Communications Consultant

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The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is an international non-profit organization that discovers, develops, and delivers safe, effective, and affordable treatments for the most neglected patients.

We use the power of innovation, open science, partnerships, and advocacy to find solutions to a great injustice: the lack of medicines for life-threatening diseases that disproportionately impact poor and marginalized people. As we develop new treatments with public research and industry partners worldwide, we also promote equitable access, foster inclusive and sustainable solutions, and advocate for policy change to enable a more effective global biomedical R&D system that meets the needs of neglected patients.

Since its inception, DNDi has delivered 13 new treatments, addressing R&D gaps in neglected tropical diseases and viral infections, including pandemic-prone and climate-sensitive diseases. To achieve this, DNDi has built a rich scientific portfolio for all its disease targets and grown into a network of more than 200 partner institutions that spans the globe, united in a pursuit of science driven by collaboration, not competition, and by patients’ needs, not profits.

DNDi teams are located across nine offices worldwide: Geneva, Cape Town, Kinshasa, Kuala Lumpur, Nairobi, New Delhi, New York, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo. With more than 240 employees of 30+ nationalities located in nine offices on four continents, DNDi’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is both an essential part of its culture and among the factors of its success. DNDi does not tolerate any act of discrimination, which it sees as a barrier to equality of opportunity, inclusion, human rights, as well as organizational effectiveness. We encourage candidates of diverse profiles and backgrounds to apply.

Counting the Malaysia Ministry of Health as a founding member, DNDi was established in Kuala Lumpur in 2004. An integral part of DNDi’s global network, DNDi South-East Asia develops and supports R&D and access partnerships in the broad region, including for hepatitis C and dengue, while contributing to the global strategy. The successful registration of ravidasvir in 2021 as the first affordable hepatitis C treatment paved the way for further collaborations in Malaysia, Thailand, and beyond.

The External Affairs Department drives DNDi’s visibility, influence, and financial sustainability. Its teams (Policy Advocacy, Communications, and External Relations) ensure that DNDi is visible and respected in influential circles, supported by committed stakeholders, and successful in securing the resources needed to deliver on its mission, while being effective in driving policy change as it advocates for neglected patients.

The External Affairs’ Communications & Advocacy team develops and implements the global communications and visibility strategy. It aims for DNDi to be seen as a unique, relevant, and impactful project, and visibly supported by powerful champions at the global and regional level, and within influential constituencies.

The Communications Consultant will be home-based, with frequent presence in the DNDi SEA Office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Overall purpose of the job:

The position holder reinforces DNDi’s visibility in SEA with all key stakeholders – government, NGOs, local authorities, and other key actors by providing communications support to DNDi’s advocacy activities, including boosting government engagement in R&D; access to medicine; positioning of SEA decision-makers with respect to international initiatives, MOUs, and agreements, and ensures that regional communications campaigns and activities engage the wider global team to maximize coverage and internal support.

In close collaboration with the global communications team, the Communications Manager contributes to shaping and executing DNDi’s communications strategy and plan of action by coordinating and managing all DNDi communication activities in South-East Asia (SEA). In collaboration with external affairs, the position holder manages campaigns and events targeting key audiences in the region and identifies needs and opportunities to communicate relevant and engaging content to priority audiences.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

1. Strategy, Planning and Management
   • The External Affairs’ Communications & Advocacy team develops and implements the global communications and visibility strategy. It aims for DNDi to be seen as a unique, relevant, and impactful project, and visibly supported by powerful champions at the global and regional level, and within influential constituencies. This includes the development, implementation, and monitoring of the DNDi SEA communication strategy, plans, and budget, including all efforts to increase awareness in Malaysia of DNDi’s issues, messages, leadership, and activities on relevant diseases and themes (hepatitis C, dengue, NTDs, etc.).
   • Contributes, with the global communication team, to defining and delivering on DNDi’s global strategic objectives for communications, in close collaboration with the India-based communications team and the Thailand communications consultant for regional collaborations.
   • Maintain and supervise outsourced communications work where needed (e.g. photography, videography, etc.).
2. Communication Activities:
   • Media: Develop and maintain media relations in national and regional media, pitch DNDi issues and leadership to regional media, respond to media-related inquiries, collaborate with press offices of partners including government/s, pharmaceutical companies, and others to ensure alignment on media activities: organize translation into key languages of press releases with resonance in the region (Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Tamil, Thai, and Arabic).
   • Social media: Maintain and update DNDi SEA social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube) on a regular basis to build a strong DNDi online presence.
   • Events: Identify opportunities, coordinate and organize DNDi SEA’s presence at key scientific conferences and public speaking events in SEA.
   • Branding and publications: Act as custodian of DNDi branding in South-East Asia; develop SE Asia-relevant marketing collateral at events; ensure appropriate validation and review quality of final print or electronic materials, including advocacy, policy, and development materials before release. Contributes to DNDi Annual Reports and other publications as required.
   • Content: Identify opportunities and needs and organize content collection to ensure DNDi local and global teams are equipped with best practice photo and video assets from the region.
3. Specific Responsibilities
   • Setup weekly check-ins with the Senior Communications Manager in India and occasional calls with Communications and Advocacy Director in Geneva for updates.
   • To attend the DNDi SEA Staff Meetings and other relevant meetings as required.
   • To have weekly catchups with the External Affairs Consultant, Thailand to support and collaborate on projects/programs involving Thailand including events, campaigns, and other initiatives.

Reporting Line:

• The Communications Consultant reports to the DNDi SEA Director.
• The Communications Consultant has a dotted line report to the Senior Communications Manager in India.

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years’ experience in corporate communication, public relations, fundraising, or other related field, preferable in NGO or nonprofit environment.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and matrix structure.
• Experience of working in public and private sector is highly desirable.
• Experience of working in journalism, media relations, and public relations is highly desirable.

Education:

• Advanced post-graduate degree or graduate degree in business, media, marketing, communications, and other related fields.

Other Requirements:

• Proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and understanding of the local language/s.
• Fluency in English.
• Very good knowledge of Microsoft Suite.
• 2.5 days to 4 days per week, depending on anticipated communication activities.

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Your application will include the following questions:

• What's your expected monthly basic salary?
• Which of the following types of qualifications do you have?
• How many years' experience do you have as a Communications Consultant?
• How would you rate your Bahasa Malaysia language skills?
• How would you rate your English language skills?
• How much notice are you required to give your current employer?

Non-Profit Organisations 11-50 employees.