Communication and Advocacy Officer

Purpose of Job

Under the leadership and with strategic oversight from the Country Director of Lumos Moldova and working closely with the teams in the Head Office, the Communication and Advocacy Officer is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing communication activities to achieve Lumos’ overall objectives, and for collecting data, drafting, and submitting reports on the results achieved by each of the project implemented by Lumos in Moldova. In this regard, the Officer works with various national and international partners. The Communication and Advocacy Officer will play an important role in promoting and advocating for the implementation of Lumos Moldova Programme.

Main Responsibilities

Communication and Advocacy:

• Develops and supports the implementation of annual communication plans in accordance with the Programme’s objectives and key activities.
• Develops and produces communication and advocacy materials: articles, newsletters and press releases aimed at a wider range of media, understanding the appropriate use and requirements of different communication channels, on and offline.
• Carries out communication and advocacy activities with the purpose to achieve Lumos’ objectives and mission.
• Supports regular programmatic monitoring of established measures and indicators to deliver expected results in a timely manner, in accordance with the set milestones and timelines, producing high-quality analysis and reports.
• Supports with research initiatives, ensuring data quality, adherence to principles, policies and standards, and global best practices.
• Strives for high quality and meaningful engagement of children, youth and caregivers in the learning processes.
• Provides support in organizing events and ensures wide info dissemination of these activities through the media.
• Ensures media outreach; arranges all media contacts, press briefings, and interviews; responds to media inquiries quickly and effectively.
• Supports the Child and Youth Participation Component by involving children in different communication/advocacy activities and events, enhancing their self-advocacy capacity, as well as by promoting child/youth messages and advocating for their rights.
• Ensures compliance with Lumos’ procedures and policies related to communication and MEAL.
• Ensures smooth communication flows between the Groups and the country team colleagues.
• Resolves communications/public relations issues/problems with support of the project managers, senior staff and other specialists, according to Lumos’ policies.
• Ensures internal information management by collecting and distributing among colleagues’ news / articles / reports from mass-media related to Lumos and / or other NGO and / or authorities’ work in the field of child protection.
• Submits information regarding Lumos’ work in Moldova according to the Lumos HQ requirements.
• Conducts field visits in Moldova in the frame of the Lumos Programme’s implementation.
• Prepares materials and presentations for meetings and events and provides talking points for senior staff.
• Participates in shared learning activities with colleagues from other Lumos offices and HQ.

Editing, production and uploading of content:

• Contributes to the production of a diverse range of information products (including audio/visual communications).
• Produces reports, notes, success stories and other materials, ensuring visibility and making Lumos Moldova Programme’s achievements visible and known by the entire organisation.
• Uploads content about the Lumos Moldova Programme’s achievements on country microsite and for Lumos HQ site, working to enhance their public reach.
• Offers support to the Programme teams in the process of publishing various materials, such as: reports, training, methodological and communication materials, etc.
• Ensures proofreading of monthly, quarterly, board and annual reports for the Lumos Moldova Programme,
• Ensures the development of the Final Programme Reports.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Contributes to monitoring activities for Lumos Moldova team, ensures effective and timely capture, processing and reporting of the Programme’s data and metrics.
• Nurtures a culture of learning and continuous improvement, builds the confidence and capabilities of country colleagues to use data and evidence in their everyday work.
• Drafts and prepares research reports to publication standards (using language that is tailored to the audience; and following the Lumos’ style and referencing guidelines).
• Contributes to research studies as required by the Lumos Moldova Programme.
• Supports the development of reports for the Programmes and Safeguarding Board Committee, project trackers and supervision.
• Contributes and supports the process of monitoring and evaluation of activities.
• Ensures that activities are documented accurately, Programme Reports are developed, and learnings from the current programmes are captured.
• Creates and manages an internal library / data base of available training / methodological assistance and other information resources related to and useful / applicable in our activity.

Performing other activities:

• Updates and places information on the SharePoint Intranet site.
• Performs other activities to accomplish the goals and mission of the Lumos Moldova Programme.

Person Specification

Essential

Skills:

• Good interpersonal and communication skills, ability to work with a wide variety of contacts and networking skills.
• Highly organized, with an aptitude in planning effectively to meet deadlines, and an ability to work on multiple tasks at the same time.
• Research, analytical and writing skills.
• Ability to work independently on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Ability to be self-motivated, flexible and effective.
• Excellent verbal and written command of English, Russian and Romanian.
• Administrative and computer skills.

Knowledge and experience required:

• Creating, implementing and evaluating effective communication strategies.
• International and national policies in child rights protection and personal data
• Understanding of social media and creating social media content.
• Copywriting and editing.
• Solid understanding of project management principles.
• Working knowledge of MS Office.
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and presentation skills.
• Outstanding organizational and planning abilities.
• Experience with planning and implementing communication and advocacy activities.
• 3-5 years of monitoring and evaluation experience development contexts with NGOs. Experience with INGOs is an advantage.
• Experience with child rights programming and/or one of priority areas of Lumos:

child protection, family strengthening, health, education

• Experience in evaluation design and management.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including excellent internal consultation and liaison skills; facilitation and coaching skills.
• Excellent analytical and creative abilities with strong results orientation.

Qualifications:

• Graduate level education or relevant professional qualifications.

Desirable

• Web design and content production.
• Working with photo and video-editing software.
• Experience of working with international NGOs.
• Knowledge of international child protection procedures, referral processes and legislation.
• Good working knowledge and understanding of databases.

Values

Act in accordance with Lumos’ values:

• Collaboration
• Excellence
• Respect
• Care
• Passionate

Safeguarding Statements

Lumos recognises that the rights of safety and security are aligned with its core mission of ending institutionalisation. Effective and robust safeguarding sit at the heart of our mission and values, and accordingly, Lumos is committed to ensuring the safety and protection of children and vulnerable adults in all its work. We expect all staff, associates and volunteers to share this commitment. Lumos will carefully screen all applicants and any offers of employment are subject to appropriate employment and background checks, as well as suitable references from previous employers.

Lumos is committed to ensuring the safety and protection of children and adults at risk in all our work. All staff and associates must:

• Carry out all duties with an awareness and understanding of the Safeguarding requirements within the area of responsibility.
• Ensure work complies with all safeguarding policies and procedures that apply to the role.
• Ensure the that their behaviours and actions support the safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk as appropriate.

EDI Statement

Lumos is wholly committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and against all forms of discrimination. 

We are committed to creating and sustaining a positive working environment that encourages, supports and gives a voice to all, so that we can best support the children we serve. We must ensure that all staff are equally valued, included, empowered and respected across the organisation and in everything we do.

Lumos is fundamentally built on diverse, multi-national and multi-cultural teams. This is something we cherish as a key strength and an integral part of our identity. Our organisation values and celebrates the diversity, culture and experience of each member of staff, provides equality of care and support to everyone.

We pledge to listen carefully, to educate ourselves continually, to promote open dialogue, and to seek out and deal with discrimination and prejudice wherever it occurs in Lumos.

Interested candidates are welcome to apply by sending their CV with Cover letters to the email office.moldova@wearelumos.org  mentioning in the subject line the title of the position “Communication and Advocacy Officer”. Deadline: 20 May 2024