About this role
UBONGO
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER JOB DESCRIPTION
• DESCRIPTION OF POSITION
Job Title
Strategic Communications Officer
Department
Communications and Development
Incumbent
(Name of current job holder)
Reports to
(Supervisor’s job title)
Director of Development & Communications
Job Role
(as required)
Mid
• POSITION OBJECTIVE (overall purpose of position)
Manage the strategic communications for B2B partners and corporate channels. This role will implement the direction for communications that advance Ubongo’s mission, deepen stakeholder engagement, and drive partnership and fundraising success, as set by the director of dev and business development manager. It will focus on shaping and elevating Ubongo’s voice as a thought leader in children’s education across Africa. Working closely with the Director of Development, cross-functional teams, and external partners, this role ensures that all messaging is consistent, compelling, and strategically aligned; amplifying Ubongo’s brand and positioning it as an essential player in the global education landscape.
• RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Communication Planning & Brand Positioning
• Co-develop and implement the implementation of Pan-African communications alongside annual workplans that will be aligned with organizational priorities; particularly donor retention, partnership development, and visibility.
• Support the Director of Development in developing communications to attract new donors, partners, and sponsors.
• Establish objectives, budgets, resource allocation and planning for strategic Communications.
• Review, edit and enhance all communications and fundraising materials.
• Spearhead communications initiatives and campaigns to position Ubongo as a credible, values-driven leader in the Children's education sector through thought leadership and storytelling.
• Where required, act as an alternative spokesperson or media liaison for Ubongo.
• Lead high-visibility media positioning and thought leadership efforts that elevate Ubongo’s profile, strengthen its reputation as Africa’s leading children’s edutainment organization.
• Be the main point of contact for [email protected]
• Maintain sustainable relationships with external suppliers, consultants, partners, media and vendors linked to strategic communication initiatives.
Content Creation & Storytelling
• Lead and oversee the development of strategic communications collaterals including but not limited to press releases, articles, talking points, FAQ, briefing notes, corporate decks and corporate advertorials.
• Design and manage content calendars and other tracking materials for all strategic and thought leadership content.
• In collaboration with programmatic and regional teams, oversee the creation and production of communication materials — including briefs, reports, and strategic messaging
• Work with the team to identify impact stories that highlight achievements, challenges, and community voices.
• Attend selected departmental meetings and work with teams to gather insights for strategic communications content.
• Lead and oversee the development, management, and execution of our monthly newsletters, case studies, articles, blog posts, B2B video scripts, infographics, white papers and impact updates
• Consult on digital marketing, website content, and social media campaigns to boost organizational visibility.
• Identify, research, and write impactful and engaging content for B2B audience
• Ideate new and innovative ways to communicate Ubongo’s work and mission globally
• Manage and maintain Ubongo’s blog and communication platforms
• Continually monitor, analyze, and tune strategic communication messaging to maximize impact
Donor & Partner Communications
• Support the development and maintenance of an annual donor reporting calendar, helping to track deadlines and coordinate the timely submission of quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports.
• Assist in reviewing, editing, and formatting donor reports, proposals, presentations, and other fundraising materials to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with Ubongo's brand and messaging.
• Support efforts to highlight funder contributions and program achievements across social media, newsletters, and other communication channels to strengthen donor visibility and engagement.
• Assist in translating impact data and program results into accessible stories, infographics, videos, and other communication products that demonstrate Ubongo's impact.
• Coordinate logistical and administrative arrangements for donor visits, including scheduling, briefing materials, itineraries, site visit preparation, and follow-up communications.
• Support the Development and Communications team in identifying and preparing for relevant conferences, donor convenings, and networking opportunities.
• Contribute to the creation of donor stewardship and recognition materials that celebrate partnerships and communicate appreciation for funder support.
• Monitor donor resource platforms, funding databases, and relevant networks, supporting the registration and maintenance of Ubongo's organizational profiles and identifying potential funding opportunities.
• Maintain accurate donor records, engagement histories, and supporting documentation within fundraising systems and databases.
• Provide administrative and coordination support for donor engagement activities, fundraising campaigns, and partnership management initiatives as required.
Media & Public Relations
• Build and maintain relationships with media outlets, journalists, and influencers.
• Prepare media kits, op-eds, and briefing materials for leadership and spokespeople.
• Manage crisis communication planning and reactive PR when needed
• Prepare compelling talking points, speeches, and key messages for funder visits, high-profile convenings, and media engagements to strengthen stakeholder confidence and inspire support.
Internal Communications & Team Alignment
• Support the Ops team in the development of internal communication materials to ensure teams understand and align with Ubongo’s values, messaging, positioning, and priorities.
• Support the Growth team in B2C comms if needed
• Train spokespeople, field teams, and program staff on brand messaging and media engagement.
• Manage internal crisis communication planning and reactive PR when needed.
Company wide responsibilities
• Exemplify Ubongoers principles and norms
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct Reports
(Positions supervised)
Indirect Reports
N/A
Key Relationships
Internal: Director of Development & Communications, Development team, Growth team, Executive Leadership, Function Directors, Digital & Data teams.
External: Donors, media outlets, community stakeholders, implementing partners, PR and creative agencies.
• DESCRIPTION OF SUCCESS IN THE ROLE.
• Increased brand visibility and improved public perception aligned with strategic goals.
• Stronger donor retention and improved donor communications experience.
• Growth in new partnerships and funding opportunities supported by compelling materials.
• Clear, consistent, and engaging messaging across internal and external platforms.
• QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED (Minimum knowledge, skills and behaviours to perform the job)
Physical
• N/A
Educational
• Minimum Bachelor degree in marketing, communications, journalism or public relations/or proven experience in these fields
Experience
• 5+ experience in business-to-business (preferably in education) and managing communications resources.
• 5–7 years experience in strategic communications, preferably in the nonprofit, international development, or advocacy sectors.
• Demonstrated experience supporting fundraising or partnership functions through communications.
• Proven success in leading communications strategies that supported donor retention or new funding acquisition.
• Experience working for social causes about education, children and youth, or gender
• Experience managing websites, social media platforms, CRMs, and media relations.
Skills
• Fluent in written and oral English and Kiswahili. Fluency in French will be an added advantage.
• Excellent writing skills, with ability to adjust writing style to fit Ubongo’s ‘child-like’ tone of voice and brand.
• Proven public speaking and pitching abilities
• Verifiable contacts and relationships in media and the corporate world
• Passionate about education, storytelling and being a change maker
• Willing to speak for what’s right, when you see wrong, or when you think there might be a better way
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Strategic thinking and planning ability with a proactive and adaptive mindset.
• Strong understanding of donor-funded project environments and fundraising communications.
• Graphic design and multimedia knowledge is an added bonus.
• Comfortable with managing competing deadlines and cross-functional collaboration
• Honest, trustworthy, transparent and conscientious
• Marketing skills
• Preparing budgets, tracking expenses and reporting
• Self-motivated
• Energetic
• Flexible.
• Can-do attitude
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Planning and organizing