Assistant Manager, Advocacy & Communications - TJ / 1930482

Punjab Skills Development Fund is seeking a dynamic Assistant Manager, Advocacy & Communications based in Lahore. The role involves supporting the design, implementation, and monitoring of public awareness, behavior change, and advocacy initiatives aligned with the organization’s strategic goals. The successful candidate will translate development objectives into evidence-based campaigns, engage diverse stakeholders, develop targeted communication strategies, and evaluate their impact on awareness, attitudes, and behaviors. This position plays a key role in leading marketing and advocacy efforts to advance priority development issues.

Key Responsibilities

- Support the design and execution of behavior change communication (BCC) interventions to promote positive attitudes and informed decision-making.
- Plan and implement public awareness campaigns aimed at increasing understanding of critical development issues among target audiences.
- Identify target groups, assess communication needs, and tailor messages according to audience characteristics, barriers, motivations, and preferred channels.
- Develop audience-specific communication plans, key messages, and campaign materials aligned with awareness and behavior change goals.
- Coordinate dissemination of messages through media, community platforms, digital channels, events, and stakeholder networks.
- Monitor audience engagement and feedback to evaluate campaign effectiveness and inform improvements.
- Integrate evidence, audience insights, and lessons learned into future communication initiatives.
- Support development and execution of advocacy plans aligned with organizational priorities and sector objectives.
- Translate organizational priorities into clear advocacy messages, campaign goals, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
- Identify and engage relevant stakeholders including government bodies, development partners, civil society, community representatives, and private sector actors.
- Prepare advocacy briefs, position papers, policy messages, presentations, and fact sheets to support advocacy efforts.
- Coordinate advocacy dialogues, consultations, roundtables, and public engagement activities to build support for development issues.
- Facilitate coalition-building and collaborative advocacy with partner organizations.
- Track advocacy commitments, stakeholder responses, and progress against objectives, documenting challenges and opportunities.
- Monitor policy developments and emerging sector issues to identify advocacy opportunities.
- Develop and coordinate integrated advocacy and public awareness campaigns with clear objectives and measurable outcomes.
- Translate technical information into clear, accessible messages for public and stakeholder audiences.
- Coordinate with creative agencies, media partners, and service providers to develop campaign concepts and materials.
- Oversee campaign execution across communication channels, ensuring message consistency and alignment with organizational positions.
- Develop campaign plans, timelines, deliverables, and performance indicators in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Review campaign performance and recommend adjustments based on engagement data and emerging needs.
- Facilitate public consultations, community engagement, stakeholder dialogues, and development-focused events.
- Support dissemination of evidence-based information through partner networks and community platforms.
- Document stakeholder feedback and community perspectives to inform campaign and advocacy priorities.
- Maintain stakeholder engagement records and follow up on agreed actions.
- Support partnerships to extend the reach and sustainability of awareness and behavior change initiatives.
- Prepare and review communication materials including key messages, campaign briefs, talking points, media briefs, and presentations.
- Coordinate with media agencies and public relations offices for placement and publication of approved advertisements.
- Track media coverage and public discourse on priority issues to strengthen advocacy messaging.
- Ensure accuracy, inclusivity, and consistency of all communication outputs.
- Maintain organized repositories of campaign materials, media coverage, and communication outputs.
- Establish campaign monitoring mechanisms and indicators in coordination with program and M&E teams.
- Monitor campaign reach, audience engagement, and participation.
- Support collection and analysis of baseline and post-campaign data to assess changes in awareness, attitudes, and behaviors.
- Document advocacy milestones, challenges, and lessons learned.
- Prepare periodic reports on campaign performance and progress toward objectives.
- Use monitoring findings and audience feedback to improve campaign design and implementation.
- Plan and coordinate public awareness events, advocacy activations, stakeholder forums, and consultations.
- Manage event branding, collateral, and campaign assets.
- Coordinate with creative agencies, vendors, and internal teams for timely event execution.
- Arrange photography and videography coverage and maintain records of campaign activities.
- Manage sourcing, production, and distribution of communication materials and corporate giveaways.
- Ensure events and activations are designed with clear communication and engagement objectives.
- Maintain departmental budget trackers, expenditure records, and accruals.
- Initiate purchase requisitions through approved processes and SAP system.
- Coordinate invoice processing with complete documentation.
- Maintain records of memos, requisitions, invoices, vendor documents, and approvals.
- Monitor expenditure against budgets and report variances.
- Ensure records are accurate, complete, and audit-ready.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field.
- Proven experience in advocacy, communications, or marketing within the development sector.
- Strong skills in designing and implementing behavior change communication and advocacy campaigns.
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, including preparation of advocacy materials.
- Experience engaging diverse stakeholders including government, civil society, and private sector.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, coordinate with agencies, and monitor campaign performance.
- Proficiency in monitoring and evaluation of communication initiatives.
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records.
- Familiarity with budget management and procurement processes.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

- Experience working with development organizations or public sector entities.
- Knowledge of digital communication tools and social media platforms.
- Ability to translate technical information into accessible messages.
- Collaborative mindset with experience in coalition-building.
- Opportunity to contribute to impactful development initiatives in Punjab.
- Work in a supportive environment focused on skills development and advocacy.

This role offers a chance to play a pivotal part in advancing development priorities through strategic communication and advocacy, contributing to meaningful social change.