Life After Coal | Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle

JOB ADVERTISEMENT: Life After Coal Senior Communications Officer

The Life After Coal Campaign is looking to recruit a Senior Communications Officer, to work within a small campaign team, as well as with the communications teams in the three member organisations of Life After Coal. 

The position is for an experienced, dynamic and passionate communications professional to provide strategic and creative communications leadership to the campaign, to direct media relations for key media events, and generally to manage, protect, and nurture the Life After Coal campaign’s public profile.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• At least 5 years’ experience in strategic communications work. A background in the NGO sector is preferred
• Relevant undergraduate qualification, i.e. in journalism, communications, English, or media studies
• Experience in mainstream media relations, with existing networks and relationships with media outlets and journalists, as well as experience in community media relations an added advantage
• Firm grasp of social media platform tools, guidelines, and policies; with WordPress experience an advantage
• Experience with Microsoft Office and Google Drive will be an advantage
• Experience managing publishing processes
• Excellent coordination, collaboration and teamwork skills
• Excellent English writing skills; fluency in another South African language would be a strong advantage
• A sensitivity to inequality, social issues, and the needs of communities impacted by environmental degradation and injustice, and a passion for social and environmental justice
• A commitment to diversity, inclusion, and transformation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Profile management and strategy development and implementation:  Generally managing, nurturing, and protecting the campaign’s public profile. Achieving the strategic communications objectives of the campaign.
• Strategic communications support for programmes: Leading the strategic communications for the campaign, including but not limited to the following:
  • Managing the production of key campaigning publications
  • Directing media relations for key media events, including working with campaign partners’ staff to produce media releases and fact sheets
  • Reporting progress on project deliverables to partners and funders
  • Building and managing relationships with journalists and influencers
• Online platforms:
  • Managing the Life after Coal campaign’s online presence and resources; including website (lifeaftercoal.org.za) and social media accounts (e.g. @LifeAfterCoal on Twitter)
• Networking and relationships:
  • Managing communication with key media and other stakeholders
  • Liaising with communications staff in campaign partners, and in other partner organisations

REMUNERATION

The consultancy will be for 12 months, with the possibility of extending the consultancy beyond that period. Ideally, the candidate will start on 1 October 2023, pending confirmation of funding. The total consultancy fee for the first 12 months is R547 500.

LOCATION

The work of the LAC campaign stretches across South Africa. We are open to applicants based in different parts 0f the country. The position will require some local travel. 

WORKING WITH THE LIFE AFTER COAL CAMPAIGN

The Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle campaign is a well-established joint campaign by Earthlife Africa, groundWork, and the Centre for Environmental Rights. We aim to discourage the development of new coal-fired power stations and mines; reduce emissions from existing coal infrastructure and encourage a coal phase-out; and enable a just transition to sustainable energy systems for the people.

The campaign seeks to appoint a Senior Communications Officer on a consultancy basis, starting on 1 October 2023, pending confirmation of funding. The consultancy will be managed through the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER).

The position is for an experienced, dynamic and passionate communications professional to provide strategic and creative communications leadership to the campaign, to direct media relations for key media events, and generally to manage, protect, and nurture the Life After Coal campaign’s public profile.

The coordinator will report to the Campaign Coordinator and the campaign steering committee, and will work closely with the communications staff across the campaign.

The Life After Coal campaign is committed to diversity, inclusion and transformation and strives to reflect South Africa’s racial, cultural, sex and gender diversity within its campaign staff. Candidates from historically disadvantaged or marginalised groups are strongly encouraged to apply for this post, and will be preferred.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send the following documents to [email protected] with the email subject line: “LAC Senior Communications Officer”.

• A cover letter setting out your skills and relevant experience, as well as why you want to be considered for this consultancy;
• A copy of your CV, including the details of two references;
• A recent writing sample.

The deadline for applications is 18 August 2023. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The campaign reserves the right not to appoint should there be no suitable candidate.