PATH Zambia Jobs: Communication and Policy Team Leader
PATH is an international organization that drives transformative innovation to save lives and improve health, especially among women and children. We accelerate innovation across five platforms—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations—that harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, we take innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. Together, we deliver measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health.
In the last several years, remarkable progress has been made in fighting Malaria. Advancements in prevention and treatment have resulted in marked reductions in illness and death. Now it is time to strive for a more ambitious target—to end malaria illness and deaths in Africa altogether. Eliminating malaria is achievable using existing tools and a focused strategy, and the Malaria Control and Elimination Partnership in Africa (MACEPA), a program at PATH, is working with its national partners in Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Zambia to chart the way forward.
We seek to recruit a Communication and Policy Team Leader, as a member of the management team based in Lusaka, Zambia, the Communication and Policy Team Leader will be responsible for providing leadership across a range of communication and policy activities in support of project objectives. It is estimated that the position focus will be 70% on communications and 30% on policy. S/he will serve as Team Lead for all MACEPA Zambia Communication & Policy activities, liaise regularly with the MACEPA HQ Communications and Advocacy and Policy Teams, develop and supervise a Zambia-based communications and policy team and support for other MACEPA countries and represent MACEPA in Zambia and at country and regional meetings as needed.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Serve as Team Lead for all MACEPA Zambia Communication & Policy activities.
- Liaise regularly with the MACEPA HQ Communications and Advocacy and Policy Teams.
- Develop and supervise a Zambia-based communications and policy team and support for other MACEPA countries.
- Represent MACEPA in Zambia and at country and regional meetings as needed.
- Lead the design and implementation of a project communication strategy.
- Engage communities in project intervention areas.
- Coordinate with Ministries and partners.
- Establish partnerships with business and other stakeholders.
- Liaise with the press and other media.
- Design and develop materials design, organizing for pre-testing as needed.
- Advocacy and information dissemination in Zambia and abroad.
- Work directly with the National Malaria Control Center, the Zambia Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, and other partners on strategic and technical issues related to communication activities in support of malaria elimination.
- Serve as the point person for mobilizing MACEPA technical, logistic and publications support to the National Malaria Control Program in developing or revising evidence based strategies, policies and operational plans to accelerate elimination efforts
- Develop and maintain landscape of key opportunities to influence national, private sector and donor commitment towards elimination
- Oversee assigned staff or consultants conducting policy assessments or analyses, and promote opportunities to grow private sector funding for malaria in Zambia
Required Skills
- Fluency in English.
- Strong organizational and leadership skills.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Skilled in negotiating and managing relationships with vendors.
- Proven ability to manage press relations including facilitating media coverage.
- Skilled in the capturing and editing of visual and audio media to showcase project operations.
- Proven ability to function effectively in the Zambian environment, both in Lusaka and in the field.
- Skilled in packaging data for decision makers; making technical information accessible to a range of audiences.
- Proven ability to develop and implement a strategic plan, including defining and achieving milestones and deliverables.
Required Experience
Master’s degree or higher in communication or related field, Ten or more years of experience working in the communication and policy realm, experience in project management; donor reporting and relations; strategic development, familiarity with key national staff and partners working in health, in particular malaria, and experience liaising with Ministry officials at all levels, experience in partnering with the private sector around investing in health.
You must currently have legal authorization to work in Zambia.
PATH is dedicated to diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.