Development Communications Associate Jobs in Fairfax, VA

Africa Communications Media Group (ACG) is the first African- owned, pan-African communications agency, and a partner to private, public and non-profit sector local, continental and global clients operating in the African context. We provide the expertise, support and tools for organizations globally to develop and share their narratives in Africa in a culturally-attuned manner and with measurable impact. Our strategies are based on research, insights and an authentic understanding of the markets in which our clients operate. 

Our Values

        Integrity:  We keep our promises and see our deliverables through from concept to completion, on time and within budget, cementing lasting relationships with stakeholders along the way. We work for the best interests of our clients. We have an insatiable need to position our clients' stories within Africa's development and conversational landscape. 

       Innovation: We are always looking for fresh and innovative ways to tell our clients' stories to enable them to be more impactful. We are change-makers and not satisfied with the status quo. We are problem solvers.

       Excellence: We are a passionate, hard-working team. When our clients shine, we shine. We understand the complexities of the environment in which our clients work and position ourselves to support them with excellence. 

We are headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, and we work in all 54 countries on the continent.

We're looking for an entrepreneurial Communications Associate to play two major roles: 1) Manage interactions and communication needs of our our clients in Africa and across the globe 2) Grow our brand presence as leaders in communications for development in the US. As a foundation beneath both of these roles, the Communications Associate will play an important part in driving community and knowledge sharing across the ACG team. 

The Communications Associate will deploy their talents and expertise towards global development issues. The ideal candidate for this position is a creative thinker with brand, marketing, and communications experience and a deep understanding of the social impact space. This person is has a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Africa in the digital age. They are good at seeking input, collaborating across teams and staying focused on the details of what a communication strategy entails. They have project management skills, a passion for storytelling, and a broad understanding of communications platforms and tools. 

This role will report into the CEO and the Communications Associate will work closely with Account Managers and Account Executives based in Africa. 

Responsibilities

ACG Organizational Brand, Marketing, and Communications for the US

      Participate in development for and work with colleagues to collectively implement comprehensive and measurable strategies to drive ACG's brand equity as a communications for development solution provider, through multiple channels including ACG's website, marketing materials, digital media, and brand campaigns.

      Support PR and digital media campaigns as needed.

Branding, Marketing, and Communications for ACG clients in Africa and abroad

      Lead and facilitate brand and positioning development for ACG clients.

     Develop clients' messaging, digital presence, and the communications capabilities they need to influence their target audiences and achieve their intended impact. 

      Be the point of contact for various initiatives, hold accountability for deliverables on work plans, give valuable strategic input and manage initiatives' day-to-day needs. 

     Provide daily support for clients including integrated marketing campaigns, digital media, thought leadership, creative campaigns, email newsletters, social media, launch events, conferences, and more.

     Refine and scale right-sized quantitative approaches to measuring the impact of clients' marketing and communications efforts.

Internal Communications, Knowledge Management, and Community Building

      Drive connection, community, and affinity across the ACG team and clients.

      Equip and empower ACG staff to share knowledge, approaches, and expertise across the organization to bring the best of ACG to our work.

Required Skills
    A bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
    3 years of applicable work experience in branding, marketing, and communications; preference for agency experience.
    Excellent oral and written communication skills, including impeccable English grammar and editing skills and the ability to translate complicated issues into clear writing.
    Experience working in client-facing role that required strong facilitation and interpersonal skills.
    Knowledge of and experience in global development or social impact space.
    Superb time and project management skills, attention to detail, excellence in prioritization.
    Comfort with basic graphic design and a good "design eye".
    Experience designing and driving multi-media marketing campaigns with a deep understanding of digital marketing analytics.
    Fluency in Microsoft Office suite; familiarity with MailChimp, Squarespace, Adobe Suite, and Wordpress; effective use of social media.

Qualities of GDI Employees
    A relentless drive to get things done.
    Curious and entrepreneurial mindset.
    Passion for driving social impact and tackling the world's biggest challenges in new ways.
 

Qualities of ACG Employees:
    A relentless drive to get things done.
    Curious and entrepreneurial mindset.
    Passion for driving social impact and tackling the world's biggest challenges in new ways.