Synergos Institute - Dhaka, Bangladesh

Communications Manager (CM)

 

Job Description

About Synergos 

Synergos is a global organization that has pioneered an inclusive, systems-focused approach called bridging leadership, which builds collective trust and action.  Through forming partnerships, strengthening leaders, and advising organizations, Synergos helps to solve complex issues around the world. We have used this inclusive approach with partners around the world for 35 years to achieve extraordinary results. ​

​ Synergos’ focus is to help dismantle systems that create the most urgent problems of our time: poverty, social injustice, and climate change. Solving them requires more than technical solutions. It requires collaborations that can break through obstacles, surface and elevate the voices of local people, and create solutions that get to root causes and can scale.

Today, Synergos works on agriculture and employment in Ethiopia and Nigeria, local economic development in South Africa, fostering child safety and development in Bangladesh, and supporting social entrepreneurs in the Arab World who are helping meet the needs of millions. We have staff and representative teams based in Bangladesh, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the United States.

About Synergos Bangladesh

Since starting work in Bangladesh in 2018 as a Drowning Prevention Partnership (DPP) Synergos has since evolved to cover wider issues in relation to early childhood care, development and protection. It brought together stakeholders from child drowning prevention and early childhood development sectors to work as an alliance for the design and approval of an integrated childcare, development and protection project. On February 22nd, 2022, the Bangladesh government approved a $32 million investment for three years (January 2022-December 2024) in a first phase of the Integrated Community-Based Center for Child Care Protection, and Swim-Safe Facilities Project (referred to here as the ICBC Project) put forward by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA). Following its approval Synergos was appointed by the lead development partner Bloomberg Philanthropies to serve as a Technical Assistance Partner to the ICBC Project. As a part of its technical assistance commitment the Synergos team is guiding project implementation in a way that honors the intention around coordination, collaboration, and establishing mechanisms and most importantly build collaborative leadership capacities for integrated services across the sectors under a leadership program entitled Bridging Leadership Initiative, recently adopted by the ICBC Project. In our experience, solutions to social problems are too often built on silos. Bridging Leadership helps diverse Stakeholders build trust and collaboration across the divides to co-create more durable, tailored interventions. The three essential elements of Bridging Leadership consist of reflections and inner work that builds connection to purpose, systems thinking, and inclusive collaboration.

Position Summary

Synergos Bangladesh country office is looking for a mid-career professional having a minimum of 8-10 years’ experience to perform in the role of a Communications Manager (CM). The position is fulltime and will assist with planning and be responsible for coordinating Synergos Bangladesh’ communications plan and activities in support of grant milestones and objectives. The Communications Manager also serves as a liaison and technical support to the ICBC project team’s communication activities. He/she is expected to create and update contents for the Synergos Bangladesh and the ICBC webpages, electronic, social and print media channels and organize and/or supervise media events/activities for Synergos Bangladesh. the CM will focus on elevating the significance of collaborative leadership, systems thinking for creating greater social impact that is being called for in Bangladesh today through publication of articles and opinion editorials in national dailies and encouraging the electronic media to feature inspirational discussions on leadership. Overall, the Manager will provide support to Synergos team in all communication/visibility/outreach activities. The task involves collaborating with team members, the government Project and other partners to achieve shared goals for communications.

The Communications Manager will be reportable to the Synergos Bangladesh Country Director. The current contract is up to December 2025 with the possibility of extension upon satisfactory completion of the tenure.

The position is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and requires occasional domestic travel.

Detailed Scope of Work for Synergos:

  1. Work collaboratively with Synergos Bangladesh team to produce a communication plan which will help create a unique value proposition for Synergos in Bangladesh. In addition to creating visibility and raising the profile of Synergos in the country.
  2. Develop a system to collect data and information for producing human interest and positive change stories highlighting Synergos’ work. 
  3. Responsible for preparing communication products with creative content such as leaflets, information packs, FAQs, social media posts, web stories, videos, and infographics as required by the Synergos team, and including deliverables as a Technical Assistance Partner to the government ICBC project.
  4. Assist Synergos Bangladesh team to develop and communicate compelling awareness messages on Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), child drowning prevention and creating inspirational contents promoting the wider potentials of the government Project.
  5. Work closely with media agencies and journalists or identify other ways for informing the wider public, policy environment and global agencies of the lessons and successes emanating from the government Project.

 

  1. Handle media relations by producing press release on events, responding to journalist inquiries, negotiating for earned media coverage or TV talk shows, and preparing talking points for external communication.
  2. Support Synergos Bangladesh team to organize multi-media events, meetings and observance of important days while taking responsibility for event-related communications.
  3. Provide supervision and guidance to media and communications agencies contracted by Synergos to create greater impact and effectiveness. Work in coordination with the enlisted web and graphics design agency to update information and upload learnings, photos and stories to the government ICBC webpage (www.icbcproject.org ).
  4. Coordinate with Synergos global communications team to update contents of Bangladesh page at Synergos website (www.synergos.org/bangladesh ) and amplify Synergos Bangladesh’s work at social media platforms, both in Bangladesh and globally.
  5. As a member of the Synergos Bangladesh team and of Synergos overall, participate in and contribute to online and physical team meetings, including regular team calls, all Staff meetings, etc.
  6. Other related responsibilities/tasks may be required by the Synergos Bangladesh team and the US based global office.

Essential Qualifications:

  1. Preferably, from media and communications, journalism, literature or any other related background.
  2. A history of working in the social sector.
  3. Proven skills and prior experience in report writing and documentation.
  4. Must have excellent mastery of both English and Bangla and be able to effectively communicate orally and in writing.
  5. Prior experience of working with electronic and print media journalists.
  6. Must be able to contribute to graphic design and editorial ideas for publications and have experience in writing stories and press releases as well as features.
  7. Proficiency in MS Office; familiarity with design software (Photoshop, InDesign) is a plus.
  8. A minimum of 10 years’ work experience.
  9. A team player.
  10. A good listener, humble, trustworthy, delivers on time and is detail oriented.
  11. Committed to learning, reflection and growth.
  12. A strategic and creative thinker.

 

We’re driven by purpose.  We’re a values-driven organization focused on improving lives around the world. Join us!

To Apply

In addition to a resume, please submit a cover letter. The last date for application submission is April 18, 2025.