NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Elephants are the largest existing land mammal on earth and they are a keystone species playing an important role in maintaining the biodiversity of the ecosystems in which they live. As icons of the continent elephants are tourism magnets, attracting funding that helps protect wilderness areas. However, having roamed the wild for 15 million years, today, this iconic species faces the biggest threats to its survival due to ivory poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and habitat destruction.

Save the Elephants is committed to the conservation of African elephants and their habitats, conducting research to better understand their behavior and ecology, and developing innovative strategies to protect them from threats such as poaching.
Additionally, the organization collaborates with governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders to promote elephant conservation at the international level. Save the Elephants also works closely with local communities to promote sustainable land use practices, recognizing the important role that these communities play in protecting elephant habitats. Overall, the organization is a leading voice in the global effort to save these magnificent animals for future generations. Learn more about our mission and values by visiting our website.

About the role:
The Head of Strategic Communications is a new strategic leadership role, responsible for ensuring Save the Elephant’s (STE) new organisation-wide strategy is clearly articulated and STE’s reputation is strengthened at a local, national and international level.
The role will primarily focus on people leadership, brand reputation, strategic planning, stakeholder communications, internal communications, and asset management. They will work closely with the Director of Content and Media (DCM) to ensure the insights from STE’s research and conservation activities are accurately and effectively conveyed across all platforms (social, print, digital, broadcast). The role will oversee the Director of Content & Media (DCM), the Digital Media Manager, and the Communications Assistant and is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy and Implementation:
-Develop strategy for STE’s Communications Pillar to ensure STE’s knowledge & expertise are widely shared with the wide range of audiences necessary to give elephants a voice: local & national government, scientists & specialists, conservation partners & international public.
-Develop & execute yearly action plans based on the Communications Pillar strategy above.
-Strategise improvements to STE’s online presence (website, social, newsletters) & printed materials (annual report and others), in collaboration with DCM.
-Develop plan for integrating communication from two projects that have previously been quasi-independent (the Elephant Crisis Fund & the Elephants & Bees project), folding them into STE’s website, social, comms, annual reports, while ensuring a collaborative approach with the partner organisations of the Elephant Crisis Fund.
-Work with the Human-Elephant Coexistence team to create strategy for scaling uptake of the Human-Elephant Coexistence Toolbox, and promotion of Toolbox successes and methods across the continent.
-Work with the Fundraising Team to create impactful communication campaigns where required (corporate partnerships, launches etc).
-Collaborate with STE’s Director of Content & Media to develop content & media strategy that fits within the overall communications strategy.
-Ensure STE’s communications assets (photo & film libraries) are accessible, well managed and backed up.
-Explore adoption of a digital system for making STE’s footage accessible (and backed up) online.

Leadership and Team Management:
-Provide leadership to the department; ensuring that resources are managed effectively, and that staff and consultants are well motivated
-Develop and manage the budget for Communications activities; ensuring that departmental finances are managed in line with STE’s policies and that good value for money is achieved
-Contribute to STE internal management and strategy discussions.
-Work with Heads of Departments across STE on communications needs.
-Collaborate with the Director of Content & Media on social media planning and its execution across multiple platforms.
-Strengthen the Overall Brand Reputation:
-Oversee and advise on organizational messaging and positioning, while simultaneously developing and updating talking points for externally facing staff, and overseeing the development of all STE branded materials, including digital, video, audio and print content
-Manage STE’s branding at conferences, events (CITES, WCN Expo, press conferences) and internal events (strategy retreats).
-Manage STE merchandise and external shops (in collaboration with fundraising).
-Ensure logos and branding are correctly used by partners to enhance and protect STE’s reputation.

Internal and External Relations:
-Develop and execute internal and external communications strategies, tactics and deliverables, including reports, e-newsletters, press releases, email blasts, website content, social media content, brochures, pamphlets, and various organizational positioning pieces.
-Track, monitor and communicate STE’s communications reach & impact internally, including quarterly reports.
-Build strong relationships with communications departments of partner organisations, particularly in Kenya (KWS, government, Lewa, NRT etc).
-Explore potential media partnerships/sponsorship opportunities for STE (the latter in collaboration with fundraising).
-Work closely with the CEO and senior team to develop and facilitate a network of supporters and advocates for elephants.

Does this sound like you?
1. A Kenyan citizen with a minimum of 10 years of communications experience.
2. A track record of achievement in developing and implementing communications strategies in an East African context across multiple communications channels and platforms.
3. Proven ability to translate complex research impact data, industry reports, success stories and other inputs into compelling narratives to reach a variety of Kenyan and global audiences..
4. Strong project management and stakeholder management skills with demonstrable experience coordinating across countries, departments, and external partners.
5. Deep experience working in fast growing, SME contexts (rather than experience only with larger, established organisations).

Save the Elephants is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, tribe, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or national law. Hence, persons of all gender, race, sex, orientation, age, and identity are encouraged to apply.