Communications Officer

Job Description

Job Title:                                Communications Officer
Grade:                                     D1

Application Deadline:           7^th December 2025 at 23:59 GMT

Start Date:                              1^st January 

Term:                                       Fulltime (40hrs per week)

Hire Type:                               Fixed Term (18 months contract, renewable based on performance)

Location:                                Gambia Participates office, Kololi

Required Language(s):         English. 

Reports to:                             ICT Manager

Background

Gambia Participates (GP) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to strengthening governance within and beyond The Gambia. Established with a mission to promote a vibrant democracy, the organization has been instrumental in empowering citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) to actively engage in shaping the socio-political and economic landscape of the country. At the heart of Gambia Participates' mission is the belief that an informed and engaged citizenry is essential to national development and democratic accountability.

GP is dedicated to upholding the principles of good governance, transparency, accountability, and social justice. In line with this, GP is seeking to recruit a Communications Officer to lead its content creation and strategic communications work, ensuring that its programs, campaigns, and advocacy efforts reach a broad audience with impact and clarity.

Scope of Work

The Communications Officer will play a key role in overseeing the visibility, documentation, and storytelling efforts of Gambia Participates through creative and impactful content production. This role focuses on the design, development, and dissemination of multimedia materials (including still and motion graphics) that amplify the organization’s governance and civic engagement work. The officer will ensure that all content aligns with GP’s mission, branding guidelines, and values.

Working closely with Comms and program teams, the Communications Officer will transform complex ideas and data into engaging visual formats suited for digital and offline platforms. This includes designing content for reports, social media, campaign materials, civic education tools, and internal documentation. The officer is expected to be proficient in graphic design, video editing, and content strategy, using tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects Coral Draw Graphics Suit etc etc.

Key Responsibilities

1. Content Creation and Design

   • Develop high-quality, visually appealing multimedia content including still graphics, short videos, animations, infographics, social cards, and explainer videos.

   • Produce branded communication materials such as brochures, flyers, reports, toolkits, banners, and presentation decks.

   • Capture, edit, and package photos and video footage from field activities, events, and campaigns for storytelling and documentation.

2. Motion Graphics and Video Production

   • Conceptualize and develop short-form videos and motion graphics for digital campaigns, training sessions, and awareness-raising initiatives.

   • Script, storyboard, shoot, and edit video content using Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, or similar tools.

   • Ensure all video and animated content aligns with the organization’s tone and brand identity.

3. Digital and Social Media Content Management

   • Plan, develop, and implement a content calendar for GP’s social media platforms (e.g., Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube).

   • Design and schedule daily or campaign-based posts, ensuring content is timely, engaging, and relevant.

   • Track digital engagement metrics and adjust content strategies based on performance insights.

4. Visual Storytelling and Campaign Support

   • Translate complex governance, transparency, and accountability topics into accessible and compelling visual stories.

   • Support advocacy and outreach campaigns with creative content that captures attention and motivates action.

   • Develop content for civic education efforts, including civic tech tools, infographics, or public awareness visuals.

5. Internal and Programmatic Communication Support

   • Collaborate with program teams to understand communication needs and co-create content for projects, training materials, and reports.

   • Document field visits, partner engagements, and community interactions to generate stories of impact.

   • Maintain an organized content library including photos, video clips, templates, logos, and other assets.

6. Knowledge Management and Documentation

   • Contribute to the preparation of newsletters, learning briefs, and summary reports, ensuring strong visual design and layout.

   • Document project milestones, success stories, and lessons learned through multimedia formats.

   • Organize and archive final versions of all communication materials for future reference and reuse.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

• A Bachelor's degree in Communication Design, Multimedia Arts, Digital Media Production, Development Communication, or related fields. Equivalent professional experience in content creation may also be considered.

• Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in communications support, visual storytelling, and content production, preferably in civil society, development, or governance-related work.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and Premiere Pro. Familiarity with After Effects or other motion graphics tools is a strong asset.

• Demonstrated experience producing still and motion content, including infographics, short videos, social media graphics, and web visuals.

• Strong understanding of content strategies for civic engagement, transparency, and public accountability campaigns.

• Knowledge of social media trends, visual aesthetics, and platform-specific formats (Instagram Reels, X/Twitter threads, YouTube Shorts, etc.).

• Familiarity with content scheduling and analytics tools (e.g., Meta Business Suite, Buffer, Hootsuite, etc.).

• Basic understanding of civic tech tools, data visualization, or development-focused messaging is an advantage.

• Strong attention to detail, creativity, and the ability to communicate complex ideas visually and accessibly.

• Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks in a dynamic work environment.

• A strong commitment to the values of transparency, anti-corruption, democratic participation, and social accountability.

Key Competencies

• Ability to craft compelling messages for diverse audiences.

• Strong command of English (and preferably local languages) for content creation, editing, and storytelling.

• Capacity to develop impactful content for newsletters, blogs, reports, and campaigns.

• Understanding of tone, context, and audience needs.

• Detail-oriented with strong planning and coordination abilities.

• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and external stakeholders.

• Capacity to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders.

• Commitment to accountability, learning, and adaptive management.

• Experience working with civil society organizations or non-profit sectors is an advantage.

Additional Information