Senior Communication Manager, Media team

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in lower-income countries. The Vaccine Alliance brings together implementing country and donor governments, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. Gavi uses innovative finance mechanisms, including co-financing by recipient countries, to secure sustainable funding and adequate supply of quality vaccines. Since 2000, Gavi has contributed to the immunisation of more than 888 million children and the prevention of more than 15 million future deaths.

THE ROLE Gavi’s media team is one of the busiest and most dynamic in global health, helping the Secretariat of the Vaccine Alliance handle significant volumes of incoming media enquiries and leading strategic communications initiatives across Gavi’s portfolio of activities.

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES Management • As a senior member of the Gavi media team, you will play a lead role in managing high-profile media engagement including breaking news, executive suite briefings, interviews and press conferences, crisis communications and the production of supporting materials such as holding lines, statements and media releases; • Line manager to three members of the team; • Lead on media monitoring and evaluation, as well communications strategies across Gavi-supported countries; • Contribute towards wider strategy-setting across Gavi’s portfolio of activities; • Ensure efficient recruitment, on-boarding and training of new team members.

Strategic communications • Increase profile of Gavi’s work in key donor countries and implementing country media outlets; • Manage and nurture relationships with key partners in ways that contribute to Gavi’s reputation and strategic positioning; • Develop messaging for Gavi’s senior leadership and other internal stakeholders; • Produce high-quality content that can be used in Gavi communications and leveraged by Vaccine Alliance partners; • Manage communications for Gavi’s resource mobilisation as well as programmatic priorities; • Develop and implement communication strategies and campaigns as required, e.g. vaccine confidence or for new vaccine launches.

Media engagement • Strategic oversight and implementation of media engagement; • Provide analysis and advice to senior leadership on breaking news and crisis communications; • Source proactive media opportunities to promote the work of Gavi and the benefits of immunisation more broadly; • Handle reactive media requests and deal with reputational risk issues; • Advise colleagues at all levels on strategic media approaches and prepare them for media engagements; • Develop and maintain excellent contacts at international newswires, broadcasters, print publications and in-country media across a number of segments including health, international development and politics; • Provide comprehensive media support at Gavi events in donor and implementing countries, including highprofile Gavi media visits.

Relationship Management • Build and manage relationships with senior reporters and editors, as well as Gavi partners, including donors, civil society organisations and vaccine manufacturers; • Build and manage relationships with teams at Gavi internally to ensure efficient comms coordination and information sharing. Note: The essential functions listed in this section are not exhaustive of the job responsibilities; other duties may be assigned consistently with the department needs.

QUALIFICATIONS ACADEMIC • University degree, either in a communications-related field or science field.

WORK EXPERIENCE • At least 8 years of work experience in communications or media, preferably with some exposure to science and/or global health; • Track record working with journalists in high-pressure situations; • Advanced writing competencies, for example op-eds, speeches, blogs and other formats. SKILLS/COMPETENCIES • The ability to develop and write compelling messages and narratives to short deadlines; • Confidence to communicate highly technical information accurately to a lay audience; • Ability to think strategically and manage communications initiatives across media and digital channels; • Excellent relationship management skills; • Persuasion and influencing skills; • Be comfortable and confident in writing in the voice of different people; • Excellent copyediting and subediting skills.

LANGUAGES • Written and spoken fluency in English; • Other languages would be considered an asset.

CONTACTS • External: the media, other influencers, civil society organisations; • Internal: teams across the Secretariat, communications colleagues across the Vaccine Alliance.