Regional Communication Specialist

Project Background

Across ASEAN, internet access and smartphone use have grown rapidly, especially among adolescents. After the pandemic, young people spent even more time online for school, socialising and entertainment. While digitalisation brings many benefits, it also exposes children to cyberbullying, harmful content, online exploitation and mental health risks.

The challenges are significant across the region. In ASEAN, 80% of youth are online daily. In Indonesia, many teens struggle with low self-esteem and gadget dependence. Singaporean teens spend over 8 hours online each day, often using devices to cope with stress. Many children in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines face cyber-violence, harmful online experiences, or online sexual exploitation.

Excessive screen time, limited parental guidance and lack of school support are harming adolescent wellbeing. Region-wide action is urgently needed to build digital resilience among youth, caregivers and educators.

Yayasan Plan International Indonesia, together with the ASEAN Foundation and local partners, aims to strengthen healthy digital habits and online safety. As the regional grantee for the Global Teen Digital Wellbeing Initiative, Plan International will deliver a culturally adapted curriculum through schools, workshops and community programs. The initiative will reach 11 million people across all ASEAN Member States, equipping young people and their support systems to use technology safely, creatively and confidently.

The Opportunity

The Regional Communication Specialist leads the communication and influencing strategy for the digital wellbeing project across 11 countries. The role develops strong narratives, manages multi-channel campaigns and partnerships, and ensures consistent messaging and brand visibility.

The position translates project impact into compelling stories, amplifies youth voices, and positions Plan International and Google.org as leaders in youth digital wellbeing across ASEAN. 

Key Responsibility :

Reporting to the Regional Project Manager, the Regional Communication Specialist will be responsible for designing and implementing regional communication strategies, coordinating with country project teams from 8 Plan International Offices and 3 implementing partners, managing influencer partnerships, and packaging evidence for diverse audiences.

Key responsibility areas include:

Communication Strategy Development and Implementation

• Lead the development and implementation of a unified regional communication strategy that elevates the project's profile across 11 countries with consistent messaging and brand positioning
• Design communication approaches tailored to different target audiences: youth (13-19 years), educators/teachers, parents/caregivers, policymakers, donors, and media
• Develop messaging frameworks that translate complex digital wellbeing concepts into accessible, relatable, and actionable content
• Coordinate with country communications teams to adapt regional strategies to local contexts while maintaining brand consistency
• Create annual communication workplans with clear objectives, target audiences, channels, activities, and success metrics
• Ensure all communications reflect youth voice, gender-transformative messaging, disability inclusion, and cultural sensitivity
• Monitor communication trends and youth engagement patterns across digital platforms to inform strategy adjustments

Influencer and Content Creator Partnerships

• Coordinate partnerships with global, regional, and local social media influencers and content creators across various tiers to amplify project messaging
• Work in consultation with Google to leverage content and messaging from YouTube creators, integrating influential messages into local programs
• Develop guidelines and creative briefs for influencer-generated content promoting positive digital behaviors and wellbeing among young people
• Manage influencer engagement processes including identification, contracting, content review, and performance tracking
• Facilitate youth content creators in developing authentic, peer-to-peer messages on safe and responsible online engagement
• Monitor and measure influencer campaign reach, engagement, and impact toward the target of 2.4 million reached through influencer collaborations
• Support country teams in identifying and engaging local influencers who resonate with youth audiences in their contexts

Multi-Channel Campaign Management

• Lead the design and implementation of multi-channel awareness campaigns to reach at least 2 million people (youth, parents, educators, caregivers) through digital platforms, traditional media, and community events
• Coordinate monthly success stories, collaborative posts with partners, and milestone press releases throughout project implementation
• Design and manage special campaigns such as World Mental Health Day digital challenges engaging youth across the region
• Leverage Plan International's and partners' social media channels to reach 7.6 million people with relatable, youth-friendly messages
• Coordinate with country teams on community campaigns co-designed with youth to ensure ground-level amplification of digital wellbeing messages
• Develop campaign materials including social media content, videos, infographics, posters, and digital toolkits
• Monitor campaign performance using analytics tools, providing regular reports on reach, engagement, and audience growth

Content Development and Storytelling

• Lead the development of high-quality success stories, case studies, and human-interest narratives illustrating project impact on youth digital wellbeing
• Coordinate production of professionally produced recap video showcasing impact stories and key outcomes, co-branded with Google.org
• Package evidence and learning from MER data into compelling, accessible formats for diverse audiences (blogs, infographics, photo essays, video testimonials)
• Ensure youth voices are authentically represented in all content, involving young people as co-creators and storytellers
• Develop content calendars coordinating release of stories across digital platforms for maximum visibility
• Write press releases, media advisories, and opinion pieces for placement in regional and national media outlets
• Coordinate with Regional MER Specialist to ensure accuracy of data and impact claims in all communications materials

Brand Management and Donor Visibility

• Ensure consistent application of Google.org and Plan International brand guidelines across all project communications and materials
• Manage donor visibility requirements, obtaining Google's prior written consent for use of Google Marks at least five business days in advance of any publication
• Coordinate co-branding of project materials, events, and communications in compliance with Google.org and Plan International partnership agreements
• Develop branded templates, style guides, and communication toolkits for country teams to ensure consistency
• Monitor brand usage across country offices and partners, providing guidance on compliance with brand guidelines
• Coordinate donor recognition in all project communications, ensuring appropriate acknowledgment of Google.org support

Advocacy and Policy Communications

• Package evidence, research outputs, and project learning into donor intelligence reports, policy briefs, and advocacy materials for regional and national policymakers
• Support the Regional Project Manager in developing communication materials for regional policy dialogues with ASEAN bodies and national governments
• Coordinate media engagement for policy dialogue events, including press conferences, media briefings, and journalist engagement
• Develop advocacy messages and talking points for project spokespersons engaging with policymakers and media
• Support country teams in developing national influencing communications tailored to country-specific policy contexts
• Coordinate visibility of regional policy recommendations framework and policy brief dissemination to relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies

Media Relations and Thought Leadership

• Develop and maintain relationships with regional and national media, positioning the project and spokespersons for media coverage
• Coordinate media engagement opportunities including press conferences, interviews, and feature story placements
• Develop media kits, fact sheets, and backgrounders for journalists covering digital wellbeing and youth mental health issues
• Position Plan International as a thought leader in youth digital wellbeing through op-eds, conference presentations, and expert commentary
• Monitor media coverage of the project and digital wellbeing issues, providing regular media monitoring reports
• Respond to media inquiries and coordinate spokesperson availability in coordination with country communications teams

Capacity Building and Coordination

• Build capacity of country communications officers and partners in storytelling, content creation, social media management, and youth engagement approaches
• Facilitate regional learning exchanges on communication best practices, digital engagement strategies, and crisis communication
• Provide technical support to country teams on communication planning, campaign design, and content production
• Coordinate with APAC regional hub communications team on alignment with regional brand strategies and communication standards
• Facilitate cross-country collaboration on joint campaigns, shared content, and peer learning

Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding), Gender Equality and Inclusion (GESI) and Preventing Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse (PSHEA)

• Ensure that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People, Gender Equality and Inclusion, and Preventing Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse are fully embedded in project design, during implementation, and as principles applied in day-to-day work.
• Participate actively in capacity building and learning events on Safeguarding Children and Young People, Gender Equality and Inclusion, and Preventing Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse.
• Submit required documentation (reports, checklists, action plans) to implement policy, standards, and approaches on Safeguarding, GESI, and PSHEA.
• Understand and put into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding, GESI, and PSHEA policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Requirements for The Role:

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, international development, or related fields (Master's degree preferred)
• Minimum 5 years of proven experience in communications and campaign management for multi-country programs, preferably with INGOs, UN agencies, or social impact organizations
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing digital communication strategies across social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok, YouTube)
• Strong content creation skills including writing, storytelling, and multimedia content development (video, infographics, photography)
• Experience managing influencer partnerships and social media campaigns targeting youth audiences
• Proven track record of designing and implementing awareness campaigns reaching large audiences (hundreds of thousands or millions)
• Excellent writing skills in English with ability to craft compelling narratives for diverse audiences
• Experience with social media management tools and analytics platforms (Hootsuite, Sprout Social, or similar)
• Knowledge of brand management and experience ensuring brand compliance across multi-country contexts
• Strong interpersonal and coordination skills for working across cultures and time zones
• Experience working with youth as content creators and ensuring youth voice in communications
• Understanding of digital safeguarding issues and ethical approaches to featuring children and young people in communications
• Ability to translate complex technical information into accessible, engaging content
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory

Desirable

• Master's degree in communications, digital media, public relations, or related fields
• Experience with youth mental health, digital wellbeing, or online safety communications
• Knowledge of ASEAN regional contexts and cultural considerations for youth engagement
• Experience with media relations and securing coverage in regional and national media outlets
• Skills in graphic design (Adobe Creative Suite) and video editing
• Experience with Google.org or other corporate foundation partnerships and compliance requirements
• Knowledge of advocacy communications and policy influencing strategies
• Experience managing multi-channel campaigns with measurable reach and engagement targets
• Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and digital learning platforms
• Understanding of gender-transformative communications and disability-inclusive messaging
• Experience with crisis communications and reputation management
• Proficiency in additional languages relevant to ASEAN region (Bahasa Indonesia, Vietnamese, Thai, etc.)

Please follow the link to the full role profile:  Job Profile_APAC Regional_Communication_Specialist_260226.pdf

Location: Based at Country Office Jakarta with 10-15% travel to implementing countries for LMS rollout, training of trainers, and technical support activities. It is important to note that YPII currently applies a mix of Working from Home and Working from Office arrangements.

Reports to: straight line to Regional Project Manager

Closing Date: March 13th 2026

HOW TO APPLY:

All information will be treated in the strictest confidence, as we pride ourselves on our professional service. We will contact you as soon as we have reviewed your application.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified and invited for interviews. Please submit your application letter and detailed curriculum vitae in English by clicking the yellow “Apply now >>” button on this page. The application deadline is March 13th 2026. 

Pre-employment checks will be conducted in line with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People (PSHEA) policy.

Yayasan Plan International Indonesia is committed to protecting children’s rights and ensuring equal opportunity, non-discrimination, and a culture that promotes gender equality, girls’ rights, and inclusion.

Please note that Plan International never sends unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.

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