Communications Manager

The context:

Across the developing world, more children than ever are in school – but they are not learning. A recent study estimated that less than 1% of school children in Sub-Saharan Africa attend a school where the teaching meets basic standards of quality. At Rising Academies, we’re changing that, and we want your help. Our mission is to create the best schools and the most powerful teaching and learning tools for the people that need it most. We’re one of the fastest-growing quality-focused education companies in Africa, and a Certified B Corp®.

About us:

We own and operate our own great value private schools, partner with governments to improve the quality of public school systems, and use our content and technology to help other education providers. Founded in Sierra Leone in 2014, we provided emergency education to children kept out of school by the Ebola Epidemic before opening our first school in April 2015. Today, we serve more than 250,000 students across more than 900 schools in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and now Rwanda.

Through great curriculum, intensive teacher coaching and actionable data, we help teachers and school leaders bring quality to every classroom. And we get results: independent studies show Rising students make more than twice the progress of their peers in comparable schools.

We have recently closed our Series A funding round and won a multi-year, multi-million dollar grant to accelerate the development of our digital ed-tech solutions for low-income students across the globe. Our ‘Bambai’ suite of digital tools already includes a school information system, school observation tool, chatbot tutor, accelerated learning program and teacher coaching app. This is just the start. We want to expand our range of digital products to help improve the quality of education for millions of students around the world. If you want to make a difference to the lives of teachers, students and parents, then we are the right place for you.

About the role:

The Communications Manager will lead the strategic development and implementation of Rising’s communication initiatives, enhancing the company’s brand presence and effectively conveying its mission and achievements. The role will lead on content creation for diverse platforms, managing and optimizing Rising’s social media channels, cultivating media partnerships, coordinating impactful events, and ensuring cohesive internal communication strategies. The ideal candidate will be tech savvy, have an adeptness in digital communication, and a deep connection to Rising’s mission.

The Communications Manager will:

• Develop and execute communication plans to enhance the organization's brand awareness and visibility.
• Create engaging content for various platforms, including website, social media, newsletters, and press releases.
• Manage and maintain social media accounts, monitoring trends and engaging with the audience.
• Collaborate with different teams to gather information and create compelling narratives that highlight the impact of our initiatives.
• Establish and maintain relationships with media outlets, journalists, and partners for effective media coverage and partnerships.
• Monitor and analyze communication metrics to assess the effectiveness of strategies and make data-driven recommendations for improvement.
• Support internal communication efforts to ensure consistent messaging across all departments and locations.
• Stay updated with industry trends and best practices in communications and implement innovative ideas within the organization.

Location and reporting:

This is a full-time, remote position based in either Africa or India. The role will report directly to Rising’s Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Business Development.

Application deadline:

The target start date for this role is May 2024.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience:

• Proven experience (5 years+) in communications, public relations, or a similar role.
• Bachelor's degree or above in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or related field a major plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong eye for detail and storytelling.
• Proficiency in content creation, including writing, editing, and designing for various platforms.
• Strong understanding and experience in managing social media platforms and analytics tools.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and cultures.

About You:

• You can communicate with stakeholders in a multicultural environment, as well as clearly document high level strategy and reports for these audiences.
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and interpersonal skills.
• You demonstrate people skills; must be able to collaborate effectively with diverse personalities and skill sets, and enjoy constructive conflict.
• You have a strong track record of professionalism, trustworthiness and working independently sometimes.
• You possess strong analytical and reasoning skills with ability to adapt to changes in a fast-paced agile environment.
• You are proactive, self-driven and can take initiative and problem-solve.
• You are comfortable working with senior leadership, reporting on data and outcomes.
• You are willing to take risks, fail, learn, give and receive feedback, and try new approaches.
• Basic familiarity with technology, including desktop computers, Microsoft and Google Suite.
• You are passionate about improving the quality of education across Africa.

Benefits

Compensation and Benefits:

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package. We regularly benchmark our compensation against comparable businesses, social ventures and non-profits.

Rising’s goal is to be transparent about salaries at all levels of the organisation and have a standard, global pay scale for all positions that is non-negotiable.

The benefits we offer are built to have a strong added value on our staff’s well-being and we are excited to discuss this further with you in the process.

Rising is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to providing a work environment that is inclusive and free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, national origin, family or parental status, veteran or disability status.

Rising is committed to creating a culture within the organisation, and its schools, that recognises the importance of safeguarding children and prioritising their rights and needs. We strive to uphold international safeguarding standards, and keep the safety and well-being of our students at the heart of what we do. All Rising employees are expected to abide by the Child Protection Policy, and to have the same level of commitment to protect children from harm. Safeguarding questions are part of every interview process and all Rising employees undergo reference checks before joining the organisation.