Communications Manager

Africas population is growing rapidly with young people forming an increasing share of the workforce. Yet job creation has not kept pace leaving millions - particularly young women - without access to stable dignified livelihoods due to barriers such as limited education social norms and unpaid care responsibilities.

At the same time Africas health sector is expanding and presents a powerful opportunity to create sustainable livelihood pathways. This programme focuses on transforming community-based health work into respected viable career pathways for young people especially women. Starting in Kenya Ethiopia Burkina Faso Tanzania and Malawi the programme aims to professionalise community health workers create dignified employment and strengthen systems - contributing to both youth livelihoods and healthier communities.

Position Summary

The Communications Manager leads a multi-partner and multi-country programme communications to ensure that impact progress and learning are clearly accurately and consistently communicated to donors consortium and implementing partners communities and other key stakeholders. The role translates complex programme work into credible narratives that strengthen trust support policy regulation and legislation and programme reputation across multiple countries.

By aligning programme narrative with evidence and delivery realities the Communications Manager strengthens programme credibility supports systems-level change and positions the programme as a trusted platform for partnership learning and scale.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic and change communication leadership: Develop and implement programme-wide strategic and change communications frameworks and plans aligned to programme priorities and objectives articulating the programme narrative supporting transformation efforts and reinforcing shared understanding across diverse stakeholder groups. Translate programme vision progress and learning into compelling narratives that demonstrate impact and influence decision-making among policymakers donors and institutional partners.
2. Programme narrative and messaging: Design communications approaches that support change enabling stakeholders to understand why change is needed what is changing and how the programme contributes to sustainable livelihood and health system outcomes; shape clear narratives around youth employment gender equity community health systems and programme impact.
3. Stakeholder engagement: Support donor communications requirements working closely with Programme MEL and Grants teams; contribute to donor reports proposals learning products and visibility materials; translate technical programme and MEL information into accessible credible communication products; and ensure messaging reflects programme realities and avoids overstatement or misrepresentation; ensure communications build donor confidence and partnership relationships.
4. Content development and channel/platform management: Oversee development of high-quality content across appropriate channels (reports briefs digital platforms media events); maintain quality standards editorial control and approval processes in line with the programmes overarching communications strategy; support country teams to adapt content to local contexts while maintaining consistency.
5. Reputation risk and governance: Identify and manage communications risks including sensitive messaging reputational exposure and alignment with donor and/or Amref policies; ensure communications practices are ethical accurate and aligned to Amref values; and maintain institutional memory of programme messaging and positioning.
6. Capacity building and collaboration: Strengthen communications capability across country teams through guidance and coaching; work closely with MEL Finance and Grants to ensure alignment between evidence compliance and narrative; and reduce dependency on central communications by building country-level capability over time.
7. Crisis Communication: Work with the Amref Crisis Management Committee and programme stakeholders to manage programme risks enabling timely coordinated responses to issues that may affect programme delivery integrity donor confidence or community trust. Establish clear escalation pathways roles and decision rights (RACI) for media and external engagement. Work closely with Programme Global Communications MEL Legal and senior leadership to shape appropriate narratives assess potential operational reputational legal and financial implications and ensure communications support effective decision-making during periods of heightened risk or uncertainty.
8. Branding and Visibility: Strengthen programme visibility and coherence through consistent application of a unified programme brand identity narrative and purpose across all communications outputs. Develop and maintain clear brand and communications guidelines ensuring effective cascade to country programme teams. Establish and steward a structured communications knowledge repository to support institutional memory learning and consistent use of approved messaging and assets across the programme lifecycle.

Kep Performance Indicators (Success Measures) Building the right platform and creating lasting impact

1. Clear programme narrative established: Communications actively support programme positioning funding continuity and partnerships; programme messaging is consistent accurate and aligned across countries and stakeholders; and communications reflect programme progress and evidence.
2. Strategic influence & stakeholder impact: Leadership relies on communications insight for stakeholder engagement and decision-making; communications contributes demonstrably to policy dialogue stakeholder collaboration or partnership outcomes; and programme narratives are referenced or used by policymakers donors or ecosystem partners.
3. Donor & Stakeholder confidence: Donor communications requirements are met on time and to quality standards and communications contribute positively to donor relationships and visibility; stakeholders demonstrate clear understanding of why changes occurred and how to engage going forward.
4. Risk-Aware communications practice: Communications risks are identified early and managed appropriately and no major reputational issues arising from inaccurate or misaligned messaging.
5. Cross-functional alignment: Strong working relationships established with Programme MEL Finance and Grants teams and communications are integrated into planning and reporting cycles; country teams receive practical guidance that enables confident local adaptation.  
6. Institutionalised standards & continuity: Communications tools guidance and narratives are institutionalised entrepreneurial opportunity-oriented communications practices are embedded into planning and review cycles and transitions in staff or leadership do not disrupt programme messaging.
7. Continuous improvement: Communications products increasingly reflect learning adaptation and impact and lessons from communications performance inform ongoing improvement

Qualifications :

1. Seven (7) to Nine (9) years of experience in strategic communications public relations journalism or international relations with at least three (3) years of leadership experience within development social enterprise or mission-driven organisations;
2. Bachelors degree in Communications Journalism Public Relations Media Studies Development Communication or a related field. A Postgraduate qualification in Communications International Development Public Policy or a related discipline is an advantage;
3. Membership in an accredited local regional or international professional body such as International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Media Council of Kenya (MCK) etc.
4. Proven track record in media relations stakeholder engagement strategic and change communication leadership;
5. Experience developing and executing communications strategies and plans aligned to programme goals;
6. Exceptional storytelling content development editorial and interpersonal communication skills;
7. Experience translating technical and MEL data into accessible narratives;
8. Experience in strategic advisory crisis communication digital communications media relations and communication risk management in regulated or donor-driven environments; and
9. Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop InDesign Illustrator and other data visualisation or graphic design software is an added advantage.

Core Competencies

1. Strategic Planning: Obtains and identifies key issues and relationships relevant to achieving long-range goals; commits to a course of action to accomplish a goal after developing alternatives based on logical assumptions facts available resources constraints and Amref values.
2. Entrepreneurial mindset: Translate emerging programme developments risks and opportunities into timely communications approaches adapting narratives to changing political policy or delivery contexts; test and refine communications approaches to improve reach resonance and effectiveness using evidence and feedback to inform decisions.
3. Facilitating change: Position communications as an enabler of change supporting leadership and teams to move decisively while maintaining clarity credibility and trust; proactively identify opportunities to strengthen influence stakeholder engagement and visibility in support of programme objectives.
4. Driving results: Sets high goals for personal and team accomplishment; uses measurement methods to monitor progress toward programme goals; tenaciously works to meet or exceed goals while deriving satisfaction from that achievement and continuous achievement.
5. Influencing: Uses effective involvement and persuasion strategies to gain acceptance of ideas and commitment to actions that support specific strategic & change communications outcomes; uses appropriate interpersonal methods to reduce tension and conflict and facilitate agreement with donors consortium & implementing partners and other key stakeholder groups.  
6. Delegation and empowerment: Identifies and leverages opportunities to accelerate results and build capability by assigning tasks to individuals or their own team with clear boundaries expectations support and follow-up with the intent of involving others in agreement for successful outcomes.
7. Innovative leadership: Creating a culture that inspires people to generate novel solutions with measurable impact for existing and potential stakeholders (internal and external); encouraging experimentation with new ways to solve work problems and seize opportunities that result in unique and differential solutions.
8. Proactive Learner: Identifying own strengths and shortcomings that impact organizational and programme results; actively pursuing development experiences that will enhance own impact on long-term organisational outcomes.

Additional Information :

Working at Amref Health Africa

At Amref Health Africa leadership is defined by impact sound judgment and the courage to turn purpose into results - not by title alone. Leaders are trusted to think entrepreneurially take ownership and navigate complexity in dynamic multi-country environments to deliver lasting health and livelihood outcomes across Africa.

In this role you will lead through change setting direction and enabling others across countries consortium partners and disciplines. You will operate in complex programme ecosystems that require agility collaboration and innovation balancing ambition with accountability as political regulatory and programmatic conditions evolve.

To support sustained performance Amref provides a competitive and supportive employment offering including comprehensive medical cover a pension plan flexible work arrangements continuous leadership development and staff networks that foster inclusion and belonging.

At Amref you do not simply manage programmes - you lead change build systems and create lasting value.

Please include a cover letter that highlights why you believe you are an ideal candidate for this role along with your CV showcasing your relevant skills and experience. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with the application deadline being on Monday 16th February 2026 at 23:59 (East Africa Time).

Amref Health Africa does not require applicants to pay any money at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process and has not retained any agent in connection with recruitment. Although Amref may use different job boards from time to time to further spread its reach for applicants all open vacancies are published on our website under the Vacancies page and on our official social media pages. Kindly also note that official emails from Amref Health Africa will arrive from an @ address.

Amref Health Africa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref Health Africa is is dedicated to diversity and is an equal-opportunity employer with a non-smoking environment policy.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time