The Communications & Engagement Department of the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is being strengthened and repositioned strategically to enhance public engagement, sharing research outcomes and support the Unit’s vision of leading health research in West Africa to save lives and improve health across the world.

The following exciting opportunities are available for various communications professionals to join a new and dynamic Communications & Engagement Department, based at our main offices on Atlantic Road, Fajara.

Head of Communications & Engagement

The post holder will be responsible for all strategic implementation of the Communications & Engagement Department’s activities and outputs and providing oversight and guidance of communications across the entire Unit. S/he will plan and drive the delivery of key strategic communication work, projects, and campaigns to ensure the provision of Unit-wide communications services, provide guidance and leadership to all staff in the Communications & Engagement department in undertaking their work.

Essential requirements:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in communications or relevant field of study with significant experience in media and communications.
• Proven experience of effective leadership in communications and personnel in a complex organization, ideally in a Higher Education or similar environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and the ability to present information in clear, concise and compelling ways.
• Experience of overseeing and writing, editing and managing production of a range of communications including corporate communications, reports, policy briefs, media features, websites and social media.
• Excellent IT skills including use of editing and web content management software, databases and email communications management tools.

The salary and allowance will be paid on Grade 1, 40 Points of the MRCG at LSHTM pay scale.
 

Communications Manager

The post holder will directly support the Head of Communications & Engagement in delivering strategic projects and campaigns and providing Unit-wide communication services and provide guidance for other junior staff. S/he has responsibility for strategic planning and implementation of MRCG-wide initiatives and campaigns and provides strategic oversight of communications across the Unit.

Essential requirements:

• First degree or equivalent in communications or related field of study with relevant experience in the media.
• Proven experience of effectively managing communications in a complex organisation, ideally in a Higher Education or similar environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, and the ability to present information in clear, concise and compelling ways.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to coordinate and prioritise a complex workload, meet multiple deadlines and manage projects to deliver successful outcomes.
• Excellent IT skills including use of editing and web content management software, databases and email communications management tools.

The salary and allowance will be paid on Grade 2, 31 Points of the MRCG at LSHTM payscale.


Digital Content Officer

The post holder will be required to use specialised skills to ideate, storyboard, capture, create, edit and upload digital content using a range of hardware, platforms and software including graphics, video, audio, photography and other content as needed. S/he will provide strategic photography services including developing and maintaining digital content archives, recording and editing flagship corporate events as determined by the Head of Communications & Engagement, ensuring GDPR and accessibility compliance standards in all digital content, as well as appropriate tone and branding.

Essential requirements:

• First degree or equivalent in communications or related field of study with relevant experience in the media.
• Experience providing high-quality, creative digital content service.
• Experience editing digital content using a range of platforms.
• Knowledge and ability to operate a range of video camera models, sound equipment, audio/visual mixing desks and camera/studio lights both indoors and outdoors and photo/video editing software for post-production editing.
• Proficient in the use of relevant digital content software such as: Adobe Premiere, After Effects, Compressor, Illustrator, Photoshop, Audition, Spark, Da Vinci Resolve.
• Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft office or Mac equivalent.
• The ability to upload and manage content in a CMS (Drupal 7).
• The ability to plan for and create digital content from start to finish
• (storyboarding to product delivery).
• Understanding of GDPR-compliance for capturing and sharing digital content.

The salary and allowance will be paid on Grade 4, 23 Points of the MRCG at LSHTM payscale.


Public Engagement Officer

The post holder will contribute to and guide the operational delivery of the Unit’s public engagement programme – enabling staff and students to build valuable new skills, widen the impact of their research and attract dedicated public engagement funding. This will include, but is not limited to training development and delivery, preparing internal communications and resources in public engagement, organising public engagement events, and advising on applications for public engagement funding or on public engagement sections of research funding applications.

Essential requirements:

• First degree or equivalent in communications or related field of study.
• Previous experience in public engagement/science communication; science/health or international development.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English with a wide variety of stakeholders and at all levels.
• The ability to present complex information in clear, concise, compelling, and sometimes creative ways.
• Experience of building successful partnerships with external organizations and with colleagues within an institution or workplace.
• Proven experience engaging public audiences with science and/or scientific research.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to coordinate a varied workload, meeting multiple deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Experience managing and/or developing content for internal and external communication channels.
• Understanding of the key values and principles underpinning public engagement.

The salary and allowance will be paid on Grade 4, 23 Points of the MRCG at LSHTM payscale.


Press Officer

The post holder will be required to coordinate the Unit’s media activities in order to boost its profile in line with strategic goals and protect its reputation. Reporting to the Head of Communications & Engagement, the post holder will be working on the day-to-day delivery of a high-quality media relations and social media service with responsibility for generating media coverage relating to MRCG at LSHTM’s research output, world-leading scientists and training programmes. S/he will be liaising with journalists, staff and other key stakeholders regularly.

• Essential requirements:
• First degree or equivalent in communications or related field of study.
• Experience of working in media and communications, preferably within a health or science environment.
• Experience of managing social media, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn in a business environment.
• Thorough understanding of the Gambian, West African, and global media landscape.
• Ability to prioritise, work to tight deadlines and cope well under pressure.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Methodical, organised and accurate.
• Excellent computing and database skills, including knowledge of media monitoring and database tools.
• The ability to communicate complex messages succinctly, accurately and in a ‘newsy’ style for lay audiences, and develop ‘story packages’ that include press releases and social and digital media content.

The salary and allowance will be paid on Grade 4, 23 Points of the MRCG at LSHTM payscale.


Internal Communications Officer

The post holder will support and manage internal staff communications activities across the Unit to help foster a thriving and inclusive staff community. They will work to increase reach and engagement of existing activities, work closely with the Head of Communications & Engagement to develop new initiatives that support key objectives in MRCG at LSHTM’s strategy and create and implement internal communications and change communications action plans.

Essential requirements:

• First degree or equivalent in communications or related field of study with experience of delivering communications within a large organisation.
• Proven experience of effectively managing internal communications for an organisation.
• Experience of developing staff communications plans for corporate projects.
• Experience of advising on and delivering communications for change programmes.
• Experience of producing high quality and engaging written content for
• a range of audiences and purposes.  Experience of writing, editing and managing the production of a range of communications including newsletters, blogs, video, reports and infographics.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and the ability to present information in clear, concise and compelling ways to technical and non-academic audiences.
• Excellent IT skills including the use of editing and web content management software, databases and email communications management tools.

The salary and allowance will be paid on Grade 4, 23 Points of the MRCG at LSHTM payscale.

The closing date for receipt of all applications is 31 May 2023.

All appointments are up to 31 March 2027 initially and subject to a probationary period of 6 months.

We cannot accept applications from individuals who are currently, or were in the last six months, employed by The Gambia Government.

To apply, please visit www.mrc.gm to download the relevant job description and application form.

Your completed application form, along with an updated CV, should be sent to recruitment@mrc.gm.

MRCG at LSHTM is an equal opportunities employer and operates a strict no smoking policy.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.