African Union
Job Purpose:
The role of the Director of External Engagement is to enhance the Africa CDC’s reputation, status, and impact by fostering outstanding relations with African Union Member States, Governments, international organizations, Partners, funding organizations, relevant media, and other stakeholders. This is achieved through dynamic and inspirational strategic leadership for the Resource Mobilization, Communication and Public Information, and Policy and Health Diplomacy Divisions. The Director sets a strategic direction coherent with the overall Africa CDC strategic plan and the new public health order.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Establish strategic communication, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement, as well as resource mobilization targets, policies, and strategies.
2. Provide leadership and strategic advice on multi-pronged approaches for External Engagement, Advocacy, Communications, and Partnership strategy.
3. Guide and position the Africa CDC to develop strong partnerships with AU Member states, media, and partners.
4. Develop and execute the overall strategy for the directorate, ensuring alignment with the overall organizational strategy.
5. Manage and supervise employees within the directorate, ensuring timely delivery of goals and effective staff performance evaluation.
6. Drive the implementation and monitoring of policies, strategies, and programs to contribute to the effective implementation of relevant AU Policy Organs Decisions.
7. Ensure delivery of the directorate’s annual targets in line with the organization’s overall goals and maintain robust monitoring and evaluation systems.
8. Provide technical leadership and ensure efficient functioning of all Divisions within the directorate.
9. Manage the work of the Directorate and supervise direct reports to ensure effective performance in line with the organization’s performance management policy and system.
10. Lead the directorate, ensuring effective management of program implementation, communication and stakeholder engagement strategy, health policies and diplomacy initiatives, and resource mobilization strategies.
11. Build and maintain good working relations and collaboration with other directorates/departments.
12. Develop and maintain regular working relations with senior stakeholders in Member States, media, and partner institutions.
13. Provide strategic support, guidance, and training to the team to ensure effective delivery on the directorate and division’s priorities.
14. Facilitate public and stakeholder input to inform the development and implementation of impactful strategic communication, stakeholder engagement, and resource mobilization strategy.
15. Measure and communicate performance and impact of strategic communication, marketing, and resource mobilization initiatives, including regular reporting to the public.
Educational Requirements and Relevant Experience:
– Advanced university degree in a related field with at least 15 years of experience, including 8 years at the managerial level and 5 years in a direct supervisory role.
– Additional experience and training in Diplomacy, fundraising, marketing, and advocacy are advantageous.
– Experience in the Public Health area is considered an asset.
– Proven understanding of the latest communications and marketing trends.
– A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in public information and communication, international relations, public policy, or related areas.
Essential Competencies:
– Proven experience in leading a highly effective Marketing and Communications or External Affairs department.
– Advanced knowledge of Strategic communications, marketing, and partnership principles.
– Significant experience in developing senior-level external relationships and securing high-level advocacy.
– Advanced understanding of stakeholder engagement.
– Extensive experience in leading, motivating, and managing teams.
– Experience in Corporate strategic policy, frameworks, project management, and planning.
– Knowledge of financial management.
– Proven success in transformational change management and implementing process change through people and capacity building.
– Ability to address issues in the context of political developments, public attitudes, and local conditions.
– Ability to advise on and develop concrete solutions to high-profile and sensitive communication challenges.
– Experience working in international affairs in an international organization.
– High-level interpersonal skills.
– Membership in an internationally recognized professional communication body is mandatory.
Specific Responsibilities:
– Support the Director General in driving and delivering the Africa CDC vision, mission, and the ‘New Public Health Order’ strategy.
– Shape Africa CDC by increasing effectiveness, innovation, building capacity, and creating a high-performance culture.
– Champion cross-functional working and integration through matrix management.
– Coach and mentor functional leads to build strong, capable, confident, and autonomous team leaders.
– Develop and implement an external engagement strategy to advance the purpose, strategy, and priorities of the Africa CDC.
– Provide leadership to the Communications and Public Information, Resource mobilization and Fundraising functions, and Policy and Health Diplomacy.
– Assume overall responsibility for the external engagement budget.
– Support the Director General and Senior Leadership Team in messaging and providing technical and policy advice.
– Design and implement campaigns to disseminate Africa CDC flagship publication findings and key projects.
– Cultivate and nurture relationships with external stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, community groups, and industry partners.
– Serve as a primary point of contact for external inquiries and collaborations.
– Develop and implement strategic engagement plans aligned with the Africa CDC’s mission, goals, and public health priorities.
– Lead advocacy efforts to influence public health policies, legislation, and regulations.
– Develop and implement community outreach initiatives to raise awareness of public health issues and the organization’s programs.
– Collaborate with community leaders and organizations to address local health needs.
– Collaborate with the development team to identify and pursue funding opportunities.
– Plan and execute events to promote the organization’s mission and engage with stakeholders.
– Work closely with internal teams to ensure coordinated external engagement efforts.
– Exercise judgment to prioritize Executive Leadership’s media opportunities.
– Responsible for the execution of resource mobilization activities.
– Assess the overall effectiveness of Africa CDC communication, stakeholder engagement, and resource mobilization strategy.
Required Skills:
– Result-oriented with a strategic mindset.
– Leadership skills that inspire confidence and promote shared values.
– Ability to build and manage teams effectively.
– Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
– Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills.
– Analytical skills and ability to work well under pressure.
– Desire for success and motivation for continuous improvement.
– Tenacious, adaptable, and able to get things done.
– Commitment to fairness, inclusion, equality, diversity, and transparency.
Tenure of Appointment:
– Regular term contract for three (3) years, with the first twelve months considered as a probationary period.
– Renewable for two years subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.
Gender Mainstreaming:
– The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.
Languages:
– Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.
Remuneration:
– Indicative basic salary of US$ 78,138.00 (D1 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements.
Note:
– Only candidates meeting all job requirements and selected for interviews will be contacted.
– Consideration is given to candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with relevant documents.
– The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
– Candidates from less-represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply.
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Interested applicants can apply before the closing date of the application. For more information please read the full article
