KEY INFORMATION
 
Job Title: Communications Director
Sector: Gender-based Violence Prevention
Position Type: Full-time
Duration/Level of Effort: long-term
Position Location: Bangkok, Thailand OR Manila, Philippines. This role is open to candidates from across Southeast Asia who currently have the right to live and work in either Thailand or Philippines.
 
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
 
The Southeast Asia Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Platform (the Platform) is a AUD20 million investment over five years (2023-24 to 2028-29). The investment will build on Australia's leadership in GBV prevention and response, by addressing a need and demand for increased investment in, and coordination of, GBV primary prevention initiatives in the Southeast Asia region. The Platform’s guiding principles include: locally driven, evidence-based, intersectional, survivor-centred and trauma informed, adaptive, collaborative and catalysing, minimise harm, accessible and innovative. It will bring together partner governments, WROs, NGOs, donors, international organisations, and regional bodies, providing a convening platform for these stakeholders to collaborate to build capacity and evidence, and improve and accelerate action to prevent GBV in all its forms.
 
The Platform will utilise and build on global evidence and learning to support practitioners to strengthen and increase locally-informed and led evidence-based policy and practice to prevent GBV within households, communities and countries across diverse settings. This includes both careful and high-quality adaptation of evidence-based models from other regions, support the capture and use of locally informed and led GBV prevention evidence and practice, as well as support to develop, strengthen and test new and innovative approaches to GBV prevention. The Platform will leverage Australian government partnerships with UN Women and UNFPA, and several complementary DFAT bilateral and regional investments. In addition, it will link to global, multilateral and Australian GBV prevention initiatives to extend and amplify program impacts and outcomes.
 
The regional Secretariat will be supported by an Incubator (Cowater International Inc. consortium), whose main role is to support organisational infrastructure (IT, HR, finance etc.) and organisational development of the Platform. This support is complemented by a Technical Partner (Social Development Direct) who will build the Secretariat’s capacity in GBV primary prevention.
 
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
 
Reporting to the Regional Director, the Communications Director will be responsible for the oversight and management of the Platform’s Communications Strategy, guiding the Platform on key messages and approaches to strategic communications externally and internally. Working in close collaboration with the Advocate Lead, the Communications Director will support the Advocate workstream and ensure that the Platform messaging aligns with and supports advocacy objectives. The Communications Director will be supported by the Platform’s strategic communications partner, The Equality Institute (EQI) to build the Platform’s brand identity and communications channels including the website and social media accounts.
 
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
 
Strategic Communications
 

• Lead the implementation, regular review and updating of the program Communications Strategy and annual Communications Plan in collaboration with EQI.
• Manage the Platform website and its content as well as social media accounts in collaboration with EQI.
• Oversee and manage the Platform’s Brand integrity, as well quality and accuracy of information across all communications.
• Oversee and contribute to the production of communications content and products, including the preparation of TORs to procure suppliers of information materials, digital, print and audio-visual media and other public outreach as required.
• Provide high level strategic communications advice, including identifying avenues, channels and tools for improved communications to the Platform’s Leadership Team and Platform Partners, as required.
• Proactively identify topics and issues for knowledge management and communications internally/externally.
• Manage public affairs and public diplomacy efforts for the Program in line with DFAT policies and requirements and work closely with DFAT to identify, support and deliver public diplomacy opportunities.
• Manage high level public relations engagement with key media and other influential stakeholders who can promote the approach, achievements, and raise the profile of the program.
• Provide support in planning, organising and implementing interactive internal and external learning activities, networking events and conferences hosted by the Platform.
• In coordination with the Secretariat, identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of partners in communications through appropriate advocacy and training, and other capacity development activities.

Planning and reporting
 

• Lead internal and external communications to coordinate and ensure coherence and consistency of messaging across all workstreams of the Platform.
• Actively participate in annual work planning exercises for the Platform, including developing the work plan for the Communications team.
• Contribute to Platform annual progress reporting.
• Provide ad hoc reports on communications and/or related issues as requested by the Platform Regional Director, Steering Committee and/or DFAT.
• Provide progress updates to the Steering Committee during Committee meetings.
• Contribute to all other Platform deliverables and reports as requested by the Platform Regional Director.

HR Management
 

• Lead the recruitment of a Communications Officer and other requisite staff, including developing job descriptions, conducting interviews and agreeing selection of candidates in collaboration with the Incubator team.
• Contribute to the technical and ethical delivery of the Platform, including ensuring the Platform’s ethical standards of operation related to the conduct of the team and design and implementation of Platform activities are applied consistently.
• Coordinate, oversee and mentor the communications team, delegating tasks, fostering an inclusive and supportive team environment and managing staff performance in line with the Platform principles (listed in the background section above).
• Effectively manage risk associated with this work pillar, feeding emerging and changing risks and associated risk mitigation and management strategies into the Platform’s overall risk management approach, and coordinating with other Platform staff to effectively mitigate and manage risks that cut across work areas.
• Quality assure all communications and external engagement products developed by communications staff.

 
JOB REQUIREMENTS
 

• A degree in the following or related fields: strategic communications, public relations, political science, international development, business administration, etc. A post-graduate degree in a related field is desirable.
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in designing, managing, and implementing communications strategies for development programs.
• Minimum 5 years of management experience directly leading a growing team.
• Experience planning and implementing a communications strategy and plan for outreach and influence, knowledge sharing and advocacy including success stories, news releases, brochures, etc., for development programs.
• Experience developing communications products on issues related to gender equality, social inclusion, gender-based violence or similar, related topics.
• High level interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to convey concepts clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse team environment, delivering quality within given timeframes.
• Commitment to high performance and quality outputs.
• Excellent communication in English language both written and oral.

 
APPLICATION PROCESS
 
Candidates are encouraged to apply by 31 January 2025/as soon as possible.
This position is open to candidates with existing work rights in Thailand and based in Bangkok or with existing work rights in the Philippines and based in Manila.
 
For your application to be considered, please send your CV and cover letter to collaborate@prevention-platform.org
 
Women and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.   
 
Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law. 
 
ABOUT US
 
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.
 
We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.