Communications Senior Officer

Organizational context (where the job is located in the Organization)   The IFRC MENA Zone office represents 17 National Societies in Middle East and North Africa. The Communications Officer plays a key role in supporting the Communications Senior Officer to reach the Red the IFRC MENA Zone advocacy objectives, including developing and managing the implementation of its communication strategy; public positioning and messaging; build the capacity of the membership; producing high quality effective communications materials for dissemination to specific audiences; responding to stakeholders’ communications and media requests.    Job Purpose                            The purpose of this position is to support enhanced external and internal communications and media relations efforts to improve humanitarian impact, with a particular focus on the emergency operations and collection and distribution of knowledge with MENA National Societies. The major objectives of this position are:   To support the strategic communications needs of the IFRC Zone office in MENA. To enhance National Societies visibility and public image on key development programmes and during times of disasters and emergencies. To  contribute to internal communications and information sharing tools and capacity across the MENA Zone.    Job duties and responsibilities 1. Manage the IFRC MENA communications programme to include planning, implementation, evaluation, and budgeting. 2. Develop and implement IFRC MENA Zone communication strategy that addresses key priorities and issues to support regional and global humanitarian diplomacy agendas. 3. Position IFRC and National Societies in MENA as key humanitarian players with a strong response capacity to most pressing humanitarian issues in the region. 4. Implement effective emergency communications activities that include active outreach to international press, the production of high-quality communications materials, the development, deployment and utilization of trained spokespeople and enhanced communications with populations affected by disasters. 5. Build and sustain relationships with members of the international press and other professional communications networks in MENA. Respond in a timely manner to inquiries from the press and requests from other parts of the Movement for information. 6. Sustain and develop relationships with National Society communicators or other appropriate counterparts to effectively build their capacity, increase their profile, and ensure improved implementation of global and Zone communications initiatives. 7. Build relationships with and coordinate the activities of IFRC communications and information personnel throughout the zone to ensure global alignment, enhanced support and improved performance, in cooperation with relevant stakeholders. 8. Lead the Zone input to and implementation of global communications and advocacy priorities and initiatives such as annual campaigns, World Red Cross Red Crescent Day, the launch of the World Disasters Report, and the development of professional communications products with global relevance. 9. Initiate and facilitate analysis of existing and emerging humanitarian issues in support of media and advocacy strategies, and produce high quality content related to those issues. 10. Use innovative methods and new communication technologies mainly social media to promote IFRC work and impact with a focus on youth and beneficiaries, in line with IFRC Strategy 2020. 11. Conduct field trips as needed to support the National Societies and document through various communications products the IFRC/NS programmes and share these with the media and donors as appropriate. 12. Support the IFRC leadership in the region in official communication, speeches, and communication material needed for meetings with key stakeholders. 13. Lead the process of publishing the IFRC Zone newsletter and write articles for internal and external publications, including RCRC magazine, online channels such as www.ifrc.org or other corporate/internal platforms 14. Work closely with programme teams, secure and use their resources efficiently to ensure that quality promotional/marketing materials are produced to highlight our actions and impacts to partners and the public. 15. Ensure that principles and humanitarian values are embedded in all communications products.     Duties applicable to all staff 1. Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals 2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles 3. Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager   Position Requirements Education   Required Preferred University degree (or equivalent relevant experience) preferably in communications, journalism, new media or a related field. X   Web management (or equivalent relevant experience). x   Training courses: campaigns/advocacy and AV products   X Experience Required  Preferred 5-7 years of experience of working in communications, journalism, public relations, writer. X   Strong Red Cross Red Crescent experience   X At least 3 years of experience in an international environment in communications, journalism or international cooperation. x   Experience in coaching and transferring skills and knowledge to counterparts X   Knowledge and Skills Required  Preferred Excellent Writing Skills X   Strong presentation skills x   An advanced knowledge of Photoshop and In Design   X Good computer skills (Windows, spreadsheets, word processing) X   Proven experience with content management systems and developing and updating websites   X Demonstrated use of social media for advocacy purposes   X Comfortable working and communicating with number of National Societies in a diverse environment X   Detail-oriented, able to multi-task X   Languages Required  Preferred Fluently spoken and written Arabic and English X   Good command of any additional IFRC language preferably French   X       Competencies (to be filled in by HR)     National Societies Relations Leadership Communications Team work Professionalism