Mercy Corps, a globally respected humanitarian organization, is committed to building secure, productive, and just communities. Operating across over 40 countries, Mercy Corps has earned its reputation through decades of impactful, sustainable programming that tackles some of the world’s most pressing challenges. One such initiative is the Nawiri Program—an ambitious, multi-sectoral endeavor focused on ending persistent acute malnutrition in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) of northern Kenya.
Mercy Corps is currently inviting applications for the position of Communications Manager for the Nawiri Program. Based in Nairobi with significant field engagement, this role is central to strengthening Nawiri’s public presence, enhancing its visibility, and building a consistent narrative of impact, learning, and advocacy. The Communications Manager will spearhead the program’s communication strategy, manage media engagement, develop compelling content, and support team growth, among many other responsibilities.
About the Nawiri Program
The Nawiri Program is an eight-year USAID-funded Resilience Food Security Activity (RFSA) led by Mercy Corps in partnership with a consortium of national and international organizations. Now in its fifth year, the program focuses on long-term resilience and the eradication of chronic malnutrition in Turkana and Samburu counties. Nawiri uses evidence-based, adaptive, and multi-sectoral approaches, integrating sectors such as livelihoods, WASH, health systems strengthening, natural resource management, and community governance to sustainably tackle the systemic drivers of undernutrition.
Position Overview
The Communications Manager will serve as the strategic and operational lead for Nawiri’s communications. This role calls for a dynamic and innovative professional with a strong editorial sense and the ability to distill complex ideas into compelling narratives for diverse audiences. The Manager will design and implement a robust communications framework to enhance Nawiri’s influence, support learning agendas, and elevate program visibility among stakeholders including donors, government agencies, media houses, and the public.
Detailed Job Description
1. Strategy & Vision
- Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive communications strategy aligned with:
- Mercy Corps Kenya’s Pathway to Possibility Strategy
- USAID Nawiri’s Evidence, Learning, and Impact Agenda
- Mercy Corps’ Africa Regional Communications Strategy
- Prepare national and county-level workplans that are innovative and measurable.
- Collaborate with the Program Performance and Learning Director to define and assess key communications performance metrics.
- Design and disseminate versatile communication toolkits such as FAQs and technical briefs for consistent use across the team.
- Build strong relationships with USAID, the Government of Kenya, consortium members, and advocacy partners.
- Serve as a resource for managing potential reputational risks alongside the Regional Media Manager.
2. Media Engagement
- Act as the primary liaison with national, regional, and global media outlets.
- Proactively support media outreach, plan and coordinate press events, and ensure press materials such as press releases are timely and strategic.
- Guide social media strategy and content creation for platforms managed by USAID Nawiri.
- Monitor media trends and public narratives to inform timely engagement opportunities.
- Train Nawiri spokespersons and ensure brand consistency across all media outputs.
3. Content Development
- Translate technical data and program insights into clear, engaging content for different platforms and stakeholders.
- Lead the production of key publications such as:
- Annual reports
- Learning briefs
- Donor engagement materials
- Ensure all outputs are visually and editorially consistent with USAID branding and Nawiri’s communication standards.
- Maintain Mercy Corps’ internal and external visibility by regularly updating platforms such as:
- The Globe
- The Hub
- Workplace
- Donor media spaces
- Draft and distribute a monthly Nawiri newsletter to summarize milestones and updates.
- Support high-profile events through speechwriting, agenda-setting, media planning, and content development.
4. Team Management
- Foster a collaborative and high-performing communication team culture.
- Supervise county communications officers and provide mentorship, feedback, and training to build local capacity.
- Regularly review and manage the communications budget to ensure responsible and impactful spending.
- Coordinate the communications team’s roles in internal learning and documentation activities.
5. Safeguarding Responsibilities
- Promote a culture of respect and dignity, integrating safeguarding principles into all communication activities.
- Lead by example in encouraging the use of internal reporting channels such as the Integrity Hotline.
- Ensure safeguarding risks related to media representation are proactively addressed.
Supervisory and Reporting Lines
- Reports To: Director of Program Performance & Learning
- Direct Reports: County Communication Officers
- Works Closely With: Program Leads/Managers, Regional Communications Manager, Technical Teams, and Partner Organizations
Key Success Factors
The Communications Manager will thrive in this position by:
- Demonstrating high emotional intelligence and communication finesse across varied audiences.
- Driving impact through evidence-based storytelling.
- Cultivating an environment of mentorship and capacity building within the team.
- Having the agility to navigate reputational issues and crisis communications.
- Leveraging media relationships and trends to elevate Nawiri’s public narrative.
- Being results-oriented and collaborative in achieving cross-sectoral communication objectives.
Work Environment and Travel Requirements
This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, with up to 40% travel to Turkana and Samburu counties. Travel may include visits to program sites in remote or resource-constrained locations, necessitating strong adaptability and respect for local contexts.
Staff housing in Nairobi is individual and of a high standard, with access to quality medical services.
Learning & Development
Mercy Corps encourages a culture of continuous learning. All staff members, including the Communications Manager, are expected to spend 5% of their working time on personal and professional growth activities. These can include workshops, online courses, or mentorship sessions.
Mercy Corps Team Culture
Mercy Corps is committed to:
- Building diverse teams with a broad spectrum of experience, backgrounds, and ideas.
- Creating safe and respectful work environments.
- Promoting equity and inclusion across all levels of the organization.
- Fostering collaboration, creativity, and transparency.
Team members are empowered to reach their highest potential and contribute meaningfully to mission-driven work.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps embraces and promotes diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. Discrimination of any kind, whether based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or other protected categories, is not tolerated.
An inclusive and respectful work environment is foundational to Mercy Corps’ operations.
Safeguarding and Ethics
Mercy Corps upholds strong standards in safeguarding and ethics, ensuring protection for all individuals they interact with during program operations. This includes strict adherence to the UN Secretary General’s principles on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse. All team members are expected to complete relevant eLearning courses and operate in line with the organization’s Code of Conduct.
Applicants are encouraged to report any misconduct observed during the recruitment process via [email protected].
Application Information
To apply for the Communications Manager – Nawiri Program role, please submit your application via email.
Application Email: [email protected]
Mercy Corps is an organization that champions innovation, respect, and the belief that a better world is within reach. Join this mission by contributing your communications expertise to one of Kenya’s most impactful development initiatives.
For any clarifications or assistance related to the application process, kindly reach out to the contact provided.
