Job Description

Job Title: Manager, Communications
Location: Nairobi Kenya
Reports to: Executive Director, Global Communications with a dotted line to IAVI Africa Lead

Are you an ambitious and experienced Communications professional who’s eager to make an impact in public health?

As a Manager of Communications, you will drive the voice of a leading global health organization in Africa. The Manager will lead high-impact internal and external communications, elevating IAVI’s presence as a trusted partner and influential player in public health. You will craft and execute strategic messaging amplifying IAVI’s work, engaging key stakeholders and bringing our scientific and public health impact to life. This pivotal role plays an important part in enhancing internal communications, supporting science communications and ensuring alignment with IAVI’s global strategy to amplify regional and global presence. Learn more and apply below!

Key Responsibilities:

External Communications

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy that promotes IAVI Africa’s initiatives, achievements, and capabilities across the continent and positions it as a thought leader in regional R&D for vaccine and antibody product development.
• Collaborate with IAVI Africa leadership and internal teams to periodically evaluate and refine strategies for enhanced visibility and global positioning.
• Lead media engagement and manage branding activities in Africa to showcase the impacts of IAVI’s research and development activities, emphasizing ongoing studies and scientific breakthroughs.
• In consultations with the study teams, support ongoing studies communication and dissemination needs.
• Contribute to IAVI Global Communications efforts to elevate the profile and visibility of IAVI’s brand, impact, and mission through external communications.

Internal Communications

• Collaborate with the Africa Leadership Team to ensure consistent messaging across the organization and strengthen branding.
• Implement initiatives to strengthen internal branding and align staff with IAVI Africa’s vision and promote an inclusive and well-informed workplace culture.

Science Communications

• Develop clear, engaging content for diverse audiences, including policymakers and donors, from complex scientific research and data.
• Connect IAVI’s scientific efforts to wider global health issues, highlighting IAVI’s expertise, capability and contributions.
• Create communication materials to enhance visibility of IAVI’s work in Africa and support initiatives for community understanding and participation in research and clinical trials.

Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in journalism, strategic communications, public relations or equivalent is required.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in communications, marketing, or public relations is required.
• Experience in development, research, or global health setting is highly preferred.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, meet timelines, be creative, and take initiative.
• Excellent written and visual storytelling skills, with a demonstrated ability to identify and convey information in an inspiring, engaging, and informational manner.
• Strong writing and editing skills, capable of translating complex, technical information for broad audiences.
• Good grasp of global and regional media and social media landscape and trends.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability build relationships at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Interest and capacity in graphic design, including social media content, presentations, and simple publications are desirable.
• Commitment to advancing IAVI’s mission.

Organizational Overview:

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges including HIV and tuberculosis. Our mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. Through scientific and clinical research in Africa, India, Europe, and the U.S., IAVI is pioneering the development of biomedical innovations designed for broad global access. We develop vaccines and antibodies in and for the developing world and seek to accelerate their introduction in low-income countries. IAVI programs and partnerships are grounded in the regions of the world where the disease burden is the greatest, and our approach emphasizes sustainability. Our network of clinical research center partners in Africa and India helps strengthen in-country research capacity and supports the training and education of the next generation of scientists. The global impact of our science includes fundamental contributions to understanding the biology of HIV infection, which IAVI and others are applying toward advancing vaccine science and immunology. IAVI accelerates scientific discovery and development by fostering unique collaborations among academia, industry, local communities, governments, and funders to explore new and better ways to address public health threats that disproportionately affect people living in poverty. Our global reach, including a clinical research network in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in India, has allowed us to make fundamental contributions to understanding the epidemiology, transmission, virology, and immunology of HIV. This work played a key role in facilitating the design of promising HIV vaccine candidates, as well as the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that are now being advanced as promising approaches for HIV prevention. Our integrated capabilities in vaccine and antibody discovery, development, and clinical research take advantage of bio-pharmaceutical industry expertise to accelerate the development and testing of prevention methods for HIV and other diseases. Through the Product Development Center, we support external researchers with technical and scientific expertise to accelerate the development of their own products.

IAVI CORE VALUES:

• Commitment: We deliver on our mission, proactively transforming promises into tangible results
• Stewardship: We steward IAVI's resources responsibly to ensure IAVI's long-term success and global health impact
• Integrity: We uphold strong moral principles to maintain our credibility as a nonprofit scientific research organization
• Collaboration: We work as one IAVI team and partner with others to deliver globally accessible, urgently needed, public health solutions

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship. IAVI is an equal opportunity employer and applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

IAVI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER actively committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive global organization. IAVI believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a representative candidate pool. At IAVI, we celebrate the spectrum of colleagues’ experiences and believe that dedication to our mission above all is essential to our success as a scientific global non-profit. IAVI upholds these principles through IAVI’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

IAVI has zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, caste, national origin, home language, ancestry, religion, marital or civil partnership status, age, physical or mental disability, HIV status and any other medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status, in addition to any other status protected under the law in any of our locations worldwide.

Compensation And Benefits Information:

Salary is paid in local currency, and is commensurate and competitive with the local labor market.

Please note, there may be some variation based on experience level. In addition, this position offers competitive benefits including: generous retirement savings plan employer contributions; competitive health, dental and vision insurance plans; competitive paid time off policy; potential for annual bonuses based on performance; and other benefits. More information can be found on IAVI's career page.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rightsnotice from the Department of Labor.