Main purpose of the job

The Communications Officer will play a key role in engaging students, families, and the wider school community leading on initiatives that promote a positive image of the school through a range of communications channels. The Communications Officer will primarily:

• Support the school’s communications strategy by using a range of channels to engage with parents, students, staff and the wider
• Support, and in some cases lead on, multi-channel internal communications campaigns which includes creating content, managing design and measuring outcomes.
• Produce regular multi-media content to be distributed to parents, staff and students on a range of channels, including email newsletters, online platforms, social media and on-campus displays
• Update, monitor and manage social media
• Organize school yearbooks for all graduating students.
• Oversee and manage the school website.
• Engage confidently with multiple stakeholders and influence, advise and persuade as required
• Work collaboratively in the team, sharing ideas with the wider marketing team, integrating communications across off-line and on-line platforms.
• Contribute to the development of internal communication channels and platforms to supportschool business objectives

Key areas of responsibility

• Support the Head of School and Senior Leadership Team to develop and deliver a strategic communications plan to meet the overall school brand communications strategy and deliver against the school strategic plan
• Plan, manage and update content plans ensuring they are on message and encompass all areas of the
• Possess excellent written and verbal English skills so that the school is promoted effectively.
• To promote visibility of SIS and its activities connecting with embassies and diplomatic missions, international organisations in Ethiopia, and national parents.
• Identify and develop a comprehensive forward plan of school stories, initiatives and
• Act as the first point of contact for internal communication enquiries in a professional, timely and efficient manner, liaising with various relevant stakeholders as required. Ability to handle and escalate issues appropriately
• Proactively develop and maintain excellent relationships with colleagues across the school to ensure internal communications reflect the wide range of activity being
• Ensure that key messages are delivered in a consistent, professional tone of voice and will raise SIS’s reputation among current and potential stakeholders.
• Be fluent in and familiar with all social media channels and platforms, working closely with other school social media professionals and bringing best practice to bear on all activities
• Proactively seek out news stories from across the school to develop a sense of pride amongst the school community. Work closely with colleagues to follow up and obtain information and collateral to support the creation of Research, write and distribute news stories, social media posts, blogs, opinion pieces
• Contribute to the production of factually accurate, engaging written copy for communications and marketing materials (including key corporate pieces such as Annual Reports, reviews ), media materials, events, stakeholder relations, internal and external online communications, briefings and other written materials
• Brief and work with creatives (e.g., graphic designers, photographers, editors) to produce high quality materials for online and offline publications.
• Provide media administration support e., monitoring news, internal channels and social media coverage, compiling evaluations, budget administration, ensuring spend provides good value for money.
• Monitor and evaluate all internal communications activity, including rigorous analysis of market and competitor trends, and provide feedback and analysis as to Use analysis results to inform and develop future internal communications activities.
• Keep up to date with professional best practice.

In addition to the above areas of responsibility the position maybe required to undertake any other reasonable duties relating to the broad scope of the position. The post holder will be required to work outside of normal office hours and some weekend work, as required

Job Requirement

Qualifications and/or membership of professional bodies:-

• Postgraduate / Degree or equivalent qualification relevant for the post. For example, Communications, Political Sciences, Public Information, International Relations.
• A minimum of two years of fulltime successful service as a communication officer in reputed institution of the private or public sector

Knowledge and experience:-

• Experience of working in a communications team either in-house or agency.
• Experience of working and negotiating with internal senior managers and stakeholders.
• Proven hands-on experience in
• managing social media channels.
• Understanding of the education sector.
• Experience of working in a school

Specific skills to the job:

• Effective communicator with excellent English language (written and verbal) skills with evidence of being able to work under pressure and meeting tight deadlines. to develop and deliver proactive communication campaigns
• Ability and awareness to work to brand guidelines.
• Ability to create multimedia content.
• The ability and willingness to maintain focus, take difficult decisions and to deliver

General skills:-

• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a positive approach to promoting the work of the school
• Excellent customer service skills and an ability to work on own initiative

Other:-

• Ability to liaise confidently with colleagues at all levels both inside and outside of the school.

This post is subject to all safeguarding protocols and checks

Salary: 30,000 – 40,000 ETB based on relevant qualification and experience