Communications/Advocacy Global Health Consultant - Bilingual (French/English)

Contract Term: Consultant
Location: Dakar, Senegal
Start date: July 2026
Work model: Hybrid

THE ROLE

We are seeking a motivated professional with excellent people skills, client and project management experience, proven communications capabilities and networks, who is a strategic thinker that will thrive in an agile, fast-paced entrepreneurial working environment.

The ideal candidate has core competencies in content development, media relations, event management, advocacy, stakeholder and client engagement; understands global public health and development issues and is passionate about utilizing their skills to improve health and wellbeing around the world.

Candidates must have at least 6 years' experience in designing and implementing communications and advocacy projects. Bilingual (English and French) candidates with an advanced university degree have an advantage.

Responsibilities within this role include:

Communications

• Developing and implementing robust communications and advocacy strategies that meet our clients' needs while at the same time showcasing the full breadth of GHS' service offering and positioning us as a valuable partner across Africa and beyond.

• Simplifying complex concepts to make them accessible and actionable?to various stakeholder groups by developing and editing compelling content including key messages, fact sheets, speeches and talking points, media collateral (such a press releases, media advisories and toolkits), opinion pieces, web articles, social media content and other creative digital materials, including engaging multimedia/audiovisual content.

• Building and nurturing networks, including identifying the right media contacts for client pitches, drafting compelling pitches, media outreach (media pitching) and developing relationships with reporters and editors from major national, regional and international outlets across the continent and beyond. Aside from media, the manager will also be expected to build and nurture strong relationships with clients, potential clients and other stakeholders within GHS' areas of interest to raise the organization's visibility and create opportunities for new and/or continued business.

• Positioning our clients as influential opinion shapers and high-level influencers by elevating their public profiles and enhancing their visibility through various platforms, including speaking opportunities (speeches, panel appearances, media interviews, etc.) and other thought leadership moments such as opinion pieces and social media commentary during key moments.

• Supporting event management for GHS' clients through efficient project management, including agenda shaping, speaker selection, partner engagement, content development, on-ground support and post-event reporting.

• Tracking and reporting on trends?in global health and development, new and traditional media, and any other key issues, innovations, events or dialogues that may impact GHS' business or client work.

Advocacy

• Identifying strategic moments and new champions?to reach target stakeholders and amplify our clients' strategic goals.

• Supporting GHS Africa leadership in convening partners, influencers, and decision-makers in health by working on major deliverables within high-level events, including conceptualizing sessions to meet advocacy goals, identifying and briefing invitees and speakers, and developing agendas and presentations.

• Supporting and/or building new coalitions to spotlight existing and emerging global health issues through strategic outreach and relationship management.

• Strengthening engagement with media and other stakeholders as well as maintaining existing external relationships.

• Tracking and reporting on trends?in global health policies and funding opportunities.

Client/Project Management

• Guiding project strategy development by contributing to the articulation of a vision and purpose in line with clients' overall goals and objectives.

• Owning and supporting project deliverables, enforcing timelines, finalizing project plans and budget projections, and managing implementation of projects.

• Participating in and leading client/stakeholder calls and meetings, attending client events with senior management.

• Regular communications?with senior staff on project progress and challenges, bringing solutions to problems before they arise.

• Providing advice and strategic counsel to donors/clients/partners and other external stakeholders when needed.

• Ensuring materials developed by project teams are of high quality and are client ready.

• Supporting senior project leadership in their interactions with the client and overall management of assigned projects.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required skills and qualifications

• Fluent in English and French (written and spoken)

• 6 years of work experience

• Post-graduate degree in Journalism, Business Administration, Public Health, Public Policy, Public Administration or related fields

• Journalism, communications or public relations experience

• Strong project management, presentation and organizational skills

• Proven experience in the development of excellent communications materials and ability to craft compelling stories

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Teams, Word, PowerPoint and Excel

• Experience organizing conferences and events

• Experience working with senior executives (e.g., senior management teams like C-suite members and board members, etc.)

• Existing contacts within key ministries, issue areas, media outlets, clients, partners and other stakeholders within the public health eco-system

• Understanding of development issues and socio-economic landscape across Africa

• Ability to work remotely when needed

Valuable skills and qualifications (additional)

• Proficiency in project management and design tools, such as Asana, Monday, Wrike, Adobe suite or Canva
• Campaign experience in the development sector
• Video production and editing
• Master's degree in a related field

ABOUT GLOBAL HEALTH STRATEGIES (GHS)

Global Health Strategies (GHS) is an international consulting firm that uses advocacy, communications and policy analysis to advance issues and power campaigns that improve health and well-being around the world. We work across some of the world's most dynamic regions to enable policy innovations, mobilize resources and build political will, engaging global and local audiences to drive change. At the heart of our work is the vision of a world where everyone, no matter where they live, has the chance to live a healthy life. We are helping to achieve this goal by working with clients to promote research and development for urgently needed medicines, advocate for services on behalf of at-risk populations and strengthen the most vulnerable health systems so that they can stand resilient in the face of modern threats.

We have offices in Dakar, Geneva, Jakarta, Johannesburg, London, Nairobi, New Delhi, New York and Rio de Janeiro, and we support work in diverse countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. Our clients include philanthropy, industry, NGOs, government agencies, academic institutions and product development partnerships.