Grow Great, a campaign aimed at galvanizing South Africa towards a national commitment to zero stunting by 2030 is recruiting for multiple roles for its Midrand based office.
BACKGROUND TO GROW GREAT
Grow Great was launched in 2018 in response to South Africa’s high levels of stunting that have persisted for at least the last two decades. Stunting is a (largely preventable) condition where young children are excessively short for their age and do not reach their full growth potential due to chronic nutritional deprivation, repeated infections and poor psychosocial stimulation. Stunting is associated with lifelong cognitive defects, educational and employment challenges, increased risk of chronic diseases in adulthood and cycles of intergenerational poverty. As many as 27% of children under five in South Africa suffer from stunting. South Africa’s burden of stunting is far higher than would be expected for an upper middle income and far higher than many of South Africa’s developing country counterparts. This is of grave concern because stunting has long term consequences for children’s health, education and economic prospects across the life course.
The good news though, is that stunting can be beaten. A number of developing countries with similar resource constraints to South Africa, have demonstrated that through evidence-based interventions targeting women of reproductive age and children under five, with an emphasis on the critical first thousand days of life, that adopt a multisectoral approach and have high level government prioritisation, stunting can be beaten. The Grow Great Campaign seeks to achieve similar such results in the South African context. Grow Great’s vision is a future where no child is unjustly denied the opportunity to reach their full potential as a result of a preventable condition. Our mission is to galvanize South Africa towards a national commitment to zero stunting by 2030 and we do this by supporting parents, empowering practitioners, inspiring the public and mobilsing policy makers all around a shared vision that aims to bring South Africa closer to a stunting free future.
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
The Head of Communications will lead the over-arching communications strategy for the campaign as well as be primarily responsible for the design and development of mass media campaigns that increase public awareness on stunting and its drivers and galvanize a national commitment to zero stunting by 2030. This role reports to the Executive Director and is responsible for:
Leading the design and development of mass media campaigns that increase public awareness on stunting and its drivers and galvanize a national commitment to zero stunting by 2030.
Managing the overarching Grow Great brand.
Overseeing the management of an advocacy-based Grow Great website and social media pages.
Ensuring strong digital media engagement on the campaign’s social media pages, with positive year-on-year growth.
Leading the development and execution of communications plans in support of Grow Great’s overarching brand and communications strategy.
Oversee the development and management of Grow Great’s Flourish and Grow Great Champions program brands and providing direction for all their communication activities.
Build and maintaining relationships with media partners.
Writing and publishing opinion pieces on stunting and its various drivers
Managing junior M&E employees
The ability to be an active and collegial team player and demonstrate flexibility to provide support across the campaign’s strategies is essential to success in this role. In addition, the successful applicant will have the following skillsets & characteristics:
Post-graduate qualification in communications or marketing
At least five years of work experience in communications or marketing
Extensive experience running mass media campaigns
Extensive experience managing programmatic brands
Excellent knowledge of the SA media landscape including radio, outdoor, TV and print
Excellent analytical skills and an ability to write effectively for a variety of audiences
A valid driver’s license.
Ability to work non-traditional hours and travel regionally as required
Strong work ethic and ability to prioritize and multi-task
Experience working in a team context
High performance mindset
Ability to self-direct
Excellent time management skills
Commitment to the values & mission of Grow Great
Staunch commitment to social justice
If you meet the above requirements and feel equipped for one of these positions, please submit a 1-page cover letter & CV (with the title of the role in the subject line) to [email protected] by Friday 11 February 2022. Grow Great is legally incubated by DGMT and all employee contracting will be done through DGMT, for more information on Grow Great, visit www.growgreat.co.za
Please note that an application will not in itself entitle the applicant to an interview or appointment. Applicants who fail to meet the minimum requirements will be automatically disqualified from consideration. We reserve the right not to fill any of the above-mentioned positions.