Assistant Manager – Communications & Advocacy

You will be part of the largest skills development fund in Pakistan. PSDF’s purpose is to shape the future and well-being of our poor and vulnerable youth by giving them access to skills training of the highest standard so they can find sustainable employment and income-generating opportunities in Pakistan and beyond.

The impact we have created

PSDF started its operations in the 4 poorest districts of Punjab. Since 2016, the geographical remit has expanded to the entire 36 districts of Punjab and other districts of Sindh, Balochistan & KPK. PSDF has trained almost 600,000 underprivileged youth across Punjab. These graduates have been trained in approximately 250+ demand-driven and market-relevant trades across 8 sectors.

Diversified and challenging team

At PSDF, our team constantly works in a fast-paced and challenging environment and needs someone who can match and deliver at our pace. We are looking for a passionate and talented individual who can actively pursue and drive the agenda of PSDF and is always ready to take up new challenges.

The main opportunities and challenges for this role are to:

• Support the design and execution of behavior change communication (BCC) interventions aimed at encouraging positive attitudes, informed decision-making, and desired behavioral practices.
• Plan and implement public awareness initiatives to increase understanding of priority development issues among target audiences.
• Identify target audiences, assess communication needs, and adapt messaging to audience characteristics, barriers, motivations, and preferred communication channels.
• Develop audience-specific communication plans, key messages, and campaign materials aligned with defined awareness and behavior change objectives.
• Coordinate the dissemination of public awareness messages through relevant media, community platforms, digital channels, events, and stakeholder networks.
• Monitor audience engagement and feedback to assess campaign relevance and inform improvements to communication approaches.
• Incorporate evidence, audience insights, and lessons learned into the design of future awareness and behavior change initiatives.
• Support the development and implementation of advocacy plans aligned with organizational priorities and relevant development objectives.
• Translate organizational priorities and development challenges into clear advocacy messages, campaign objectives, and stakeholder engagement plans.
• Identify and engage relevant stakeholders, including government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, community representatives, private-sector actors, and other relevant groups.
• Prepare advocacy briefs, position papers, policy messages, presentations, fact sheets, and other evidence-based materials to support advocacy objectives.
• Develop and coordinate integrated advocacy and public awareness campaigns based on defined objectives, target audiences, and desired outcomes.
• Translate technical and development-related information into clear, accessible, and actionable messages for public and stakeholder audiences.
• Coordinate with creative agencies, media partners, and other service providers to develop campaign concepts, content, and communication materials.
• Oversee the execution of campaigns across appropriate communication channels, ensuring consistency of messaging and alignment with approved organizational positions.
• Coordinate engagement with relevant stakeholders and community networks to support awareness, participation, and advocacy objectives.
• Facilitate public consultations, community engagement activities, stakeholder dialogues, and development-focused events.
• Support the dissemination of evidence-based information and advocacy messages through partner networks and community-facing platforms.
• Document stakeholder feedback, community perspectives, and emerging concerns to inform campaign development and advocacy priorities.
• Maintain stakeholder engagement records and follow up on agreed actions and commitments.
• Develop and coordinate communication materials supporting public awareness, advocacy, and behavior change objectives.
• Prepare and review key messages, campaign briefs, talking points, presentations, articles, media briefs, and other approved communication outputs.
• Coordinate with media agencies and relevant public relations offices, including the Directorate General Public Relations (DGPR), where applicable, for the placement and publication of approved advertisements.
• Track media coverage and public discourse on priority development issues and assess opportunities to strengthen advocacy messaging.
• Establish campaign-level indicators and monitoring mechanisms in coordination with relevant program, research, and monitoring and evaluation teams.
• Monitor campaign reach, audience engagement, participation, and other relevant communication outputs.
• Support the collection and analysis of baseline and post-campaign data to assess changes in awareness, knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and reported behaviors, where feasible.
• Plan and coordinate public awareness events, advocacy activations, stakeholder forums, consultations, and other engagement activities.
• Manage event-related branding and collateral, including backdrops, standees, signage, vinyl stickers, information materials, and other campaign assets.
• Coordinate with creative and BTL agencies, vendors, and internal teams to ensure timely and effective execution.
• Maintain departmental budget trackers, expenditure records, and accruals.
• Initiate purchase requisitions through approved working papers and the SAP system.
• Coordinate invoice processing and ensure timely submission of complete supporting documentation.

Qualification & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree (Hons) Marketing, Business, Economics, Public Policy or any relevant / similar degree from an HEC-recognized / accredited university.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in communications, advocacy, public awareness campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and campaign monitoring and execution of corporate events along with closely working with BTL agencies will be preferred.

Required Skills

• Advocacy Planning
• Campaign Implementation
• Time management
• Build strong relationships with External Teams i.e. TSPs, Trainees, BDOs etc.
• Build strong relationships with Internal Teams: All PSDF departments.

PSDF has a lot more to offer than a market-competitive salary and perks. As a PSDF employee, you will get:

• Professional development and career growth opportunities with the largest skills development fund in Pakistan.
• Experience a dynamic innovation-driven environment committed to empowering youth through employment and entrepreneurship.
• Opportunity to lead and execute groundbreaking approaches to skills development for Pakistan’s youth