Water For People is a global non-profit working across Latin America, Asia, and Africa to address the global water crisis. With teams across the globe, we’re building lasting access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services that are resilient to climate change, equitable for all, and bring health and prosperity to communities – for Everyone Forever. In Tanzania, Water For People is poised to begin implementing significant activities at the National level and across Mpwapwa District. To learn more, visit www.waterforpeople.org.
Job summary
The Communications Officer will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering messages that drive awareness, advocacy, and action toward improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services and contribute to our local and national impact work. This role involves engaging stakeholders, promoting campaigns, and amplifying the organization’s impact through strategic communications.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:
Content Creation and Storytelling:
- Develop compelling content (press releases, reports, case studies, newsletters, blogs, and social media posts) to highlight the organization’s programs, success stories, and impact in water and sanitation.
- Produce human interest stories to amplify the voices of communities served by the interventions implemented by Water For People and its partners.
- Collaborate with the global and regional communication team members on key content and messages.
- Coordinate timely compilation of annual reports for internal and external sharing.
Campaigns and Advocacy:
- Design and implement communication campaigns and events to raise awareness about WASH issues and the Destination 2030 strategy (our vision and strategy for how Water For People will help achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 – water and sanitation for all by 2030).
- Implement global communications and influence strategies at the national and district levels.
- Design and implement projects, communication activities, and plans in line with project management needs and a master communication strategy.
- Collaborate with advocacy teams to develop policy briefs, reports, and advocacy materials for stakeholders, including policymakers and donors.
Media Relations:
- Build and maintain relationships with journalists, media outlets, and influencers to secure coverage of Water For People work and initiatives.
- Build documentation and communication capacity for the program team.
- Organize press conferences, media briefings, and field visits to showcase WASH programs and projects.
- Ensure a well-maintained organization reputation through messaging, branding, and orientation for other staff
Digital and Social Media Management:
- Manage Water For People Tanzania’s digital platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and internal platform Viva Engage), ensuring regular and engaging content aligned with our Destination 2030 strategy and mission.
- Monitor and analyze online engagement metrics to refine digital communication strategies.
- Create and share multimedia content, including videos, infographics, and photography, to amplify campaigns.
- Manage multimedia content, including photos, videos, and consent forms, and organize and tag them using the internal Content Library tool.
- Coordinate the Information Technology (IT) unit for the Water For People Tanzania country team.
- Coordinate IT technical issues at the country level for support.
- Work closely with global IT experts to rectify IT problems of Water For People Tanzania.
- Manage records for IT asset of Water For People Tanzania staff.
- Update and track online internal documentation (systematic data transaction processes)
Internal Communication:
- Coordinate with the program team to gather updates, testimonials, and success stories for internal and external communication.
- Ensure staff across the organization are informed of country achievements, campaigns, and initiatives.
Event Planning and Coordination:
- Plan and execute strong media coverage of the local commemoration of global WASH events such as World Water Day (22 March) and World Toilet Day (19 November), etc., in liaison with the program team.
- Support with preparation of speeches, talking points, and presentations for country leadership and government partners.
- Plan and ensure effective execution of the organizational activities including launches, handovers, and other planned events.
Crisis Communication:
- Develop and implement communication strategies during emergencies, such as natural disasters or outbreaks affecting water and sanitation services.
Monitoring and Reporting:
- Track the effectiveness of communication strategies using metrics and feedback.
- Prepare reports for internal stakeholders and donors on communication activities and outcomes.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, mass communication, social sciences, arts, or any other relevant degree.
- Over three years of experience in a similar role in water, sanitation, health, or related projects, working in partnership with NGOs, district councils, or the private sector.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED
- Demonstrated ability to train and build capacity of others
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Bilingual in English and any other local language
- Common sense to make judgments about a situation requiring deviations from outline tasks.
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS:
- Position is based at Water For People’s Tanzania office – Dodoma Region
- Position requires regular field travel for work documentation.
Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.
COMPETENCIES
- Connects to the Mission – Embraces the mission of Water For People and is passionate about advancing the dynamic role it plays leading social impact in international development.
- Demonstrates Ethics and Integrity – Understands ethical behavior and business practices and ensures that own behavior is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
- Manages through Ambiguity – Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in responding to change and ambiguity.
- Demonstrates Cultural Awareness – Able to engage the wide range of stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.
- Action-oriented – Maintains an attitude of open, curious, and proactive learning, continually expanding own area of understanding and expertise.
- Connects with Others – Listens and fosters open communication through questioning, dialogue, and information sharing.
- Self-confident – Demonstrates humility, mature confidence, and courage to innovate, risk, and lead in own role.
Our commitment to protection of Children
Water For People is committed to protecting children encountered during our work and by our employees, preventing sexual abuse and exploitation of all individuals with a particular focus on women and children and other marginalized communities in the performance of our work, preventing human trafficking in the performance of our work and in our supply chain and to having a drug-free workplace. During the recruitment processes, additional documentation will be requested to comply with our policies and in accordance with the legal requirements in your country of residency, this includes a background check. If you apply for employment, we want you to be aware of our recruitment, selection and hiring processes including important policies regarding employee conduct.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Water For People is an equal opportunity employer who is committed to creating a culture of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. Water for people strives to create and maintain a level of diversity that reflects the communities we serve. Achieving this—regardless of race, ethnicity, ancestry, tribal affiliation, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, veteran status, disability, socioeconomic class, educational attainment, Parental status, genetic information, political affiliation, or other social identities is critical to our ability to have a world where every person has access to reliable and safe water and sanitation services.
Our commitment ensures that we:
- Have a different array of thinking that comes from diverse backgrounds and cultures, enabling us to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.
- Strive for a culture of inclusion and belonging by treating each other with dignity, respect, and appreciation enabling us to feel welcome, supported, and valued.
- Effectively connect, communicate, and build long-lasting relationships with stakeholders within our diverse communities.
- Have diversity of thought, perspectives, backgrounds, identities, and talents that will support our mission to develop high-quality drinking water and sanitation services are available to Everyone Forever.
