We are a group of young men and women from around the world with diverse professional and academic backgrounds. We believe that human development begins with knowledge and awareness. We design and implement quality educational projects for displaced children and youth, using a comprehensive approach that aims for the all-around development of children and youth, their sustainable livelihood, their integration into society, that enables them to participate in the mainstream development process and contributes to building a sustainable community through education.
Our Vision:
A diverse and solidarity society that learns and empowers efficiently and creatively
Our Mission:
We create a creative learning and empowering environment for children and youth that explores and interconnects resources available in diverse communities for mutual benefit and sustainable giving.
Values:
- Equality
- Integrity
- Sustainability
- Inclusiveness
- Innovation
Overall Purpose of the Position
The Media and Institutional Communications Manager is responsible for leading Abjad’s overall media and institutional communications function. The position oversees social media, content, publications, printed materials, visual identity, website and LinkedIn presence, ensuring the quality, consistency and coherence of Abjad’s media and institutional outputs across different platforms.
The position leads Abjad’s institutional and media presence and develops relationships with partners, donors, institutions and communities in Germany. It also provides support to Abjad’s public relations and communications team outside Germany, contributing to strengthening Abjad’s institutional standing, expanding its network of relationships, and identifying new partnership and funding opportunities.
The position has overall responsibility for managing and overseeing Abjad’s media and communications function, ensuring consistency in institutional messaging and visual identity across its various platforms and website.
The position also provides overall oversight of Abjad’s events in Germany and supervises the network of volunteers involved in these activities. It follows up on projects in Germany and their outputs to ensure alignment with Abjad’s overall direction and objectives.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
1. Media, Communications and Digital Presence Management
- Lead Abjad’s overall media and institutional communications function and oversee the implementation of media strategies and plans in line with the organization’s overall direction and objectives.
- Manage and oversee the Media and Communications team, set priorities, allocate responsibilities, and monitor the quality of media outputs.
- Oversee the development and implementation of an integrated communications plan covering Abjad’s programs: Iqraa, Athar and Yasmine, ensuring balanced visibility of programs, activities, results, impact and human-interest stories.
- Oversee media and awareness campaigns, key events and major activities, and follow up on their implementation to ensure that communications objectives are achieved.
- Review and approve key communications messages and media materials prior to publication, when required, ensuring alignment with Abjad’s institutional messages and objectives.
- Ensure adherence to Abjad’s visual identity and institutional branding across all platforms and media and digital materials.
- Oversee Abjad’s digital presence, including its website and digital platforms, ensuring that published content is up to date, accurate, consistent, and aligned with the organization’s identity and institutional messaging.
- Oversee the development of Abjad’s website and its use as a tool to raise awareness of Abjad, its programs and impact, strengthen engagement with partners and stakeholders, and support partnership and funding opportunities.
- Coordinate with relevant teams and departments to ensure that digital platforms are provided with accurate and updated information and materials, and follow up on the website’s technical and development needs with service providers or relevant specialists.
- Develop and manage relationships with media outlets, journalists, influencers and relevant media platforms to strengthen Abjad’s visibility and institutional reputation.
- Monitor and analyze the performance of digital platforms, media campaigns and Abjad’s digital presence, using results and data to inform the development of future media plans and strategies.
- Manage Abjad’s needs for external design, production and media content services, including identifying and coordinating with specialized service providers or entities, contracting them in accordance with approved procedures and policies, and monitoring the quality of their performance and deliverables.
2. Public Relations and Institutional Representation in Germany
- Develop and oversee the implementation of Abjad’s public relations and external communications plan in line with its vision and objectives.
- Represent Abjad at relevant meetings, events, conferences and activities, in coordination with Abjad’s Executive Management and Programs Management.
- Build and develop sustainable relationships with relevant organizations, institutions, initiatives, individuals and stakeholders, particularly in Germany and Europe.
- Expand Abjad’s network of relationships with the Syrian community, institutions and active initiatives in Germany.
- Develop and maintain an up-to-date database of partners and relevant stakeholders.
- Follow up on opportunities for collaboration and, where appropriate, translate institutional relationships into partnerships or practical initiatives.
3. Partnership Development and Funding Opportunities
- Proactively identify new donors, funding opportunities and potential partnerships aligned with Abjad’s programs and priorities.
- Build and maintain a Donor & Partnership Pipeline to track potential opportunities and their development.
- Oversee the initiation of communication with potential donors and partners and introduce Abjad, its work and programs.
- Arrange and participate in introductory meetings and engagement activities with donors and partners.
- Coordinate with management and program teams to develop initial ideas for new opportunities and provide the required materials and information.
- Follow up on funding and partnership opportunities from initial communication through to the proposal development or agreement stage.
- Contribute to the preparation of institutional profiles, presentations and other materials targeting donors and partners.
Note:
The position is responsible for developing opportunities and relationships with donors and partners. Technical proposals and budgets are developed in coordination with management and relevant teams and are not prepared independently by the Communications Manager.
4. Events and Programs Management in Germany
- Plan, organize and oversee Abjad’s events and programs in Germany.
- Develop an annual calendar of priority events and occasions.
- Manage the organizational and coordination aspects of events in collaboration with the team and volunteers.
- Coordinate with partners, guests, speakers and participating entities.
- Ensure appropriate media coverage and documentation of events.
- Leverage events as opportunities to build relationships, raise awareness of Abjad, and expand its network of supporters and partners.
5. Volunteer Management in Germany
- Oversee the recruitment, organization and management of volunteers involved in Abjad’s activities in Germany, in accordance with an established volunteer framework and clear standards.
- Identify volunteer needs and appropriate roles in coordination with management.
- Organize volunteer participation in events, campaigns and community activities.
- Ensure clear and continuous communication with volunteers and promote their engagement and sense of belonging to Abjad.
- Develop and maintain a database of volunteers, including their available skills and experience, and utilize these resources across different activities.
- Build and develop Abjad’s core team in Germany.
6. Internal Management and Coordination
- Translate strategic objectives related to communications, media, relationships and partnerships into clear and actionable periodic work plans.
- Hold regular team follow-up meetings, allocate responsibilities and monitor progress.
- Maintain ongoing coordination with program and project managers and coordinators to ensure that their activities and results are appropriately reflected in Abjad’s communications.
- Coordinate with management on relationships, partnerships and new strategic opportunities.
- Prepare concise periodic reports on work progress, opportunities, relationships, events and media performance.
- Contribute to the development of policies and procedures related to communications, media and public relations.
- Contribute to the development of policies and procedures related to communications, media and public relations.
Education and Qualifications
- University degree in Public Relations, Media, Communications, Business Administration, International Relations, Development Studies, or a related field.
- Fluency in Arabic and English, both written and spoken.
- German language proficiency is considered a strong asset due to the nature of the position and its location in Germany.
- Good ability to use digital tools, communication platforms and information management systems.
Required Experience and Competencies
- Relevant professional experience in public relations, communications, partnerships, media or work with non-profit organizations.
- Experience in team management or supervision of multi-functional teams.
- Experience in building relationships with institutions, partners and donors.
- Good understanding of funding mechanisms and donor engagement is a strong asset.
- Experience in event organization and volunteer management or community initiatives.
- Knowledge of the Syrian context and civil society and development work is an important asset.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Professional representational skills and the ability to build trust with partners.
- Strategic thinking with a strong ability to translate ideas into practical and implementable plans.
- Ability to manage a team, set priorities and follow up on performance without becoming involved in day-to-day micromanagement.
- Ability to identify opportunities and proactively build relationships.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Strong media awareness and a good understanding of institutional identity and organizational reputation.
- Commitment to Abjad’s values and principles of child safeguarding, privacy and professionalism.
Essential Requirements
- Relevant professional experience in public relations, communications, partnerships, media or work with non-profit organizations.
- Experience in building relationships with institutions, partners and donors.
- Excellent communication, relationship-building and professional representation skills, with the ability to build trust with partners, negotiate, present and identify opportunities proactively.
- Strategic thinking with a strong ability to translate ideas into practical and implementable plans.
- Ability to work effectively across teams located in more than one country.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
- Good understanding of funding mechanisms and donor engagement, with experience in event organization and volunteer management or community initiatives.
- Knowledge of the Syrian context and civil society and development work.
- Experience managing and supervising multi-functional teams, with the ability to set priorities and monitor performance without becoming involved in day-to-day implementation details.
How to apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications through the following application form:
Application Form:https://forms.gle/CPdP5ugUtYJhta7s8
For any questions or further information regarding the position or the application process, please contact us at HR@abjadinitiative.org.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.