Local Communication Consultant, Refugee Response, Moldova

Company Overview

About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value.  We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives. 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.  

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse.  All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.

Project Overview

Data for Impact (D4I), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), supports countries to generate and use high-quality data as evidence that can improve programs, policies, and—ultimately—health and social sector outcomes D4I is implemented in several countries around the world, including Moldova. D4I Moldova is working to strengthen the capacity of the government and its partners at national and subnational levels to collect, analyze, and use data to generate a positive impact on children in adversity.

With approximately 100,000 of 400,000 Ukrainian refugees staying in Moldova, social protection, education, health and other services are soon to be overstretched. D4I is planning to work with the Moldovan government and international partners to improve data collection and governance to better identify refugee needs and estimate the resources required to fulfil those needs.

Background and Purpose of Position

The Communication Consultant will support written communications efforts for the original D4I project, along with the additional envisaged work related to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. This will include drafting press releases and talking points, as well as creating fact sheets, briefs, bulletins and newsletters. The situation on the ground may change rapidly, so the Communication Consultant must be able to quickly adapt and suggest ways to disseminate information about changing activities.

The Local Communication Consultant will work closely with the D4I team and may interact with USAID Mission in Moldova and international stakeholders. The Local Communication Consultant may also be required to attend meetings with international stakeholders and synthesize the information for D4I team as well as report on D4I’s refugee response activities during international coordination meetings. This position is from April through June 2022, with a possible contract extension until October 2022.

Location: Moldova (preferable) or Romania

Reports to: D4I Chief of Party in Moldova

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, manage and evaluate internal and external communications.

• Assist in writing activity updates and programmatic reports to demonstrate progress to D4I partners and donors.

• Plan and execute communication strategies in support of D4I objectives.
• Design and manage the communication calendar, including what goes out, when it goes out and to whom.
• Write, proofread, and edit bulletins, newsletters, talking points, press releases, fact sheets, briefs, content for upload on the websites of D4I partners (MOLSP, NSAA, TSAS) and other strategic communication pieces.
• Collect data to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of communication initiatives.
• Create graphics to support visualization of the project activities and successes.

• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with D4I partners, local media and events company contracted by D4I; serve as interlocuter between these entities and D4I management as needed.

• Identify areas of upcoming need and work with team to pivot communications accordingly.

• Comply with USAID and D4I branding requirements.

• COVID-19: It is anticipated that the pandemic will impact activities. Meetings will be conducted in person only if it is safe to do so. Flexibility will be required to respond to changes in guidelines of the government of Moldova and Palladium.

Requirements

• Experience in communication, public relations, journalism or political science.

• Excellent communication (verbal, written and telephonic) and interpersonal skills; ability to listen carefully, attentively and with empathy.
• Ability to think critically to synthesize large amounts of information, organize and store it, and communicate findings to D4I project partners.
• Demonstrated experience in using Microsoft Office, graphic design software and social media platforms.
• Ability to work independently with appropriate supervision.
• Ability to work under tight time constraints.
• Knowledge about Moldova’s social assistance and social economic development programs highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with team members and customers of different cultures, gender, and hierarchical levels.  
• Detail-oriented and deadline-driven with strong organizational skills and ability to work in a dynamic and agile environment with changing requirements and priorities.
• Ability to speak, read, and write Romanian at the level of a native speaker and English at an advanced level.
• Ability to speak Russian or Ukrainian an advantage.

Application details:

Please send your applications at: https://palladium.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/2/home/requisition/13223?c=palladium

Please submit a CV, cover letter, and writing samples  highlighting how your background makes you a suitable candidate for this position. Please also include requirements for hourly rate as well as the number of hours and days of the week available during business hours. CV and cover letter  should be submitted in English. At least two writing samples are required: one should be in Romanian and another sample should be in English. The deadline for submitting applications is April 26, 2022.  

Selection Criteria: