Marketing and Communication Lead-Port Shepstone, South Africa

By Integrated Research and Development (IRD), Singapore                Qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing / Communication or related field    

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in health communications, behavior change communication (BCC), or communication for development (C4D), preferably within public health, early childhood development (ECD), or social impact sectors.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing multi-channel communication campaigns for low-resourced or under-served communities.
• Experience producing and managing a range of communication materials such as tool kits, radio scripts, visual aids, and digital content. Proficiency with communication and design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, WhatsApp broadcast tools, SMS platforms, social media management tools) and Excellent writing, storytelling, and communication skills, with attention to accuracy and consistency.
• Proficiency in managing digital communication platforms, content calendars, and basic multimedia editing (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite).
• Skilled in co-creating messages with affected populations         

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Strategic Health Communications & Campaign Design: Develop and implement evidence-informed, culturally relevant health communication strategies that promote early childhood development (ECD) in low-resourced, rural settings. Lead the design and delivery of integrated ECD campaigns using a mix of channels (e.g., community radio, print, SMS, digital, and interpersonal communication). Ensure communication materials are inclusive, language-accessible, and resonate with caregivers, the ECD workforce, and local influencers and are aligned with organizational vision, mission, values and branding guidelines.  Community-Centered Content Development: Co-create messaging with community partners and stakeholders to ensure campaigns reflect lived experiences and local knowledge. Translate complex public health concepts pertaining to early learning, nutrition, mental health, and others, into simple, actionable, and engaging messages tailored to diverse literacy levels. Produce communication toolkits, flipcharts, radio scripts, video PSAs, and visual storytelling assets that promote positive caregiving practices.
• Media & Partnership Engagement and Events: Collaborate with local media outlets, community health platforms, and grassroots networks to amplify programmatic messages. Manage relationships with creative agencies, designers, and technical consultants to produce campaign assets where required. Build communication capacity among program teams and partners through training, templates, and coaching. Build and maintain relationships with media outlets, journalists, and influencers to enhance the organization’s visibility. Draft and distribute press releases, op-eds, and media briefs in consultation with Global Communications and Country leadership. Monitor media coverage and track public sentiment on key health issues relevant to our work. Lead communications planning for programmatic events and campaigns. Collaborate with program teams to promote campaigns related to awareness days or advocacy moments.
• Digital Engagement & Monitoring: Lead the development of digital strategies to extend the reach of programmatic messages, including social media campaigns and mobile engagement (e.g., WhatsApp, SMS). Track campaign performance using analytics tools and community feedback loops to refine messaging and tactics. Contribute to learning outputs (case studies, lessons learned) that showcase the impact of communication strategies on behavior change and knowledge uptake. Internal Coordination & Knowledge Sharing: Support program teams in embedding communication for development (C4D) principles across initiatives. Document and share best practices in health communication within the organization and across sectoral partners. Lead content creation for donor communications, knowledge assets, and other public-facing materials.