Senior Communications and Outreach Officer

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is an international NGO that supports the building of democratic societies around the world. With funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), IFES Nepal provides technical assistance to the electoral cycle to enhance citizen participation and strengthen civil society, governance and transparency. 

IFES Nepal is seeking applications from qualified, dynamic and competent candidates for the position of Senior Communications and Outreach Officer. This position will be under the supervision of the IFES Nepal Country Director and will be full-time based in Kathmandu with occasional field visits.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the IFES Nepal Country Director and in coordination with the Election Commission, Nepal (ECN), IFES sub-grantees and relevant IFES staff, the Senior Communications and Outreach Officer will be responsible for, but not limited to:

•  Assisting in the design, implementation, and monitoring of IFES’s support to the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) and the Electoral Education and Information Centre (EEIC) team in civic, voter, and election information outreach.

•  Supervising and monitoring audiovisual programming and productions for radio, television, or online engagement, as well as interventions related to the ECN’s media center and press office.

•  Supporting the development, implementation, and monitoring of civic and voter outreach strategies and plans to be conducted through sub-grantees and strategic partners.

•  Developing and implementing communications strategies/plans in support of IFES’s civic and voter education drives, including internationally significant days.

•  Leading the production of targeted civic and voter education materials, working in close coordination with IFES staff in-country and at headquarters, as well as with sub-grantees and strategic partners.

•  Managing IFES’s external-facing social media channels while mitigating potential reputational risks.

•  Providing online civic and voter education-related data for reporting purposes in a timely manner.

•  Supporting the ECN, where possible, by providing content for their website and social media to enhance civic and voter engagement.

•  Preparing periodic reports and presentations on IFES's program work, including bi-weekly reports, political updates, one-pagers, infographics, and other periodic publications on program developments.

•  Identifying and managing a pool of individual experts, vendors, and media contacts, and working closely with them to produce high-quality communication and outreach materials.

•  Acting as the communication focal point with the donor and consortium partners, ensuring efficient communication.

•  Communicating and coordinating with IFES’s in-country staff and consortium partners to gather updates and relevant program information for reporting and donor communication purposes.

•  Building the capacity of in-country staff, sub-grantees, and strategic partners in various aspects of communications.

• Support IFES’ donor and partners outreach activities; and representing IFES in external forums and meetings, as needed.

• Performing other related tasks as identified by the Country Director and Deputy Country Director.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

•  Bachelor level qualification in relevant field, masters’ degree preferred.

•  Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in communications, outreach activities, social media campaigns, or journalism. 

•  Fluency in English and Nepali, both written and verbal, and excellent communication skills; ability to type in Nepali preferred. 

•  Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point etc.) and familiarity with designing software and tools such as Adobe Photoshop and InDesign; design skills are an asset.

•  Ability to show initiative, good judgment and resourcefulness, and complete tasks with minimal supervision.

•  Collaborative, team-oriented individual who is willing and capable of working independently where necessary.

•  Ability to prioritize, take direction, and remain organized while handling multiple tasks under tight deadlines.

The position is open to Nepali nationals only. Qualified and interested candidates are requested to send their application and an updated CV with name of two references and contact details to: ifesnepalvacancy@gmail.com. The application submission deadline is 5:00 PM, December 10, 2024. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the selection processes. Undue influence at any stage of the processes will lead to automatic disqualification. Women, people with disabilities, marginalized and disadvantaged communities are highly encouraged to apply.