Communications and Programme Officer (Sri Lanka)

Job Title: Communications and Programme Officer
Project Name: Pathways to Peace: Building Inclusive Governance and Social Cohesion
Job Type: Full-time employee
Location of Position: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Reporting to: Field Director
Remuneration: In line with market rates
LOE/Time Frame: 1 year, October 2026 – November 2027
Citizenship: Sri Lankan residents
Language Requirements: Fluent in English and one of Sri Lanka’s official languages (Tamil or Sinhala). Preference will be given to candidates who have general professional proficiency in more than one of the official languages.
Application Deadline: 8 October 2026
Application Instructions:

1. A cover letter is mandatory to be considered. Cover letters should be written in English and effectively align your skills and experiences with the specific job responsibilities outlined in the position’s description, demonstrating your aptitude and motivation for the role and current availability.
2. Click the “Apply now” link to upload your English cover letter and CV (Curriculum Vitae).
3. Only successful candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please.

Alinea is an international development consultancy providing technical and management expertise that helps people improve their lives. Alinea works with governments, investors, companies, and communities to create lasting change. In almost 40 years, Alinea has successfully delivered more than 1,000 projects worldwide. For more information, please visit Alinea International website.
At Alinea International we value diversity, equity, inclusivity, accessibility and belonging in everything we do. We are an equal opportunity employer opposed to all forms of discrimination. We actively seek and encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds recognizing that an inclusive workforce enriches our organization and achieves smarter, more innovative results.
Alinea is committed to the protection of children and vulnerable adults. Due to the nature of our work, all candidates will be subject to due diligence checks and extensive background checks where appropriate.

Project Description:

Pathways to Peace: Building Inclusive Governance and Social Cohesion is a project funded by Global Affairs Canada (2024 – 2029) aimed at strengthening peace and reconciliation among and within religious, ethnic, and linguistic communities, particularly women and girls, facing systemic power imbalances driving conflict, fragility and insecurity in Sri Lanka. The project operates within Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and supports the Government of Sri Lanka’s (GoSL) policies on inclusive governance and official languages as well as the country’s first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).
The project consists of 3 intermediate outcomes as described below:
1100 Improved delivery of gender-responsive, inclusive, equitable and accountable public services that respond to the differential needs of women and girls, men and boys, and non-binary persons from diverse communities including LGBTQI+ persons; religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities; and persons with disabilities;
1200 Improved leadership and participation of women and women’s rights organizations in addressing conflict, fragility, and insecurity aligned with the United Nations’ WPS agenda; and
1300 Increased empowerment of civil society, communities and individuals, particularly women and girls and LGBTQI+ persons, to demand inclusive, equitable and accountable public services.

Position Overview:

Based in Colombo, the Communications and Programme Officer will work under the direction of the Field Director and lead on the communications work of the project, and will also provide technical, administrative, and logistical support to ensure the effective implementation of project activities. The incumbent will work closely with project staff, consultants, partners, and stakeholders to facilitate project delivery, monitor progress, and ensure compliance with donor and organizational requirements.

Functional Responsibilities:

Communications

–  Coordinate with the Alinea HQ on the design and development of the Pathways brand package.
– Work closely with the Field Director on producing communications material for the project and to optimise upcoming communication opportunities.
– Work closely with the Field Director to build relations with media institutions.- Coordinate development of an awareness campaign on Inclusive Governance and Social Cohesion for public servants.- Work with staff to build communication capacities of Fund recipients.
– Coordinate with communication leads at partner institutions and Fund recipients to ensure synergies with Pathways brand guidelines and communications.- Develop and manage the annual communications plan.
– Develop and optimise engagement on Pathways proprietary digital spaces
– the Pathways Website and social media spaces, including writing and editing content for the project website and newsletters, such as testimonials and stories of changes.
– Support the team in public engagement (PE) activities, such as conferences, webinars, events organized by the project.
– Design and disseminate the Pathways Newsletter.
– Maintain close relations with the Alinea HQ communications team to optimise Pathways visibility on Alinea’s digital spaces.
– Identify, source and manage required communication resource partners.
– Monitor, and record, communication material developed by partner institutions and fund recipients.
– Support the project team on all other outputs in the project, as needed.
– Support and provide inputs as required for the preparation of Annual Work Plans, Progress Reports and any other reports that are required time to time.
–  Support documentation of project achievements and lessons learned.

Project Implementation and Administration Support

• Support the planning, coordination, and implementation of project activities.
• Coordinate meetings, workshops, training sessions, consultations, and field visits.
• Liaise with government institutions, civil society organizations, consultants, and other project partners.
• Support the preparation of meeting minutes, activity reports, briefing notes, presentations, and other project documentation.
• Support the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) work of the project as required
• Assist with logistical arrangements for project activities, including venue booking, participant coordination, transportation, and accommodation.
• Undertake field monitoring visits as required.
• Perform other duties assigned by Project Managers or Field Director.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Political Science, Economics, Law, or a related field.Master’s degree and/ or specialized training in strategic communications or digital media is considered an asset.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in project coordination or project implementation.
• Experience working on donor-funded development projects.
• Experience working with government institutions, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders.
• Experience in communications roles, preferably within international development or for donor-funded projects.
• Understanding of donor visibility requirements and branding guidelines.
• Ability to liaise effectively with stakeholders such as government officials, development partners, civil society organizations, and media outlets.
• Strong in-person and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with publishing tools such as In Design, Photo Shop and Illustrator will be an advantage.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Ability to travel regularly within Sri Lanka.