The PAMAFRICA Project Consortium, led by Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), is seeking the services of a part-time communications expert to draft, institute and implement a project communications and dissemination plan.

PAMAfrica – partners and aims

With a 5-year grant from EDCTP (European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership), MMV, , a product development partnership (PDP) in the field of antimalarial drug research and development (R&D) is leading a consortium of partners from Europe and Africa on a portfolio of projects entitled PAMAfrica (Portfolio Approach to developing the next generation of Malaria treatments for Africa). The aim is to develop the next generation tools that will contribute to the fight against malaria. MMV, as the consortium coordinator based in Geneva, is working with eight partners from academia and the private sector from Europe and Africa. The PAMAfrica portfolio includes three clinical trials, as well as capacity building at African clinical sites.

To ensure maximum impact and sustainability of PAMAfrica they are seeking a communications expert to work for initially for a maximum of 20 days between 1 March 2020 and 31 May 2020, to draft and have validated a comprehensive 5-year communications and dissemination plan for the project. From 1 June 2020 onwards, we expect the communications expert to work a maximum of 5 days a month on implementation of the plan until 31 May 2021, after which there will be a reassessment of the position.

Place in the organisation

The Communications expert will report to MMV’s Senior Director Communications and work in close collaboration with the consortium grant management team, the PAMAfrica Consortium partners as well as MMV’s Advocacy and Communications teams.

Scope and duration of work

With nine partners working jointly on three clinical projects as well as capacity building, PAMAfrica’s communications needs are significant, and will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will require the drafting of a comprehensive 5-year communications plan jointly with the PAMAfrica management and consortium partners. The second phase is the implementation of the communications plan, which will commence 1 June 2020.

The Communications expert is mandated to produce a validated communications and dissemination plan by 31 May 2020. Once this first phase is complete, the expert will be expected to lead the implementation phase over the next year after which, MMV, as PAMAfrica coordinator, will assess the resources needed to continue implementation of the plan over the life of the project.

Specific tasks

• Develop a comprehensive communications and dissemination plan jointly with the PAMAfrica management and consortium partners, proportionate to the scale of the project, to help disseminate and exploit PAMAfrica’s project results, raise visibility of individual partners, the consortium itself and the donor, EDCTP, and manage all information generated by and for PAMAfrica studies.
• Ensure the plan’s implementation (including development of all necessary tools) along project milestones, identify and track advocacy and communications activities and events, lead regular progress analysis and a mid-term review of this plan to determine whether it needs to be refined or changed.
• Ensure required messaging and actions are reviewed by consortium partners, disseminate these messages at global, regional and national levels using a variety of channels in collaboration with MMV’s communications team.
• Liaise with the publications committee to ensure study results are scheduled and disseminated in accordance with the communications plan
• Shepherd all communications materials through review in collaboration with the PAMAfrica consortium partners, to ensure their timely validation and availability to partner teams.
• Contribute to knowledge management by promoting open, inclusive communication and interaction between consortium partners and the donor.
• Provide input to periodic project reports, relating to PAMAfrica’s communications, as requested by MMV’s Corporate Affairs team.

Key competencies

• Proven excellence in writing
• Excellent organizational, project management, collaboration and negotiation skills
• Excellent analytical, presentation (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and manage multiple simultaneous deliverables
• Team player with proven record of meaningful contributions to winning teams
• Sound judgment, integrity and tact in dealing with others
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness combined with proven skills in working diplomatically with in-country consortium partners in European and African countries.

Education Qualifications

• Advanced University degree, preferably in public health and/or communications, or in the Arts.

Experience

• At least 5 years in-depth experience in developing and implementing communications strategies in the area of global health, ideally in malaria
• Work experience in public health or in the pharma industry
• Sound experience in collaborating with international partners in global health
• Established experience in the development and production of communication materials.

Languages
• English: expert level
• French: good working-level proficiency an advantage.
Other Skills: Experience using project management tools, SharePoint or similar, Excel, PowerPoint.

Request for references
• Please provide the contact details of two employers/clients you have worked with in the past 2 years that we may contact for references.

Deadline
• The project was launched on January 2020, and work on the communications plan needs to begin as soon as possible. Hence the deadline for applications is 17.00 CET on Monday,24 February 2020
• Interested? Please email your CV, references, a cover letter giving reasons for your interest in the position, and examples of your writing and any communications strategies you have written that you wish to share to: pamafricoms@mmv.org
Start date: As soon as possible

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