Communications Intern

Background

Jesuit Refugee Service is an international Catholic humanitarian organization that operates in over 50 countries and whose mission is to accompany, serve, and advocate the cause of forcibly displaced people, that they may heal, learn, and determine their own future. JRS's mission encompasses all those defined as refugees by international law as well as by Catholic Social Teaching, including internally displaced persons, those fleeing the economic breakdown of states and stateless persons. JRS carries out its work at the regional and national levels with the support of an international office based in Rome, Italy and currently prioritizes Reconciliation, Mental Health and Psycho-social Support, Education and Livelihoods and Advocacy.

JRS began working in the MENA region in July 2008 and is currently operating in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. JRS programmes in the region deliver multisectoral interventions including home visits, emergency assistance, child and adult education, mental health and psychosocial support, social services, protection, health care, and advocacy initiatives.

General Purpose of the Internship

The purpose of the internship in Communications department is to provide the intern the opportunity to develop and improve their competencies in the following fields:

• Social Media management
• Content creation
• Branding
• Other communication-related tasks on as as-needed basis

The Communications Intern will have the chance to meet JRS MENA programs and their impact on the people it serves and be fully involved in the work of the communications team. Under the Communication and Advocacy Officer’s supervision, the intern will participate in the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of JRS MENA online communication activities.

During the duration of the internship, the intern might also be offered the opportunity of further capacity building, with ad-hoc trainings aimed to enhance her/his skills.

The intern will receive ongoing feedback from the supervisor, to update the plan in case changes are wished to be made in the agreement. The intern is encouraged to suggest their particular areas of interest and express their interest to focus on certain topics or build more capacities in certain areas.

The intern will work directly with the Regional Communications and Advocacy Officer and will collaborate with Country Communication Officers and focal points, and other JRS staff members if needed.

Main Responsibilities

I. Social Media Management

1. In collaboration with the Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer, manages the JRS MENA social media channels, and supports; communications in Arabic (translation, replies to messages and comments)
2. Assists the Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer in planning and designing a social media strategy and social media calendar;
3. Assists the Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer in monitoring and compiling social media analytics;
4. Takes part in weekly planning meetings with Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer.

II. Content Creation

1. Assists the Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer in the creation of social media posts (visuals and copywriting);
2. Assists the Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer in the design and implementation of social media and emailing campaigns for key international days and events;
3. Assists the Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer in the design and implementation of a JRS MENA monthly newsletter;

III. Branding

1. Assists the Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer in creating institutional products such as: brochures, flyers, reports, factsheets;
2. Assists the Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer in creating visibility products such as posters and stationery;

III. Additional tasks may include:

1. Participates in the Regional Communication Task Force meetings and assists in their planning.
2. Assists the Regional Communication and Advocacy Officer in the development of the Regional Communication SharePoint.
3. Assists the Regional Communication and advocacy Officer in the development and management of JRS MENA website.

Qualifications and Skills

• Undergraduate qualification in communication, media studies, online marketing, social media management and related areas from a recognized university (studying towards a postgraduate qualification would be an asset);
• Strong proficiency in both written and spoken English and Arabic;
• Demonstrated ability in computer skills for word processing, databases, spreadsheets, and presentations (Microsoft Office 365) and creative software (Adobe Suite, Canva);
• Excellent writing and interpersonal skills, and the ability to propose creative and innovative ideas;
• Clear understanding and adherence to JRS values and missions;
• Compassion and strong commitment for refugees and other vulnerable people;
• Proven competence to assess priorities and manage a variety of activities in a time-sensitive environment and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as an effective team member in a complex and fast-paced environment;
• Ability to balance multiple responsibilities professionally, quickly, and calmly;
• Demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse staff;
• Professional work experience in communication-related work is an asset;
• Knowledge of the humanitarian context and prior contact with NGO settings is an asset;
• Understanding of forced migration and refugee issues, particularly related to the Middle Eastern context is an asset;