Kenya

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Organization

Colleges and Institutes Canada

Posted 4 Jun 2026 Closing date 18 Jun 2026

Background

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is implementing the Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training Program (KBEST) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and other partners. The Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training Program (KBEST) is a 7-year (2022-2029) program funded by Global Affairs Canada. KBEST has a strong focus on increasing the equitable participation of girls and women, youth and vulnerable populations in the Blue Economy. KBEST will include collaboration with the Kenyan Ministry of Education, the Council of Governors, 7 county governments, civil society and industry, working with 24 TVET institutions in the Coast and Lake Victoria regions of Kenya. It will share the expertise of Canada’s colleges and institutes in linking youth, educational institutions, and employers to develop training for employment programs in Kenya around the Blue Economy.

Job Summary

General Expectations

Reporting to and working closely with the Kenya-based Senior Technical Advisor/CICan Representative (STA), the Communication Specialist will be located in Nairobi, Kenya and will ensure the effective implementation of KBEST activities in Kenya. The Communication Specialist is also expected to work closely with other Kenyan and Canadian-based program staff including the Manager of Operations, Gender Specialist, Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Officer, Stakeholder Engagement Officer, Program Officers, Partnership Coordinators and Administrative staff.

The Communication Specialist will oversee the program’s strategic communication planning and implementation of the program's Communication Strategy and workplan including programmatic and organizational communications and branding as well as content creation. Duties will include writing and editing program external communication as well as supporting communication/outreach campaigns to raise awareness of young, parents, and caregivers as well as industry about Technical and Vocation Education and Training (TV ET), Competency Based Education and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

The Communication Specialist will also coordinate all communications activities with implementing partners and program staff, provide communication support to partner institutions, oversee the development of impact stories and program communications materials, and engagement with media. In addition, the Communication Specialist will serve as the communications liaison with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and leverage other activities done by partners, in line with the National Communications and Advocacy Strategy.

The position is expected to involve some travel within Kenya.

Responsibilities

Lead development or updating of the KBEST Communication Strategy and workplans; Implement KBEST communications strategy and keep staff strategic in their communications outputs; Highlight successes and challenges in implementing the communication strategies and provide recommendations; Work with technical staff to devise communications plans for program activities; Coordinate all communications activities with implementing partners and program staff; Manage the program external communication: Identify new and innovative tools and communications channels. Identify communications opportunities and threats and advise staff. Developing deep understanding of target audiences. Lead media relations for KBEST program: develop and distribute press releases, editing and drafting articles and blogs, maintain a database of journalists and ensure media coverage of program events, and answer journalists’ inquiries. Maintain CICan in Kenya social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Managing the communication aspects of program events: taking photos, live streaming, shooting and editing of video, and posting on to YouTube. Create content, basic online graphics, and develop products and messages for public access and online platforms including project websites, Facebook, X, Instagram, and other relevant social media platforms. Develop social media messages with corresponding links and source-appropriate images and post on project social media. Manage and grow CICan Kenya’s social media engagement. Provide analytics, identify trends, and develop creative inputs in response. Manage communication for events: take photos, live streaming, shoot videos, edit it, post it to YouTube, and digitally disseminate it. Develop a regular program for e-newsletter, ensure its review and clearance, and distribute to partners. Implement the communication, marketing and outreach strategy aimed at increasing awareness of TVET, of CBET courses and RPL services in collaboration with the program communication consultants and partners; Gather stories/interviews from implementing partners and beneficiaries via field visits; Create and disseminate impact stories, stories of change and program communications materials; Write and edit with dignifying and person-first language to reach a broad audience with clear, concise and accessible language; Provide communication support to partner institutions in Kenya and Canada related to program activities; Provide input into program budget planning for communication activities; Support quarterly and annual program reporting: prepare communication activities report, review and edit the full program narrative reports; Monitor and evaluate communication activity impact, including news media monitoring. Review, assess and adapt the program’s communications activities using indicators established by the overall communications strategy; Ensure program’s adherence (CICan and partners) to the Global Affairs Canada communication and branding guidelines; Ensure that messages are consistent and aligned with CICan’s mission and values; Support preparation for program committees and develop necessary presentations and materials in coordination with the STA; Participate in program committees and various meetings with sectoral teams to help ensure the strategic positioning and visibility of KBEST project; Support administrative functions including organizing and indexing materials on the CICan SharePoint site so that communications resources can be easily accessed; Build and maintain a library of all photos and videos for CICan projects; a database with photos and videos taken during events, which can be easily accessed by classification; Manage communication consultants and suppliers; Perform any other duties as may be assigned.

Reporting

The employee will work under the direction of the STA/CICan Representative of the CICan Kenya Office, in close collaboration with the Ottawa-based Manager of Operations. The employee is expected to work with a high degree of independence and autonomy.

Essential

Qualifications and Competencies

Full fluency in English and Swahili; Kenyan citizen or legally permitted to work in Kenya. Note: CICan will not provide a work permit or sponsor individuals; Master’s Degree in a related subject area (communications, public relations or similar); A minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar role in Kenya in an international development project with an international organization; Demonstrated experience in producing high quality communications materials (e.g. impact stories, success stories, fact sheets, social media, website content, articles, press releases, speeches) in English; Exceptional written communication skills (writing, editing, proofing), including the ability to write for a range of audiences and formats based on complex, technical content e.g. press releases, blogs, articles, scripts and website content; Experience of media relations and networking with Kenyan media partners/journalists; Excellent verbal communication, including the ability to ‘sell in’ stories and ‘cold-call’ journalists; Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate significant amounts of information; Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on a team; Demonstrated experience working with an international team and development practitioners; Meticulous attention to detail and a high level of accuracy; Ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision to prioritise a busy workload Critical thinking, inquisitive and innovative mindset; Excellent interpersonal skills; the ability to deal with people at all levels, internally and externally, in a confident, assertive and professional manner; Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to organise and assist with events; Capable multi-tasking and understanding of logistical requirements; A deadline driven personality; A mission motivated personality; Excellent IT skills (Microsoft Office and CMS skills essential).

Highly Desirable

Experience with creating and editing video content; Graphic design and desktop publishing skills (including Microsoft Publisher, the Adobe or Corel suites); Experience of creating and editing digital media and publishing it in a variety of outputs (Storify, Prezi, Slideshare, YouTube); Experience of using social media channels (such Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram) and extending their reach; Experience using project management skills; Experience managing consultants, freelancers, agencies, and other external service providers.

Desirable

Knowledge of the education or TVET sector in Kenya; Ability to use a still & video camera and to edit video quickly and to a professional standard; Experience working with technical experts.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and CV with three references as one PDF file not exceeding 8 pages to email address applications@ke.collegesinstitutes.ca with the title on the subject line, Communications Specialist.The deadline for receiving applications is 18th June 2026.

Phone calls or in-person visits will not be accepted. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

Job details

Country

Kenya

Source

Colleges and Institutes Canada

Type

Job

Career category

Advocacy/Communications

Years of experience

5-9 years

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