Vital Strategies (VS), based in New York City, is an international public health organization. We develop and oversee programs to strengthen public health systems and address leading causes of morbidity and mortality, providing expertise in project implementation and management, strategic communications, epidemiology and surveillance, and other core public health capacities. Our specific programs include road safety, obesity prevention, tobacco control, and activities to strengthen public health data systems and the use of public health data to guide policy and decision-making. Activities are based in low and middle income countries and cities in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work. VS is an independent affiliate of The International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

The Position

Vital Strategies is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Strategic Communication Consultant. This is a Consultant position based in Beijing, China. Applicants must possess a valid work permit to work in Beijing, China. 

We are seeking a Strategic Communication Consultant with experience running paid and earned media campaigns with integrated media advocacy and social media elements. The Scope of Service covers designing media campaigns for China, managing creative and research agencies, coordinating with partners and grantees, to providing on-the-ground analysis and execution of media events. The ideal candidate will have experience with campaigns that drive public opinion and influence discourse around social policy. S/he will be conversant with various media channels.

This consultant role is part of Vital Strategies’ Policy, Advocacy and Communications global team of forty, comprised of people from varying background from public relations to advertising to communication research. The team has a collaborative culture, clustering people with different skills and backgrounds to execute projects. Vital Strategies’ global team values diversity and multicultural fluency.

Operating as part of the China Vital Strategies team, the consultant will work on two to three high-intensity media campaigns over two years, and provide ongoing communication support for opinion pieces, PR opportunities and social media. Communication campaigns will be integrated with local approaches, existing media work and tied to coalition partner and grantee activities.

The consultant will also provide technical assistance to governments and non-governmental organizations in China who partner with Vital Strategies on campaigns. On-going in country travel will be required as well as some international travel. The contract manager for this consultancy will be the head of China Communications Programs.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in providing guidance and spearhead implementation of communication campaigns intended to educate the public and support government officials in addressing public health issues, including:

• Stakeholder identification and formative research – in the form of focus groups or public opinion polls – to explore public understanding and perceptions of tobacco issues.

• Advertising campaigns, including agency selection and management, message testing, polling, creative development, production, media planning and campaign evaluation.

• Policy and advocacy campaigns including social media campaigns with local NGOs to support communications goals.

• Public relations from events to editorial pieces that garner news media attention to tobacco control issues.

•  Assist Vital Strategies and its partners in developing social media activities and providing social media expertise and resources

• Assist with tobacco control programs focused on policy, advocacy and communications.

• Work with Vital Strategies staff and agencies to help develop messages and creative concepts.

• Use flexible and responsive activities that could include ad placements in current affairs magazines, social media campaigns, petitions, and buzz-marketing style events.

• Assist in developing and maintaining health communications expertise for government and NGO stakeholders.

• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders, including ministries and other local partners, with the strategic aim to improve public health policies and perceptions.

• Assist Vital Strategies and its partners in hiring, managing and guiding vendors on projects, including but not limited to creative, production, media and PR agencies, media planners, and research companies. 

•  Monitor grants and contracts with particular attention to media deliverables to ensure timely execution and implementation.

• Assist in the execution of marketing and public relations strategies on behalf of Vital Strategies in country.

• Provide support and assistance on events such as workshops, PR and campaign launches, and press conferences.

• Assist with drafting of reports, presentations, correspondence, blogs, meeting agendas as requested.

•  Draft press releases, statements, letters to the editor, opinion pieces, questions and answers, fact sheets, columns, web and newsletter copy and other materials as needed to provide information to the press, both proactively and reactively.

• Assist with other Vital Strategies public health program as needed.

• Provide regular reports on progress of activities and of developments related to Vital Strategies programs.

• Handle administrative responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications and skill set:

• University degree with minimum 4 years of job-related experience in advertising, communications and/or public relations;

• Good understanding of the media landscape in country;

• Strong interest in public health;

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to successfully manage competing priorities and meet deadlines;

•  Capacity to work independently and collaboratively in an international team environment with solid interpersonal and verbal communication skills;

•  Excellent judgment, strategic thinker, strong initiative;

• Strong oral and written proficiency in both English and Mandarin;

• Solid knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook);