The ideal candidate for this role has a Communications background from an academic or international development nonprofit environment and has an enthusiasm for communicating research findings to a policymaker audience. They would need to have strong attention to detail, superior communication skills, and proven hands-on experience managing the production of various communication products. This role requires a person with a collaborative mindset, strong time management and public relations skills, plus design and digital media skills to help support a wide variety of communications projects and activities for our teams in Francophone West Africa. You will be expected to deliver tactical input while providing daily management services to the teams, liaising regularly and aligning with the Country Offices and global teams, and implementing IPA’s overall communications strategy.

This versatile individual must not only possess strong skills in writing, design, digital media, and media... relations, but also have a strong grasp of a range of international development topics. Specific global development sector as well as randomized controlled trials (RCTs) knowledge is a plus.

Success in this role will require a high level of flexibility, responsiveness, and the ability to execute while managing ongoing requests and working collaboratively within and across teams. While the successful candidate for this role will mostly work with the Francophone West Africa team, they will be an integral part of the Global Communications team and will be expected to contribute to global communications outputs as well.

Responsibilities: Duties include, but are not limited to:
• Content development and design

The Francophone Communications Manager will develop engaging and accessible content/communications products aimed at policymakers, partners, funders, and internal audiences, ranging across written, graphic design, and social media formats. The range of communications products will include policy briefs and summaries, presentations, blog posts, website updates, and social media content in French. They will ensure that communication requests are dealt with promptly and that expectations are managed in terms of speed, delivery, and quality of response. They will manage requests to ensure they are scheduled on time and within budget.
• Digital media

The Francophone Communications Manager will develop, write, update, and upload French content to IPA’s website and social media channels. Successful candidates will have experience with Content Management Systems or CMS such as Drupal or WordPress.
• Media relations

As IPA begins to diversify its media reach, the Francophone Communications Manager must have media relationships with francophone media, not only at the local level but also at a regional and - ideally - international level. They must have their finger on the pulse of the editorial agendas of francophone journalists and editors, and they will be expected to pitch and place compelling stories about IPA and its impact in the region.
• Events

The Francophone Communications Manager will support virtual and in-person events, including coordinating, planning, and presentation drafting and support.
• IPA’s brand

The Manager will be responsible for understanding and keeping IPA’s brand consistent across all communication products, platforms, and channels. They will be the custodian of our branding and style guidelines for Francophone West Africa.
• General communications support

The Francophone Communications Manager will also support as needed digital advertising, media relations/research, writing and editing, photography, videography, photo and video editing, graphic design, and web content management. In addition, the Francophone Communications Manager will support fundraising communications with storytelling and material development as needed.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:
• Undergraduate degree in Communications, Marketing, Economics, Public Policy, or related fields; Master’s Degree preferred
• 5+ years’ experience in communications or marketing in global development communications with a keen interest in research and data translation.
• Native French speaker with fluency (both written and oral) in English is required
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud programs (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop), Canva, or other design software
• Experience using Microsoft Office programs (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and/or Google Workspace
• Experience working with teams across multiple geographies
• Exceptional writing, communication, and confident presentation skills
• Experience with social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn)
• Experience with a content management system (CMS) such as Drupal or WordPress
• A positive attitude towards tight deadlines that enjoys a fast-paced environment with rapidly changing priorities

Application Instructions

Please include your resume and cover letter (in English) expressing your interest in the role along with your application. A cover letter is required for your candidacy to be considered
Ouagadougou Burkina Faso

Salary Criteria