How to apply for Communications Manager

About Healthy Learners

Healthy Learners is an award-winning non-profit that brings healthcare directly into Zambian schools in partnership with the Government of Zambia. Its model is government-owned and government-led, with 1,062 health rooms, 8,370 trained School Health Teachers, and operations in 45 districts across all ten provinces, reaching more than 1.4 million learners. It received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship.

About the role

The Communications Manager reports to the Chief of Staff and runs the communications function for a national school health program. The role supports the final stage of national scale-up and the shift toward long-term government leadership. It covers storytelling, stakeholder messaging, and communications that support government partnership and program quality.

A typical day

A typical day might include reviewing a draft story or report for government approval, briefing a writer or designer on a program update, and coordinating with the Chief of Staff on messaging for a partner or donor. The exact routine is not described in the job details, so ask about weekly rhythms, approval workflows, and how the communications team divides work.

Who Healthy Learners is looking for

• Has 5+ years in communications roles, with at least some at manager level, ideally in non-profit, global health, education, or development.
• Has produced communications for government partners and understands how to work within government-led systems and approval processes.
• Can write and edit for multiple audiences, including Zambian government officials, donors, and international media.
• Is based in Africa, preferably Zambia or a nearby country, and can work remotely across time zones with a team in Zambia.

Tips for this application

• In your first paragraph, name Healthy Learners' model: government-owned and government-led school health in Zambia, with 1,062 health rooms and 45 districts.
• Give one or two examples of communications you produced for or with a government partner, and describe the approval or review process you managed.
• Address the remote setup directly: state your location, your time zone, and how you have worked with teams in Zambia or similar contexts.
• Reference the Skoll Award and what it signals about the organization's stage and visibility.
• Avoid generic non-profit language. Use numbers and specifics from your past work, such as audience size, channels managed, or campaigns delivered.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Why government-led communications work interests you, with a concrete example of communicating alongside or through a government partner.', 'How you would support the final phase of national scale-up and the transition to long-term government leadership through communications.', 'Your experience managing communications as a manager, including how you set priorities, brief writers or designers, and handle approvals.', 'Your connection to Zambia or the region, or your plan for working effectively as a remote manager with a Zambia-based team.']

Research before applying

• Read the Healthy Learners website and any published reports on the Zambia integrated School Health Program, including the numbers on health rooms, teachers trained, districts, and learners reached.
• Look up the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and what it recognizes, so you can speak to the organization's credibility and stage.
• Find recent news or publications about Zambia's Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education school health work, and note how the program is described by government sources.
• Check the Chief of Staff role and the Communications department structure if listed, and prepare questions about reporting lines, team size, and budget.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you communicate Healthy Learners' model in a way that keeps government ownership central rather than positioning the organization as the lead?
• Walk us through a communications project you managed with a government or public-sector partner, including approvals and timelines.
• How would you handle a media request or story that risks misrepresenting the government's role in the program?
• How do you set communications priorities when the organization is completing national scale-up and shifting toward government leadership?
• How have you managed a remote communications team or worked across time zones, and what tools or routines did you use?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Writing a cover letter that focuses on the organization's mission in general terms without mentioning Zambia, the government partnership, or the scale numbers.
• Applying without addressing the remote, Africa-preferred location requirement, which is stated in the job details.
• Sending a portfolio or writing samples that are all donor-facing or brand-focused, with nothing showing work with government or public-sector partners.