Director, Partnerships and Strategic Communications, Africa

Description

Main Purpose of the Role  

The Director, Partnerships and Strategic Communications, Africa is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping and delivering CIFF Africa’s external engagement, influence, and profile‑building agenda.

The role leads CIFF Africa’s approach to strategic partnerships across philanthropy, governments, regional institutions, and multilateral actors to unlock capital, influence, and collaboration aligned with CIFF’s Africa missions. In parallel, the role oversees strategic communications, thought leadership, and reputation management to strengthen CIFF Africa’s visibility, credibility, and impact.

Role’s Responsibilities  

Strategic Partnerships & External Engagement  

• Lead and deliver CIFF Africa’s partnerships strategic communications strategy aligned with CIFF’s Africa priorities and global objectives.

• Build, steward, and deepen relationships with philanthropic partners, peer foundations, donor collaboratives, and high‑value networks.

• Identify, assess, and pursue new partnership opportunities that unlock scale, sustainability, and systems‑level impact.

• Support the Executive Director, Africa and Africa Directors in cultivating and managing senior‑level external relationships.

• Represent CIFF Africa in relevant funder collaboratives, multi‑donor platforms, and partnership forums, ensuring clear value‑add and outcomes.

• Engage strategically with priority governments, regional bodies (e.g. African Union, AUDA‑NEPAD, WHO AFRO), and multilateral institutions in partnership with programme teams.

• Track policy, geopolitical, and regulatory developments relevant to philanthropy and partnerships in Africa, advising leadership on risks and opportunities.

• Institutionalise best practices in partnership development, contributing to organisational learning and capability‑building across the Africa team.

Strategic Communications & Thought Leadership 

• Set and lead CIFF Africa’s strategic communications agenda to strengthen visibility, influence, and coherence across countries and missions.

• Develop integrated communications and positioning strategies aligned with CIFF’s values, priorities, and risk appetite.

• Lead the creation of high‑quality external communications including speeches, talking points, briefs, op‑eds, reports, and presentations.

• Shape and deliver CIFF Africa’s thought leadership and advocacy approach, in close collaboration with programme and policy teams.

• Oversee digital and media engagement for CIFF Africa, coordinating with central communications teams on social media, media relations, and performance tracking.

• Ensure consistency of messaging across external engagements, governance materials, and public‑facing platforms.

Reputation and Crisis Communications 

• Develop and maintain crisis communications and reputation management plans for CIFF Africa

• Monitor emerging reputational risks and sensitive issues, preparing proactive messaging and escalation pathways.

• Advise the Executive Director and senior leadership on reputational risk mitigation and response strategies.

• Coordinate external advisors and communications consultants during high‑risk or crisis situations.

Leadership & Management 

• Provide strategic leadership to any staff or consultants working on partnerships and communications portfolios.

• Work collaboratively with Africa Directors, programme teams, and global support functions (Communications, Legal, Finance, HR) to deliver integrated external engagement.

• Contribute as a senior member of the Africa leadership cohort, modelling CIFF’s values and ways of working.

Requirements

Skills & Experience  

• Significant senior‑level experience in partnership development, external relations, and/or strategic communications in Africa

• Proven track record of building and managing high‑value partnerships across philanthropy, government, and multilateral systems.

• Strong experience leading strategic communications, thought leadership, or advocacy in complex and sensitive contexts.

• Demonstrated ability to operate credibly with senior stakeholders, including government officials, funders, and institutional leaders.

• Experience managing reputational risk and crisis communications.

• Strong political, institutional, and contextual understanding of African development landscapes.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex issues clearly and persuasively.

• Strategic, judgement‑driven thinker with a pragmatic and solutions‑oriented mindset.

• High levels of integrity, discretion, and professionalism.

Key Working Relationships  

• Executive Director, Africa

• Africa Directors and Pillar Leads

• CIFF Executive Team and CEO Office

• CIFF Global Communications, Policy, and Partnerships teams

• CIFF Board members and Programme Investment Committee

• Philanthropic partners and donor collaboratives

• National governments, regional institutions, and multilateral organisations

• External communications and policy advisors

Management Dimensions  

• Accountability for delivery of CIFF Africa’s partnerships and strategic communications objectives.

• Management of budgets, consultants, and resources related to partnerships and communications.

• Contribution to the effective performance and influence of CIFF Africa’s overall portfolio.

Benefits

CIFF operates a hybrid work policy across all locations, which means employees work in the office and some of the time from home. We are happy to provide more information on this as part of the recruitment process.

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package here at CIFF that includes, but is not limited to the following.

• Annual leave - 25 days per annum. Increasing by 1 day after each year of service to a maximum of 30 days
• Bonus - CIFF currently operates a discretionary bonus scheme
• Training allowance
• Wellbeing allowance
• Life insurance
• Medical insurance

Please submit your application on or before Tuesday, 24 March 2026. CIFF reserves the right to close the job advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.