Communications Lead

About The Youth Platform

The Youth Platform (TYP) is a regional network dedicated to amplifying the actions and voices of young people, influencing governance, and advancing youth leadership in economic, social, and political spheres across the region. It focuses on advocating for the rights and dignity of adolescents, ensuring their representation at all levels, and fostering environments that empower youth movements through leadership development, coordinated advocacy, and community engagement.

Role Summary

TYP is looking for a resourceful, innovative, and strategic Communications Lead to enhance the organization's brand recognition, advocacy voice, and engagement with the public. This position will oversee internal and external communications, media relations, digital presence, content creation, and impact documentation to raise the organization’s profile effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate and execute a comprehensive media strategy to boost TYP's exposure across television, radio, print, and digital platforms.
• Strategically leverage key observances such as World Health Day, International Youth Day, World AIDS Day, and 16 Days of Activism to maximize media presence.
• Elevate TYP leadership visibility through opinion pieces, interviews, media appearances, speeches, and public commentary.
• Prepare press releases, advisories, articles, speeches, talking points, and briefing materials to support media efforts.
• Track and archive media coverage and assess the effectiveness of communications initiatives.
• Lead creation and implementation of branding guidelines, messaging frameworks, style manuals, and organizational tone alignment.
• Support production of policy documents, institutional profiles, concept notes, reports, success stories, donor briefs, annual reports, newsletters, and impact assessments.
• Ensure consistency, clarity, and high standards across all communication outputs.
• Collaborate with program teams to translate technical information into accessible and advocacy-focused communication pieces.
• Develop and nurture relationships with journalists, editors, media outlets, influencers, and communications partners.
• Organize media interactions such as workshops, press briefings, roundtables, and award events.
• Maintain an updated media contact database and bolster public relations for events, campaigns, and advocacy actions.
• Manage and expand digital content including social media channels, websites, campaign assets, video content, and engagement plans.
• Collect and analyze digital performance metrics to inform communication strategies.
• Coordinate multimedia production including photography, videography, documentaries, and story collection emphasizing human-interest narratives.
• Maintain a well-organized archive of all media and communications materials.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Studies, Marketing, Development Studies, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 2 to 5 years of relevant experience in communications, media relations, advocacy, public relations, or development-focused communications.
• Preferably has experience working with NGOs, youth organizations, health sectors, governance, or advocacy entities.
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling capabilities.
• Proven track record engaging successfully with media professionals and managing digital audiences.
• Experience producing diverse communication materials including reports, newsletters, press materials, and policy documents.
• Proficiency in tools such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Mailchimp, WordPress or equivalents.
• Competent in social media management, website maintenance, content planning, and analytics.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities with editorial precision.
• Capacity to simplify complex programmatic content for various audiences.
• Creative thinker with a strong sense for visual storytelling and content creation.
• Understanding of advocacy communication, development messaging, and public engagement.
• Ability to operate independently with initiative and multitask effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills fostering teamwork and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Professional representation of the organization in all external communications.
• Strategic thinker who can balance planning with practical execution of communication tasks.

Expected Outcomes

• Consistent and distinctive brand identity for TYP across all platforms and materials.
• Enhanced visibility in mainstream and digital media landscapes.
• Regular production and dissemination of newsletters, reports, stories, press releases, and digital campaigns.
• Strengthened media partnerships and elevated public profile of TYP leadership.
• Comprehensive and quality documentation of organizational programs, impacts, campaigns, and events.

Application Deadline

Applicants must submit their applications by 31 July 2026.