POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Communication and Behavior Change Expert will be responsible for managing SWR’s project information, communication and outreach strategies. S/he will ensure communications and marketing materials adhere to the guidelines in the approved USAID Branding and Marking Plan and will work closely with the program team. S/he will be primarily responsible for ensuring comprehensive documentation of activities and achievements, including drafting success stories, reports and press releases, and developing outreach information and information campaigns. The Communications Officer will report directly to the Chief of Party.  

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the scheduling, writing, preparation of and editing of quarterly and annual reports, success stories, and ad-hoc project reports as needed, working closely with program and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) staff (and utilizing the M&E database and grants database) to gather content and information; 
• Develop and implement a strategy for impacting behavior changes in target communities.  

• Coordinate the development of communication, training, and outreach materials for community audiences, promoting a culture of circularity, materials recovery, and appropriate solid waste management. 

• Contribute to SWR’s Stakeholder Engagement Plan and develop and ensure implementation of the project’s Communications and Outreach Strategy, updating as necessary; 

• Ensure the necessary multimedia consents and copyright compliance for any photo/video/audio content production, including for children and vulnerable communities; 

• Prepare, write, or assist in the preparation of press releases and other materials (English and Spanish) promoting the SWR program, which may include talking points; photographs and captions; 

• Post on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) and prepare content for the Winrock website including blog posts, tweets, and other content; 

• Lead media outreach and coverage of key project events; 

• Assist in preparing, editing, and branding project documentation and associated deliverables, annual work planning documents and briefing materials, and internal project reports; 

• Assist in the translation of project communications, outreach, meeting, and training materials from English to Spanish/Spanish to English, and assist in the planning, preparation, coordination, and implementation of SWR outreach events (such as press briefings, roundtable discussions, briefings for partner organizations, the US Embassy, USAID Mission, and Government; 

• Assist SWR and its project partners if/as needed to develop outreach dissemination materials such as posters, social media content, radio scripts and other media.  

• Maintain connections with local partners, media and other stakeholders who can help share information about the project with a wider audience; 

• Monitor, collect and maintain organized files containing media products that highlight or are relevant to SWR’s work; 

• Contribute to the development of key project information messages for dissemination via mobile technology information systems; 

• Contribute to knowledge management and sharing activities within the project, with USAID, the government, local partners and other implementing partners.   

• Coordinate with the Dajabón and Puerto Plata Free Trade Zones and the Monte Cristi and Puerto Plata Tourism Clusters to co-invest in SWM-related behavior change campaigns in local schools. 

• Assist SWR grantees in report writing if/as necessary; 

• Other tasks and duties as assigned. 

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism or a related field. Additional degree in environmental science, sustainability, or similar field a plus. 
• Experience and Technical Skills:
  • Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in developing, managing and implementing communications and marketing materials in the environmental sector.
  • Experience working in international development projects preferred.
  • Experience managing teams to achieve complex technical goals.
  • Experience collaborating with communities and creating behavioral change campaigns preferred.
  • Experience writing success stories, media releases and reports in English and Spanish.
• Other Skills Required: 
  • Analytical skills.
  • Strong sense of organization, confidentiality, responsibility, and initiative.
  • Ability to work in a diverse and multicultural team.
  • Proactive thinking and ability to work independently.
  • Ability to handle multiple tasks.
  • Attention to detail and consistency.
  • Experience with community outreach.
  • Excellent writing, photography and formatting skills.
• Required Travel:
  • Regular travel to the project’s areas of interventions (up to 60%)