Shifting The Power: Communications Officer

Working closely with the Senior Communications and Advocacy Manager, this role will ensure consistent, high-quality content production, effective stakeholder engagement and systematic capture of programme learning and impact stories. 

This role is essential to achieving the programme's objectives of transforming donor perceptions, shifting public narratives about aid, and building sustainable communications ecosystems with Anchor Partners in Ghana, Zambia, and Malawi. The postholder will coordinate communications activities across multiple channels, manage content workflows, and ensure authentic representation of locally-led development throughout all programme communications. 

The role requires strong organisational skills, creative content development abilities, excellent stakeholder coordination, and commitment to Comic Relief's values of shifting power and amplifying the voices of people with lived experience. 

Story Gathering, Content Development and dissemination 

• Systematically support with the gathering of compelling narratives from APs and their funded partners throughout the programme cycle, ensuring authentic representation of locally led development 

• Work closely with the StP Senior Communications and Advocacy Manager, the Comic Relief Stories team and FCDO Communications Lead to capture and disseminate success stories, challenges and learning from funded organisation across all three countries  

• Support the planning, coordination and collection of annual success stories and contribute to developing diverse methods for sharing them with external audiences 

• Ensure a consistent generation of authentic stories and impact evidence for use across all communications channels, including for Comic Relief general fundraising, based on consultation and collaboration with Fundraising department and the stories teams in particular 

• Support the coordination of  the comms and advocacy subgroup on the management of regular content production, editorial output, and stakeholder communications across multiple channels 

• Coordinate and develop content across platforms, ensuring consistent messaging and brand alignment.

Capturing and sharing learning 

• Capture quantitative and qualitative evidence of programme’s impact through communications and advocacy, including audience research findings, behaviour change metrics, and stakeholder feedback as outlined in the StP 2025-28 Communications Strategy 

• In coordination with the StP programme MEL Manager and the Learning sub-group identify and document impactful stories that demonstrate the programme's effectiveness in communications and influencing narrative change and shifting power dynamics 

• Support the creation of accessible reports and toolkits that capture programme learning for greater uptake by the wider sector 

• Maintain project documentation, timelines and deliverables tracking systems to ensure programme accountability. 

Activation Delivery and Coordination 

• Support delivery of high-profile events including logistics coordination, communications materials development and stakeholder/ supplier  management  

• Coordinate StP programme participation in critical international forums identified by the communications and advocacy subgroup 

• Ensure messaging consistency and maximum impact across all high-level diplomatic and sector engagement opportunities 

• Prepare briefing materials, talking points and content for events targeting donors, funders and intermediaries 

• Capture event outcomes, participant feedback and follow-up actions to demonstrate impact and inform future activities.  

Other responsibilities 

• Process legal contracts, DPIA forms for STP communications activities, and manage data protection requirements for content gathering from Anchor Partners   

• Organise and catalogue films, images, and data gathered from APs and partners, ensuring proper storage and accessibility 

• Support team administration and organisation, minute taking, action tracking and stakeholder communications 

• Engage in collaborative cross-functional working both within the Funding team and across the wider organisation  

• Communicate in an open, honest and transparent way with all partners and stakeholders. 

• Occasional international travel may be required. 

Essential criteria 

• Proven experience in a communications role, preferably within international development, NGO, or charity sector 

• Demonstrated ability to develop compelling content across multiple formats (written, visual, video) that engages diverse audiences 

• Strong organisational and project coordination skills with ability to manage multiple workstreams and competing deadlines 

• Experience working with diverse stakeholders including international partners, with cultural sensitivity and a collaborative approach 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with attention to detail and ability to adapt style for different audiences 

• Digital communications competency including social media management and content management systems 

• Strong administrative skills including data management, file organisation, and legal and compliance documentation 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team 

• Commitment to diversity equity, inclusion and belonging with understanding of power dynamics in international development.

Desirable criteria

• Experience working with African civil society organisations or on programmes in Ghana, Zambia, or Malawi, or the wider Continent 

• Knowledge of locally-led development, shifting power agenda, or the decolonisation discourse in international development 

• Strong copywriting skills to translate complex and technical reports into accessible, easy-to-follow communications for diverse audiences  

• Experience with video production, photography, or multimedia content creation 

• Familiarity with FCDO or UK Aid-funded programmes and reporting requirements 

• Experience with monitoring, evaluation, and learning approaches in communications 

• Event management and workshop facilitation experience 

• Design skills using tools such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar platforms.