Personal Assistant/Communications (Internship)

The Role

You will provide day-to-day administrative support to the Managing Director (MD); editing and disseminating organisational materials for internal and external audiences; support preparation of Board of Trustee and Executive Team reports and meetings, and minute meetings; represent Afghanaid in coordination meetings. You will be required to work closely and effectively with all other departments of Afghanaid to achieve unity of purpose, results and optimal use of organisational resources.

Main Duties

• Coordinate the MD’s daily diary, screen email, draft correspondence and prepare documents for meetings and professional appointments.

• Provide preparatory materials and coordinate the MD’s external representation and fundraising engagements, draft talking points and speeches, visual presentation and workshop materials.

• Coordinate and support drafting of internal quarterly reports and other Executive Team reports, as well as the external Annual Report, and ensure appropriate distribution; edit other organisational strategic and operational documents as required.

• Minute Board of Trustee, Executive and other internal meetings attended by the MD.

• Research and write internal and external briefs and reports to be used in national and international level communications.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for managing requests from various departments to the Managing Director, ensuring efficient communication and follow-through on tasks.

• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to schedule and organise meetings for the MD.

• Organise MD’s travel, trustees’ visits, annual retreat and other events as requested.

• Represent Afghanaid in advocacy and influencing forums and meetings.

• Assist the MD in monitoring performance indicators against strategic and operational plans.

• Support the communications focal point in the Kabul office, including taking photos and collecting case studies.

• Perform other relevant duties as assigned and approved by the MD.

  Education:

• Master’s degree in relevant research-based discipline (Development, Anthropology, Policy and Research, International Relations or similar subjects) or an undergraduate degree with relevant experience.

  Experience:

• Writing high quality policy and communications documents for public use

• Practical experience in a similar role

• Working with high levels of autonomy

• Voluntary or work experience within international development or charity sector

• Managing relationships with a variety of different stakeholders

• Coordinating research projects

  Skills:

• Excellent proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint), and familiarity with relevant AI tools

• Excellent written and spoken English (to native standard)

• Strong conceptual and analytical skills

• Integrity, honesty, transparency and a firm commitment to professional standards of confidentiality

• Sense of humour, initiative and self-motivation, excellent teamwork and communications skills, ability to work collaboratively with others

• Sensitivity to Islamic culture and respect of Afghan customs and traditions, able to live and work in a diverse environment

• Outstanding organisational skills, able to communicate and collaboratively manage competing priorities

• Drive to achieve results and get things done

• Ability to deal with difficult, challenging work situations and remain calm under pressure

  Desirable

• Experience living, travelling or working in isolated and conflict locations/countries

• Firsthand understanding of the operating environment of humanitarian and development work in Afghanistan (or a similar context)

• Basic fluency in Dari or Pashto