Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Hiring Communications Officer, Storytelling and Content Producer, Africa

The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Africa Communications team ensures that our communications approaches are informed by Africa’s contextual realities and priorities. The team is responsible for developing and implementing the Foundation’s communications strategy in Africa, collaborating closely with the Africa team, the Communications Division in Seattle, and various Program Strategy Teams as well as the Program Advocacy and Communications (PAC) teams. 

Application deadline: September 29th, 2024.

Your Role

We are seeking a dynamic and effective Communications Officer, Africa: Storyteller & Content Producer. In this role, the incumbent will lead the Foundation’s efforts to tell compelling stories: the experiences of our grantees and partners across Africa. They will focus on the development of brand storytelling across the written form, photos, videos, and audio. This role requires a journalistic approach, with the ability to identify potentially impactful stories and to develop them into clear narratives that resonate with a pan-African audience and partners. The incumbent will use diverse storytelling methods, data insights and other evidence to understand which stories cut through and resonated with audiences.

Understanding audience information consumption patterns is essential as the Foundation drives to connect with African audiences, ensuring audiences comprehend not just the work we do but why we do it. Their goal will be to help the Foundation tell authentic stories that avoid romanticizing health and development work, but instead present our work in a genuine and impactful manner.

The role will be based in Nairobi, Kenya and report to Deputy Director – Communications, Africa.

What You’ll Do

Storytelling Leadership:

• Play a key role in the development of storytelling and content production strategies and approaches.
• Identify and develop powerful stories that highlight the impact of the Foundation’s grantees and partners’ work.
• Lead the creation of written content, photo essays, videos, and audio stories that capture the essence of our work in Africa.
• Collaborate with internal teams, grantees, and partners to gather necessary information, conduct interviews, and produce multimedia content.
• Cultivate a network of storytellers, photographers, videographers, and other content producers across Africa.
• Identify innovative formats, trends, and platforms to disseminate content, ensuring it resonates with diverse African audiences and reaches a broad audience.
• Pitch story ideas to journalists and social media influencers to help the Foundation engage with a broad African audience.

Content Development:

• Create and oversee the production of brand stories that communicate the Foundation’s mission and impact.
• Manage a content calendar to ensure timely delivery of storytelling projects and facilitate training sessions for partners on effective storytelling techniques.
• Work with regional experts to ensure content is culturally relevant and aligned with the Gates Foundation’s brand and messaging.
• Lead initiatives to design and deliver storytelling and public speaking skills training for grantees and partners.
• Ensure storytelling approaches are continually refined using analytics, audience insights, and feedback to improve impact.

Strategic Communications:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive storytelling strategy aligned with the Foundation’s communications goals and regional priorities, contributing to thought leadership.
• Build strong partner and grantee relationships to continuously identify and develop impactful stories.
• Engage with key influencers and media outlets to amplify the Foundation’s storytelling efforts, while monitoring feedback to improve engagement.
• Collaborate with the Brand Strategy Lead and global brand team to ensure that all content supports the Foundation-wide brand architecture and initiatives.
• Manage relationships with creative agencies and contractors to ensure timely, high-quality production of content across Africa.

Brand Creative:

• Serve as a subject matter expert on brand standards across various Africa communications channels, ensuring adherence to global brand guidelines.
• Contribute to global storytelling initiatives by collaborating with the Foundation’s global brand team and leading on visual storytelling innovation.
• Lead the creation of impactful brand campaigns, working closely with regional and global experts.

Your Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, or a relevant field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 5+ years of professional experience in editorial, content creation, journalism, or communications, with a strong portfolio of storytelling work.
• Proven expertise in strategic communications, developing and implementing communication strategies that align with organizational goals and drive engagement.
• Experience working in a global and Africa-based non-profit, communications agency, or media organization preferred.
• Deep understanding of Africa’s diverse audiences and the ability to tell compelling stories that resonate across the continent.
• Strong project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deliver high-quality content on time.
• Proficiency in designing and delivering storytelling and public speaking skills training programs.
• Experience in facilitating the development of multimedia content (written, photo, video, audio) and managing relationships with grantees, partners, and external content creators.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to different audiences.
• Ability to commit to 25-40% domestic and international travel as needed.
• Proficiency in additional languages is an advantage.

*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

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Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.