Senior Communications Coordinator (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the URL link provided)

** Candidates will be contacted on a rolling basis.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

The Program / Department / Team

Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks, and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by the Middle East, since 1989 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the region and of those communities where we work.

In the Middle East, Mercy Corps has been implementing emergency and life-sustaining activities since 2012. Mercy Corps currently operates with multiple institutional donors and a rigid, reporting regime.

The Position

The Senior Communications Coordinator, will lead a dynamic and multi-faceted communications portfolio for the Mercy Corps Regional office. S/he will work closely with the Regional team in developing and disseminating internal and external communications products. The Senior Communications Coordinator will design new internal and external communications strategies, tools, products and deliverables and will conceptualize strategies for visualizing/conveying information to a wide variety of internal audiences including Mercy Corps globally. S/he will ensure that teams adhere to all Mercy Corps’ and donors’ branding and visibility policies and procedures. The Senior Internal Communications Coordinator will provide critical coordination in the communication & information flow for the COVID-19 response. The Senior Communications Coordinator will report to the Grants Management Director while working closely with senior leadership.

The successful Senior Communications Coordinator will be good at problem solving and will proactively seek to gain a full understanding of Mercy Corps Policies and Procedures. S/he will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel, while demonstrating the ability to work effectively with a wide variety of people. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. This role includes 10% travel and the person will work closely with a diverse team in an intense and fluid environment. They must be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.

Essential Responsibilities

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Develop and implement a country-level communications strategy and plan, aligning with country and regional strategies, reflecting inputs from all key stakeholders and in liaison with HQ.
• Work closely with the program team members to identify areas of improvement within existing internal and external communications practices, and play a leadership role in driving these forward.
• Stay current on latest communications, branding and social media standards and ensure publications and products (banners, leaflets, PowerPoint presentations, factsheet, one-pagers, etc.) meet Mercy Corps’ and donors’ brand identity and requirements.
• Attend Mercy Corps Regional functions and visit project sites in order to assist with documenting programs and partners through photographs, video clips, blogs, success stories, etc.
• Maintain a library of program photos, videos, success stories, case studies, publications, etc. that can be shared with key stakeholders and encourage use of the Regional photo portfolio on Identity Central.
• Support the Senior Management and Programs Teams in matters related to communications.
• As requested by senior leadership, provide surge support or temporary assistance with key programmatic initiatives.

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

• Manage the production of the quarterly digital newsletter in English and Arabic, including writing and/or compiling content, to be distributed to team members across the country, as well as in the region and at Mercy Corps’ headquarters offices.
• Track and share articles in external media and Mercy Corps communication platforms that include or focus on Mercy Corps Regional.
• Develop and manage content on Mercy Corps internal communications platforms with a focus on showcasing the work in all Hubs and Mercy Corps Regional.
• Follow the news and flag articles, initiatives, and policies that can be shared more broadly through weekly internal communications products; flag anything critical with senior leadership staff in a timely manner
• COVID-19 Tasks and Duties:
  • Attend Hub COVID-19 Task Force (TF) meetings and compile a weekly report for the Senior Management Team (SMT) highlighting the key points from the Hub(s);
  • Be the main focal point from Hub TF(s) through to the Regional SMT and downstream from the Regional SMT to Hub TF(s);
  • Disseminate on an ongoing basis Mercy Corps Global policies pertaining to COVID-19; send out weekly emails to all staff (English/Arabic) with key updates from a Country, Regional and Global level;
  • Develop and manage regional databases, spreadsheets and other data tools;
  • Consolidate inputs for COVID-19 updates for external audiences.

EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

• Develop one pagers, video case studies, and other key communications materials (factsheets, brochures, leaflets, flyers, etc.).
• Help the Senior Program Team to prepare for external-facing events and meetings, including preparation of document packages, talking points, etc.
• Manage Mercy Corps Regional’s presence across such platforms as Mercy Corps’ external website and social media to extend the reach of the country program.

TRANSLATION

• Provide interpretation/translation of Arabic to English and vice versa for the Country Director, SMT and expats at public events, external meetings, or site visits as needed.
• Perform written translation from English and Arabic as well as Arabic to English of key program documents and other essential documents as assigned by the SMT.
• Proofread/edit translations to ensure consistency and quality of language.

Supervisory Responsibility

None.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Grants Management Director

Works Directly With: Country Director, SMT, Grants Team, Program Teams, field teams, Regional & Hub COVID-19 Taskforce Teams, Program Performance and Quality (PaQ) Team, HQ

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferable in a field related to Communications, Marketing, Journalism, International Development or relevant fields.
• 3+ years of experience working in communications, marketing, information management, public affairs, and/or media, with prior experience in the humanitarian/development sector preferred but not required.
• Advanced knowledge of written and spoken English is essential.
• Proven ability to provide oral and written translation from Arabic to English and vice versa.
• Excellent computer skills: Google suite, Mailchimp, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint and Adobe Suite.
• Excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to be flexible, resourceful and innovative in a variety of situations.
• Excellent at relationship building; willingness to collaborate across a diverse set of teams in different locations.

Success Factors

• Dynamic and proactive with demonstrated ability to identify compelling stories and communicate effectively with a wide variety of team members and community stakeholders.
• Highly developed interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated creative problem-solving skills with a personal dedication to quality and learning.
• Multi-tasker, with the proven ability to organize and prioritize competing priorities.
• Proven ability to learn quickly, take initiative, and be accountable for results and deadlines.
• Ability to maintain a sense of humor in stressful situations.
• Demonstrate sensitivity towards cultural, political and religious diversity.
• Deep commitment to humanitarian principles and values.
• Ability to work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.