All staff of Hope Walks are expected to support and embody the following core values:

Serving with Compassion:      Demonstrating love and respect and providing support, we at Hope Walks serve our children and their families with dignity and empathy.

Striving for Excellence:            As a medical ministry, the quality of our care is of utmost importance. At Hope Walks, we serve our children, their families and our stakeholders with superior quality in all aspects of our work.

Working in Partnership:          Community is key, and by working together, we become stronger. At Hope Walks, we intentionally develop constructive, long-term relationships.

Living with Integrity:                 As Christ is our example, we at Hope Walks act and speak with truth and consistency.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Health Communication Officer is responsible for the development and supervision of all social marketing and communications strategies of the program to ensure that health workers and society leaders in targeted catchment areas know that clubfoot is treatable, how to detect it, and how to refer children born with clubfoot for treatment in a Hope Walks clubfoot clinic. This individual will oversee the development of goals, strategies, and implementation plans to execute comprehensive social marketing and sensitization approaches and campaigns. The incumbent, working with the Clinical Program Coordinators and the Counseling Program Coordinators, will promote the creation, enhancement and development of programs to promote early detection of clubfoot and its services. The Health Communication Officer will also oversee the launch and management of new sensitizations, social marketing strategies, and associated activities to meet the program’s goals and targets. This position requires strong expertise in health communication, community outreach, and content development.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Community Sensitization and Early Detection and Referral EDR (50%)

• Develop effective sensitization strategies and annual plans targeting specific audiences and target groups that need to become aware of clubfoot and the availability of treatment at Hope Walks clinics.
• Develop, coordinate and oversee programs, technical assistance and resource materials to assist various departments in the community sensitization, communications and positioning of their activities.
• Lead the sensitization activities of the program per the approved annual plan and budget, in collaboration with the Clinical Program Coordinators and the Counseling Program Coordinators.
• Implementation of social mobilization approaches in order to increase community engagement on the clubfoot early identification and early care.
• Manage Early Identification and Referral training and sensitization conferences carried out by the Program staff.
• Develop clubfoot Social Behavior Communication Change (SBBC) and Social Marketing (SM) and SM materials in collaboration with other partners.
• Travel to regions and city administrations to lead EDR, community Social marketing and social mobilization campaigns.

Social Marketing and Communications (50%)

• Reflect, articulate, and promote the mission, vision and identity of HOPE WALKS-Ethiopia.
• Responsible for creating, implementing and measuring the success of a comprehensive social marketing and communications program that will enhance the HOPE WALKS-ET image and position within the marketplace and the general public and facilitate internal and external communications.
• Manage the strategic and creative design of HOPE WALKS-ET social marketing and communications activities and materials in collaboration with the Country Director and other team members.
• Ensure articulation of HOPE WALKS-ET’s desired image and position, assure consistent communication of image and position throughout the national program and its reach, and ensure communication of image and position to all Program teams, both internal and external. Coordinate media interest in the program and ensure regular contact with target media and appropriate response to media requests.
• With the support of team members, coordinate the appearance of all National Program print and electronic materials, such as sensitization materials like brochures.
• Ensure that the National Program regularly conducts relevant market/sensitization research, coordinates and oversees this activity, and monitors trends.
• Lead special projects as assigned, such as special events of sensitization,
• Ensure fundraising campaign communications plan.
• Collect monthly patient stories within the agreed-upon and established timeframe.
• Collect at least 10 patient stories with accompanying photographs per quarter from different clubfoot clinics.
• Deliver photography and videography for the organization during training and special events.
• Provide support, mentoring, and encouragement to Parent Advisors on taking quality photos and developing patient stories.
• Compile and send three patient stories to the Communications and Content Manager monthly.
• Prepare case stories for donors and other stakeholders.
• Doing regular social media posts showing country Program activities, achievements and success stories.
• Taking the leading role in the brace-painting project.
• Crisis Communication: Respond to any misinformation or communication crises in a timely manner, ensuring accurate information reaches affected communities promptly

Employment type: Full-time contract

Frequency of Travel: Approx. 30%

About You

QUALIFICATION SKILLS

Education:

• Bachelor or Master’s degree in Public Health, Health Communication, Marketing, Journalism and in related Behavioral Science or a related field

Experience:

• Minimum 4 years of experience in social marketing, Health communications or social mobilization with demonstrated success, preferably in the not-for-profit sector of Health.

Technical skills:

• Proficient in using digital marketing tools using social media platforms

Communication skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, Amharic, and other relevant local languages. Proficiency in creating culturally relevant and clear messaging for diverse audiences

Interpersonal Skills:

• Strong ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and to build positive relationships with stakeholders, community leaders, and health workers

PREFERRED Competencies and Skills

• Experience working in a Health Care or non-profit
• Training and experience in Child Advocacy
• Experience working with volunteers is desirable.
• Photography and videography certification.
• Fluent in oral and written English
• Ability to travel by car and spend days on the field
• Experience overseeing the design and production of print materials and publications, website management, and social media content creation and management.
• Computer literacy in word processing, MS Office products, Google Workspace literacy and other general-purpose tools (Canva, Adobe Photoshop)
• Commitment to working with shared leadership and in cross-functional teams.