problem-solving skills and capacity to deliver under pressure.

• High level of commitment and working with minimal supervision.
• Willing to work extra hours as needed.