The Deputy Manager, Communications will deliver strategic communications guidance and technical expertise to BRAD International Microfinance’s (BI MF) eight microfinance entities across Asia and Africa. This role involves assisting in the formulation and execution of communications strategies, crafting engaging content and campaigns, and developing powerful narratives to deepen stakeholder engagement, amplify visibility, and clearly articulate BI MF’s impact to internal, national, and global audiences.
Key Accountabilities: Spearhead a diverse array of critical tasks, including overseeing daily departmental operations, ensuring seamless workflow coordination, and maintaining strict adherence to established policies and procedures. Develop and implement strategic initiatives to enhance team productivity, foster a culture of accountability, and drive measurable improvements in performance outcomes. Collaborate cross-functionally to align objectives with organizational goals, identify emerging challenges, and proactively implement solutions to mitigate risks. Monitor key performance indicators, analyze trends, and provide data-driven recommendations to senior leadership to inform decision-making. Mentor and coach team members to cultivate talent, optimize skill development, and promote a high-performance work environment. Ensure compliance with industry regulations, internal audits, and ethical standards while fostering a workplace rooted in integrity and continuous improvement.
Entity support responsibilities include collaborating with BI MF’s eight microfinance entities to develop and execute annual communications plans, offering continuous technical assistance, practical support, and strategic direction to enhance program delivery, streamline operations, and facilitate meaningful engagement with clients, staff, and external stakeholders. Additionally, the role involves assisting country teams in aligning their communications efforts with BI MF’s overarching strategies, brand guidelines, and key messaging to ensure consistency and impact across all operations.
Program communications support involves assisting with communications for the financial inclusion aspect of BRAD International’s flagship “Accelerating Impact for Young Women (AIM)” program. Responsibilities include creating and executing internal and external communication campaigns, producing multimedia content, and designing materials to help staff effectively convey the AIM program’s objectives to participants and key stakeholders.
Support entity communications teams by collaborating on the creation, production, and distribution of news releases, FAQs, briefing notes, and other media materials, thereby strengthening the visibility and credibility of BI MF entities within their national and regional contexts. Partner with country leadership teams to proactively identify potential reputational risks and provide strategic support for both proactive and reactive communications responses.
We spearhead the creation and refinement of engaging content across diverse platforms, such as websites, social media channels, newsletters, and print publications. Our responsibilities include crafting and editing compelling human interest and impact narratives, video scripts, blogs, case studies, fact sheets, capacity statements, annual reports, and other specialized knowledge and advocacy materials. Additionally, we oversee the maintenance and organization of an editorial calendar while managing monthly and annual content production workflows to guarantee consistency, excellence, and strategic alignment with program objectives.
Design and execute integrated communication campaigns rooted in data, research, and programmatic evidence, enhanced by compelling and motivational content. Assist in organizing and facilitating the BI MF Leadership Retreat, learning workshops, and webinars to elevate the impact and educational reach of BI MF’s initiatives. Maintain cohesive key messaging, branding, and positioning across global campaigns and events, including Financial Inclusion Week, International Women’s Day, and World Youth Day.
Develop and execute a comprehensive social media strategy to amplify BI MF’s brand presence, foster deeper audience engagement, and establish its position as a thought leader across multiple digital platforms. Continuously track emerging social media trends, analyze performance metrics, and evaluate audience behavior to refine and adjust strategies and content accordingly. Collaborate with designated communications focal points to organize and sustain social media content schedules, while offering strategic recommendations on branding consistency, tone of voice alignment, and optimal content formats.
We partner with internal and external design teams to produce compelling visual materials that strictly adhere to BRAD’s branding and visual identity standards. This includes managing the development of graphics, infographics, visual narratives, and other creative deliverables for both digital and print platforms. Proficiency in industry-standard design tools—including Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Canva—is essential for success in this role.
Provide strategic and creative guidance in the development of social and behavior change communication materials, ensuring alignment with participatory, context-specific, gender-responsive approaches that reflect programmatic learning and evidence. Collaborate closely with internal and external design teams, product, impact, and social performance units, as well as other key functional leads within BI MF to deliver cohesive and effective SBCC solutions.
Support executive and grant communications by assisting in the creation of organizational messaging and positioning strategies, as well as developing and refining talking points and speeches for leadership. Additionally, prepare report writing for significant grants, such as the AIM program, and contribute to proposal development when necessary.
Learning and collaboration: Collaborate closely with the BRAD International and BRAD global communications teams to maintain unified messaging, consistent brand representation, coordinated social media and events calendars, and unified key campaign initiatives. Serve as a pivotal liaison, connecting country communications teams with central communications. Additionally, capture and document valuable lessons learned, best practices, and success stories from BRAD International microfinance entities, sharing these insights across the organization to foster continuous improvement and alignment.
Responsible for cultivating and maintaining strategic relationships with creative agencies, photographers, filmmakers, graphic designers, and event management firms to secure essential services for communication campaigns and events. Ensure the procurement of all communication-related services and products fully complies with BRAD’s established procurement and safeguarding policies.
Provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and hands-on support to country-level communications staff and focal points across Asia and Africa. Develop and lead tailored trainings and workshops focused on strategic communications, creative and technical writing, content creation, storytelling, foundational design principles, and digital communications. Cultivate an environment of perpetual learning and innovation within the broader communications community of practice, promoting the exploration of emerging tools, platforms, and methodologies to drive progress.
The position requires a strong commitment to safeguarding, ensuring the protection and well-being of all individuals involved. This includes conducting thorough background checks, implementing safety protocols, and maintaining confidentiality at all times. Additionally, the role involves monitoring compliance with safeguarding policies, reporting any concerns promptly, and providing support to those affected by safeguarding issues. Strong attention to detail, adherence to ethical standards, and effective communication skills are essential to fulfilling these responsibilities successfully.
Promote a secure and supportive environment by safeguarding all team members against harm, abuse, neglect, harassment, and exploitation in any form.
Foster a culture of safeguarding awareness among team members and uphold adherence to safeguarding standards across all initiatives and operations.
Ensure strict adherence to safeguarding reporting procedures for any incident that requires disclosure and promote consistent compliance among all personnel.
Seeking candidates with a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field, alongside a minimum of five years of progressive experience in a similar role. Proficiency in industry-specific software and tools is required, along with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Familiarity with current trends and best practices in the field is essential. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are necessary to collaborate effectively with team members and stakeholders.
With a minimum of three years of professional experience in development communications, preferably within an INGO, Foundation, or a comparable organization.
Applicants must possess a minimum of five years of professional experience in communications, journalism, or a related discipline.
Required Knowledge, Skills & Competencies:
Seeking proficiency in development communications, social and behavior change communications, modern communication practices and platforms, social media analytics, microfinance, financial inclusion, global development issues, and the non-profit sector.
We are seeking a candidate with expertise in strategic communication, project management, and event organization, along with proficiency in social media content creation, public speaking, and creative writing. The ideal applicant should also have experience in blogging, visual storytelling, and graphic design software (including InDesign, Canva, and the Adobe Creative Suite). Additionally, skills in photography, video editing, Google Workspace tools, and presentation development are required.
Facilitates collaborative group sessions, designs comprehensive work and project plans, establishes clear priorities, and ensures timely completion of deliverables. Builds strong interpersonal connections through active relationship building and demonstrates a high degree of empathy in all interactions. Maintains composure under pressure by employing effective stress management techniques and employs analytical reasoning to evaluate situations and make informed decisions.
This position requires regular travel to the eight countries that constitute the BI MF Network.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND
Experience Required
3 - 5 years
