Terms of Reference

Title: PR and Marketing Consultant         

Contract Duration: 6 months     

Start Date: Monday, January 11, 2021              

Application Deadline: Friday, December 18, 2020

The Consultancy

Vital Strategies is looking for a PR and Marketing Consultant to support public relations and communication activities for the organization’s Partnership for Healthy Cities and Data for Health initiatives. The Partnership for Healthy Cities is a prestigious global network of cities committed to saving lives by preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with the World Health Organization and Vital Strategies, this initiative enables cities around the world to deliver a high-impact policy or programmatic intervention to reduce NCD risk factors in their communities. Data for Health is a global initiative committed to the better understanding and use of data for public health policymaking. Vital Strategies’ involvement includes providing technical assistance to improve civil registration/vital statistics systems and public health data use in twenty countries.

Working closely with Vital Strategies’ technical staff and regional partners, the PR and Marketing Consultant will lead the design and execution of publicity strategies and campaigns for the two initiatives. This is a 6-month consultant agreement.

Deliverables and Key Responibilities:

• Write and edit compelling content including, press releases, case studies, fact sheets, briefings, statements, social copy, newsletters, blogs, and op-eds
• Plan and execute publicity and campaign strategies that result in high-quality media coverage for the Partnership for Healthy Cities and Data for Health initiatives
• Liaise with city and country communication officers, project teams, and other key stakeholders to stay informed on initiatives’ activities, proactively identify milestones, support press and communication strategies, and track/follow up on media impact
• Support city and country offices in securing media opportunities and develop and execute plan for communicating key milestones
• Develop news angles, stories and pitches to further the initiatives’ goals, activities, and impact
• Support interviews, workshops, events, press briefings and other press and media engagements to advance the initiatives’ mission with regional, national and international media
• Track communication activities and prepare and submit communication reports 
• Maintain PHC COVID-19 Response Center website
• Support press conferences and other press events and pitch speakers and panels for relevant conferences
• Develop and update general promotional material and publications (brochures, web content and toolkits, fact sheets, one-pagers) and other collateral material, as needed
• Sustain contact with portfolio containing 30 cities
• Produce and deliver weekly PHC update, monthly PHC newsletter, quarterly Data for Health newsletter

Consultant background must include:

• 6+ years of PR, communication and/or marketing experience
• Excellent writer and storyteller. You have a knack for connecting with audiences through exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Proven track record of managing media relations (online, broadcast and print) and building relationships with journalists and other key members of the press
• Experience writing and preparing marketing materials, including press releases, fact sheets, pitches, programs, one-pagers, web, newsletter and social content
• Experience working in international settings 
• Experience with email marketing services (Mailchimp); social media channels media intelligence platforms (Meltwater); 
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across time zones and platforms
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work fast, meet deadlines, manage multiple tasks, and thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Preferred:
  • Agency experience 
  • Public health / Nonprofit experience