Junior Communications Manager

About Honoris United Universities

Honoris United Universities is the first and largest pan-African private higher education network committed to transforming lives through relevant education for lifetime success. Collaborative intelligence, cultural agility, and mobile mindsets are at the heart of the Honoris approach to educating the next generation of leaders and professionals to make a transformative impact on a global scale. Honoris combines the expertise of its member institutions to develop world-class African human talent with an entrepreneurial mindset and 21st-century skills to thrive in the world of work.

Recognized as a New Champion by the World Economic Forum and a member of the United Nations Global Compact, Honoris comprises a community of 100,000+ students on 76 campuses in 26 cities. The network is formed of 16 institutions: multidisciplinary universities, specialized schools, technical and vocational institutes, contact, distance, and online institutions. Honoris has transformed more than 1.2 million lives to date with a legacy of 250+ years of experience in education, supported by exclusive academic partnerships and exchange programs in more than 250 universities across Europe, North America, and Asia. To strengthen its employability mandate, students benefit from an ecosystem of over 1,000 employer partners. More than 490 degrees are offered in Medicine, Health Sciences, Engineering, IT, Business, Law, Architecture, Digital and Creative Arts, Fashion and Design, Media, Political Science, and Education.

Honoris United Universities. Education for Impact. www.honoris.net

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Junior Communications Manager’s primary responsibility is to support the implementation of Honoris’ internal and external communications and digital activities with a focus on communications to support the Honoris Formula for Success culture campaign. 

The Junior Communications Manager will assist in the smooth running of the Honoris Press Office and will support the Group Communications Manager in their role to oversee all external and internal communications. They will actively monitor and assess the current trends and dialogue in higher education in Africa and across the globe to report and make recommendations to colleagues on potential activities, ensuring quality and consistency in the communications and public relations activities of the Group and its institutions. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

INTERNAL

Support the launch and diligent maintenance of the new Honoris intranet (HRIS), ensuring collaboration across functions 

Leverage the Honoris HRIS system to ensure key HR information is disseminated accurately and consistently across the network

Propose and manage monthly themes that foster belonging, pride and emotional connection among the People of Honoris

Support the HR team to build a strategy of internal communications that builds on the Honoris Formula for Success campaign

Manage and maintain the necessary distribution lists/employee communications databases

Outline the monthly In The Know newsletter – the primary form of communications to all Honoris employees

EXTERNAL

Draft news updates and blog posts for the Honoris website and consistent monitoring and fact checking 

Support the monthly thematic content plans for Honoris social media channels, including briefs and content collating from institutions 

Review of reports on social media performance and tracking of metrics and measurement with recommendations and perspectives

Benchmarking against competitors and updates on wider ecosystem trends, visibility, campaigns

Collateral and printing liaisons for Honoris content for events - ensuring speakers have collateral to share with ecosystem

Gather and manage testimonials from partners, including network-wide and employer-level

Support awards submissions by identifying relevant opportunities and developing compelling narratives based on Honoris achievements

Manage a content asset library of case studies, testimonials, quotes, and visuals for use across campaigns and reports

POSITION IN ORGANIZATION

REPORTS TO: Group Communications Manager

TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL, and PEOPLE SKILLS REQUIRED

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Incumbents will be evaluated, in part, based on the performance of each essential function. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

1. Experience in a support position in strategic Communications and PR within a highly regarded African or internationally recognized business
2. A track record in supporting agile and responsive communications and PR collaterals that articulates thought leadership in its industry
3. A metrics-driven mindset, comfortable quantifying results and building recommendations informed by data 
4. A polished communicator orally and in writing, practiced in building strategic relationships with a broad base of communities and stakeholders
5. Fluency in written and spoken English
6. A mature, decisive, self-motivated, and assured outlook, capable of operating autonomously to the highest international standards. Comfortable in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

1. First-class or 2:1 degree in Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, or other related discipline
2. 5+ years’ experience in a public relations, communications, or marketing role