Movement Communications Specialist, Africa (Contract)
Wikimedia Foundation · United States
- Hybrid
- Contract
- $95,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Connect and build trust with African Wikimedia communities.
- Monitor community channels and track movement pulse.
- Map editor communities and identify user needs.
- Facilitate dialogue across diverse volunteer groups.
- Support product and tech feature deployment on Wikis.
About the role
About the Role
The Wikimedia Foundation is seeking a Movement Communications Specialist for Africa on a fixed-term contract from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. This role is ideal for an experienced communicator, campaigner, or community organizer with a strong track record of connecting, convening, and collaborating across the African continent. If you are passionate about bringing people together for a common cause, this role is for you.
Reporting to the Manager, Global Movement Communications, you will be a key member of the Movement Communications team within the broader Communications Department. Your primary focus will be to build bridges and foster a shared understanding across our movement, with a special emphasis on the Africa region. We are specifically looking for someone based in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.
Team Overview
The Movement Communications team is a specialized unit within the Communications Department, adept at uniting people through celebratory events and collaborative workshops. We partner strategically with other departments, acting as problem-solvers to build connections and understanding within the movement. Our work aims to help individuals grasp our mission and recognize their vital role in its success.
Your Responsibilities
- Connections & Dialogue: Foster connections, trust, and understanding with our communities through robust two-way dialogue across Africa.
- Deploying Software: Collaborate with team members to facilitate the deployment of product and technology features onto relevant Wikis.
- Movement Pulse: Monitor relevant community channels for news, incidents, and requests to understand key discussions and follow the movement's pulse.
- Mapping: Assist in mapping editor communities and the Wikimedia movement in Africa, with a focus on Product and Tech engagement, users with extended rights, and community needs.
- Implementing Insights: Inform communities about the Foundation's work, aligned with recommendations from Movement Communications Insights.
- Organizational Priorities: Support the Movement Communications team with occasional assignments for other organizational priorities as directed by your manager.
Skills & Experience
- Excellent written English and fluency in at least one other African language is highly beneficial.
- Some knowledge of Wikimedia communities’ dynamics, policies, cultures, and channels.
- A natural collaborator, enjoying teamwork and bringing a supportive attitude.
- Well-organized, skilled in logistics (scheduling, organizing, notetaking), efficient, and deadline-oriented.
- Ability to engage and facilitate dialogue with volunteers in various formats, including virtual meetings, on-wiki discussions, and in-person events.
- Experience working in a multilingual and multicultural environment.
Additionally, We Would Love
- Experience contributing to one of Wikimedia's projects.
- Familiarity or direct experience with free knowledge communities, the education sector, and/or open source culture.
About The Wikimedia Foundation
The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit organization that operates Wikipedia and the other Wikimedia free knowledge projects. Our vision is a world where every human can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. We believe in empowering everyone to contribute to our shared knowledge and access it freely.
We host Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects, develop software for reading, contributing, and sharing content, support volunteer communities and partners, and advocate for policies that promote free knowledge.
As a charitable, not-for-profit organization, we rely on donations from millions of individuals, institutional grants, and gifts. The Wikimedia Foundation is a U.S. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with offices in San Francisco, California, USA.
We are committed to equal opportunity and value a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds and do not discriminate based on protected characteristics. The Wikimedia Foundation is a remote-first organization, hiring globally. Salaries are competitive, equitable, and aligned with our values.
Key skills/competency
- Movement Communications Specialist
- Africa
- Community Organizer
- Campaigner
- Communications Strategy
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Cross-cultural Communication
- Project Management
- Volunteer Engagement
- Content Development
Skills & topics
- Communications Specialist
- Africa
- Community Organizing
- Campaigning
- Movement Building
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Content Creation
- Volunteer Management
- Multilingual Communication
- Cross-cultural Collaboration
- English
- African Languages
- Wikimedia
- Nonprofit
- Remote
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight experience in community organizing, communications, and working across Africa.
- Showcase language skills: Emphasize fluency in English and any other African languages.
- Demonstrate cultural understanding: Provide examples of working in multilingual, multicultural environments.
- Highlight collaboration: Detail your experience facilitating dialogue with volunteers in various formats.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss your understanding of Wikimedia communities and your campaign experience.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the contract duration for the Movement Communications Specialist, Africa role at Wikimedia Foundation?
- The Movement Communications Specialist, Africa position at the Wikimedia Foundation is a fixed-term contract lasting one year, from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
- What specific regions in Africa is this role focused on?
- This role specifically focuses on the Sub-Saharan Africa region, with an emphasis on building connections and understanding within that area.
- What kind of experience is Wikimedia Foundation looking for in this Movement Communications Specialist role?
- Wikimedia Foundation is looking for an experienced communicator, campaigner, or community organizer with extensive experience working across Africa, adept at connecting, convening, and collaborating, and passionate about bringing people together around a common cause.
- Is this a remote position, and are there location restrictions for the Movement Communications Specialist, Africa role?
- Yes, the Wikimedia Foundation is a remote-first organization. However, this specific role requires the candidate to be based in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.
- What are the key responsibilities of the Movement Communications Specialist, Africa?
- Key responsibilities include supporting community connections and dialogue, assisting with product/tech deployment on Wikis, monitoring movement pulse, mapping communities, and informing communities about the Foundation's work.
- Does fluency in multiple African languages matter for the Movement Communications Specialist, Africa position?
- While excellent written English is required, fluency in at least one other African language is considered a beneficial asset for this role.
- What is the Wikimedia Foundation's stance on diversity and inclusion for this role?
- The Wikimedia Foundation is an equal opportunity employer that values a diverse workforce and encourages applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds. They do not discriminate based on legally protected characteristics.
- What are the 'nice-to-have' qualifications for the Movement Communications Specialist, Africa role?
- Additionally, experience contributing to Wikimedia projects and familiarity with free knowledge communities, the education sector, or open-source culture are considered advantageous.