Senior Project Officer - Communications

Job Posting Organization:
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Established to save, protect, and transform lives in need, CRS operates in more than 100 countries, providing relief and development services without regard to race, religion, or nationality. The organization focuses on various sectors including emergency response, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. CRS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation, and it welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds who share its values and commitment to serving those in need.

Job Overview:
The Senior Project Officer - Communications will play a pivotal role in leading the development and production of high-quality, audience-focused communications products that highlight the impact, lessons learned, and successes of CRS Uganda's programs. This position requires close collaboration with project teams, local partners, and participants to effectively package insights for donors and stakeholders, thereby advancing CRS' mission to serve the poor and vulnerable. The officer will proactively engage with CRS project technical teams and local partners to identify, gather content, and produce various communications materials such as case studies, success stories, videos, photos, and social media content. Additionally, the role involves developing content production calendars that align with program implementation cycles, documenting the full story of project implementation, and showcasing the transformative journeys of project participants. The Senior Project Officer will also coordinate with CRS country, regional, and global communications and marketing teams to enhance project visibility among diverse audiences, ensuring the delivery of high-quality communications products that effectively support project objectives and strengthen program impact.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Project Officer - Communications will be responsible for capturing high-quality photography, videography, interviews, and testimonials directly from the field to showcase the impact of CRS Uganda's programs. This includes collaborating closely with project teams, local partners, and project participants to maintain a consistent pipeline of human-interest stories and multimedia assets. The officer will write, design, and produce creative visibility materials such as project fact sheets, brochures, presentations, and donor-facing marketing materials. They will create tailored multimedia content for CRS global social media platforms, ensuring all produced materials adhere to CRS graphic identity guidelines and donor branding requirements. The role also involves providing hands-on communications support for events, managing signage, producing handouts, capturing event photo/video, and coordinating visibility assets. The officer will develop and distribute content collection tools for field staff and partners, provide technical guidance and training on capturing quality photos and stories, manage relationships with media outlets, and adapt messaging to fit the needs of different audiences, ensuring all materials are properly formatted for distribution.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field, with experience in international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) or UN agencies preferred. A minimum of 3 years of marketing and communications experience, ideally within an NGO or organization involved in development and humanitarian programming, is required. The individual must demonstrate the ability to influence without direct authority and work effectively with diverse staff, partners, and participants in a cooperative manner. Strong organizational skills to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment are essential, along with a proven track record of developing and disseminating information to various target audiences. High proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and desktop publishing tools is mandatory.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field. Candidates with experience in international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) or UN agencies will be given preference, highlighting the importance of relevant educational qualifications in the field of communications and public relations.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 3 years of marketing and communications experience, ideally within an NGO or another organization involved in development and humanitarian programming. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in successful program management, leading and coaching diverse, multi-disciplinary teams, and the ability to influence without direct authority. Experience in developing and disseminating information to a variety of target audiences is also essential.

Languages:
Strong written and spoken English is required for this position, with proficiency in Luganda and other local languages being highly desired. This linguistic capability is crucial for effective communication with diverse stakeholders and audiences in Uganda.

Additional Notes:
This position is open to Ugandan nationals only, and applicants are encouraged to submit their applications no later than 5:00 PM on October 23, 202

• The role does not involve supervisory responsibilities, but it does require a willingness to travel up to 40% of the time. CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages all qualified candidates, including individuals from marginalized backgrounds and people with disabilities, to apply. The successful candidate will be expected to sign and adhere to CRS' Code of Conduct, reflecting the organization's commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of all people, especially children and vulnerable adults.