Communications and Digital Officer at International Rescue Committee

Responsibilities:

Developing and delivering an effective communications strategy (30%)

• Work with the EEI, research consortium and fund management team to develop and drive forward the Communications Strategy.
• Ensure strategic communications support to the global EEI strategy, translation of evidence emerging from the grants and studies into easily accessible and user-friendly forms, and effective dissemination to key targets to ensure maximize influencing impact.
• Lead on the creation and implementation of a social media and website strategy, communications content, press releases, social media and blog content.

Managing social media channels, website and email (30%)

• Lead the day-to-day management of all social media accounts for the Programme (X, LinkedIn, Facebook).
• Lead on maintaining a social media brand for the WW2 Programme across several platforms throughout the Programme lifetime, including communicating and social grant funding windows and webinars, maximizing mainstream media from results of the grantee projects and wider Programme in years 4-7, and using social media to engage WW2 project stakeholders.
• Lead on managing the What Works 2 website, updating, and editing and uploading key Programme documents to the Knowledge Hub (newsletter; reports; briefs) as required.
• Monitor and manage the What Works 2 email account, including responding to emails and seeking input as appropriate, and monitoring newsletter sign-ups.

Producing and managing multimedia and communications content (20%)

• Ensure information is presented in an attractive and engaging format that can be shared with the key targets and maintain a record of content produced.
• Work closely with the technical advisors, grant managers and Programme team to visit field sites to identify, collect, capture, and document project activities in the form of case studies, including the collection of photos.
• Gather information to support advocacy initiatives such as related case studies and evidence from the field as requested.
• Support the EEI team compile and finalize regular reports for various audiences and identifying trends or highlights to include.
• Produce staff spotlights and other internal communications outputs as required.
• Provide visibility and briefing material packages for all high-level/external visits, including WW II donors, other delegations, as needed.
• Provide multimedia and communications content for the WW 2 Programme, including development of a Programme branding guide and popularizing materials for activist communities.
• Identify photography opportunities as well as support the hiring of freelance photographers and videographers and orienting them with the principle of informed consent. Manage content collection shoots as needed.
• Ensure that all materials adhere to the WW2 Programme’s branding requirements and are in line with donor requirements where applicable.
• Consult closely with the EEI team, grant managers and technical advisors to support information requests and collect material and draft stories required for donor visibility requirements.
• Maintain a dynamic ‘story list’ to showcase WW2 Programme impact.
• Work with other WW2 pillars on internal communications priorities such as newsletters as requested.
• Provide graphic design and formatting support to ad hoc donor- and external/public- facing Programme documents (e.g., reports, briefs, templates).

Planning relevant events and logistics (20%)

• Event coordination and planning
• Provide support to planning, coordination and delivery of What Works 2 events (events, campaigns, workshops, webinars, trainings), external events that the programme will have a presence at (conferences, working groups etc both virtual and in person), and Comms focused visits, including donor visits. Where required, organize travel and logistics arrangements.
• Capturing comms impact for donor reporting
• Provide support to the Programme Coordinator on quarterly donor reporting (e.g., compiling digital media metrics, editing, and writing relevant sections of the report).
• Provide support during FCDO Annual Review process and meetings, including case studies, highlighting ‘good news’ stories, and responding to ad-hoc queries from FCDO programme and press teams.

Reporting:

• The Communications and Digital Officer will report directly to the WW2 Programme Coordinator with dotted line reporting to the EEI Co-Leads who will provide technical supervision.

Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, English, public relations or another related field from an accredited university.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly
• Knowledge of/experience with graphic design and social media photography, videography
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills; adept at writing clean, engaging, jargon-free copy for a range of channels
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to establish positive working relationships with colleagues in different teams
• Good organizational and time management skills and the ability to work to deadlines, prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Fluent written and spoken English required. Knowledge of French or Arabic an added advantage

Experience:

• A Minimum of 3-6 years of professional experience in a similar role
• Experience / knowledge of developing and implementing communications strategies with an international focus.
• Experience / knowledge of online and other tools for monitoring media coverage and impact
• Excellent IT skills, including Advanced Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint. Strong Excel skills a particular advantage
• Experience working with quantitative and digital metrics data (desirable)
• Experience of using social media for communications and advocacy