Communications Specialist - ARE Activity

BACKGROUND

The Lebanon Agriculture and Rural Empowerment (ARE) program is a multi-year project funded by USAID to develop rural economics in Lebanon through support to the agro-food sector and other industries to unlock local and export sales potential while also creating jobs and increasing farmers’ and worker’s incomes. ARE will increase jobs; improve incomes; improve female participation and employment opportunities; increase domestic and export sales; increase private sector investment; improve access to finance; link value chain actors to domestic and international markets; and improve farm production through improved practices, technology, increased volume, and/or decreased cost.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Communication Specialist will be responsible for raising awareness about ARE’s outcomes and results with target audiences through the creation and dissemination of multimedia content online. He or she will lead on the creative content management and coordination among various teams. In collaboration with ARE team members the Communication Specialist will focus his/her work on the development of compelling content strategies for a variety of audiences to further advance ARE’s visibility, grow an online community, engage with audiences on various social media platforms, and track that community’s growth while adhering to USAID’s branding requirements. The Communication Specialist will also provide general support to all of ARE’s communication and marketing needs while also providing targeted support to ARE’s partners in their communication and marketing campaigns.

DETAILED RESPONSIBILITIES

• In coordination with ARE’s Communications Manager, develop online communication strategies for specific ARE interventions.
• Conduct necessary field visits, interviews and research in order to source content for online posts and offline reports and documents.
• Coordinate and work closely with intervention managers to identify relevant content and stories to report on
• Work closely with intervention managers and other ARE teams to cover public events, trainings, distributions and other activities and produce relevant stories
• Create articles and stories covering ARE’s work to be published on social media channels
• Develop relevant content for a variety of audiences to further advance ARE’s visibility
• Prepare press releases (English and Arabic)
• Support the Communication and Outreach Manager as needed to write, compile and send weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual reports
• Support events such as launching events and press conferences
• Provide targeted support to ARE’s partners in Communications and Marketing when needed

• Other duties as assigned by the Communications and Outreach Manager

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Communication, Public Relations, Journalism, Media Studies, International Relations or Marketing.
• Minimum of 6 years working in a similar role in the private sector or with other international organization
• Relevant experience in developing online strategies for projects or brands
• Proven track record of successful communications and marketing campaigns
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills in English and Arabic with an ability to communicate to a wide range of stakeholders (donors, media, partners, the public)

LOCATION OF ASSIGNMENT

The Communications Specialist will be based in the project’s main office in Beirut, Lebanon, and travel throughout the country as needed.

REPORTING

The Communications Specialist will report to the Communications and Outreach Manager.