مطلوب مدير/ة تواصل للعمل لدى منظمة الاغاثة الدولية

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Inside Syria, 6.2 million people are internally displaced and 11.7 million are in need of humanitarian assistance. There are 5.6 million Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair and has a profound impact on the neighbouring countries which are hosting the overwhelming majority of Syrian refugees and find themselves under increasing strain. At the same time, the situation in Syria has had long lasting ramifications for Iraq, which has already been facing chronic instability and fragility.

IRC is providing a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis and Iraq. With an annual budget in excess of $125 million and supported by more than 1,250 staff in the region, IRC is undertaking programs in Iraq and Syria and the neighboring countries of Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, education, women’s protection and empowerment, cash assistance, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

POSITION SUMMARY

The role of the Regional Communications Manager is to support the production of vital communication products that enable excellent advocacy, media and fundraising activities and raise the profile of the International Rescue Committee in the Middle East and globally. The Communications Manager will be responsible for outputs such as case studies, blogs and key messages; help to build a media profile and gather powerful communications materials, ensuring that the IRC is able to provide compelling communications about the crises in the Middle East. The post-holder will also be expected to have functional line management of and mentor and capacity build country programme communications staff.

The Communications Manager reports to the Regional Director of Policy, Advocacy and Communications in Amman and collaborates closely with communications colleagues in New York, the UK and Europe. S/he will also work closely with IRC’s Middle East Regional Vice President and with Advocacy and Media colleagues, particularly with the Regional Media Manager, as well as with Country Directors and country level communications staff for Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. This position will be based in Amman and requires travel throughout the region and occasionally to Europe and the US, estimated at 30%.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure the production and dissemination of high quality communications content from the Middle East Region

• Act as focal point for all comms content in the region, working closely with global colleagues and country comms staff, review and sign off on content (case studies, photos, videos), ensuring products are high quality and meet the IRC standards

• Backstopping and gap filling for communications in responses across the ME region as needed.

Support Country Programs to develop high quality communications content

• Build the capacity of country programmes through delivering training of in-country communications or programme staff on communication skills, mentoring communications staff throughout a response and recruiting and inducting new communications staff in-country as required.

• Identify learning and training opportunities for IRC comms staff and work as a mentor and role model for less experienced staff

Contribute to raising the visibility and profile of the crises in the Middle East and the IRC’s responses both externally and internally

• Lead the development and management of regional social media platforms and ensure they are used strategically and effectively to build acceptance and brand awareness of IRC in the region and for targeted advocacy purposes

• Ensure the creation of compelling communications content from the region and its dissemination and use on global channels

• Ensure that the region is systematically profiled in global internal communications products and that stories, blogs and successes from our work are routinely shared internally and externally

• Support the Regional Policy, Advocacy and Communications Director, the Regional VP and the Regional SMT to strengthen internal communications and awareness raising on our work, our transformation statement and change story for the Middle East

Ensure the provision of timely and accurate information on all humanitarian responses in the region

• Draft information products as requested, including fact sheets, country program updates, talking points, website content, etc.

• Identify gaps in information and assets and propose ways to fill those gaps

• Develop and/or refine mechanisms to collect major reports, assessments, success stories, case studies, and other resources from country programs

• Organize resources for internal audiences using IRC cloud-based file sharing systems and the IRC intranet platform RescueNet.

Support the timely production of donor communications

• Work with Middle East Program Manager in New York to provide regular updates on the size and scope of grant portfolios by country, sector, and for the region

• Draw up budgets for communications work and activities, manage spending within budgets, and provide justifications for variances

• Work closely with relevant HQ staff on visibility requirements for donors

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Dotted line management of Country level Communications Managers through Management in Partnership.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: Regional Policy, Advocacy and Comms Director; Country level Communications Managers, Regional Vice President; Regional Senior Media Manager, Regional Context Analyst and other Middle East regional team; Middle East Country Directors and programs staff; communications, policy and advocacy colleagues in other IRC offices

External: partner organizations.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years experience of working overseas in communications for humanitarian programmes

• Masters Education in a relevant subject or equivalent field experience

• Experience of leading communication activities in a challenging environment

• Superb writing and storytelling skills, ability to synthesize large amounts of complex information into user-friendly content for multiple platforms, ability to write for different audiences

• Previous experience drafting content for and using content management systems;

• Proven photography skills

• Full and fluent familiarity with key social media platforms

• Excellent relationship building skills in order to work for limited periods within programmes under pressure of running emergency responses

• An initiative-taking, proactive, inspiring attitude with the ability to manage and prioritise an unpredictable workload and solve problems quickly with limited support

• Experience of delivering training, presentations and other capacity building activities to varied audiences, ideally within a country programme.

• Excellent IT skills, especially in Microsoft Word

• Excellent understanding of ‘head office’ communication and information needs across communications, fundraising, and media activities.

• The ability to speak and work in Arabic

• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy

• A demonstrated keen understanding of political complexities in the Middle East.

• Must be willing and able to travel frequently within the region.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (esp. Final Cut, Illustrator, Photoshop and Indesign)

• experience shooting and editing film a strong asset

Other Information: Amman is currently not assessed as a high-risk environment and remains a generally safe city as long as IRC security protocols are observed. The post is fully accompanied and housing will be provided according to IRC housing policy. Travel at approximately 30% is anticipated.