Communication Coordinator

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities. The agency pursues its mission through emergency relief services, sustainable community development, civil society and economic development initiatives. Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently has offices in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps has implemented community development programs focused on promoting economic development and increased opportunity for disadvantaged communities, while responding to emergencies as they emerged in the country.  In 2012, the program portfolio shifted in response to the massive refugee influx from Syria and Mercy Corps in Lebanon has solidified its emergency response programming while integrating longer-term development programming by focusing on key sectors: Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH), Governance and Conflict, and Livelihoods.  The conflict that began more than five years ago in Syria has resulted in a steady increase in Syrian refugees to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.  To date, more than one million refugees have fled to Lebanon, and the numbers continue to mount. All refugees who have entered Lebanon are staying with host families or in rented accommodation.  As numbers rapidly increase, humanitarian conditions are deteriorating.  The burden on host communities and the financial and emotional stress on refugees and their hosts is tremendous. Mercy Corps is responding to these needs by addressing urgent basic needs, child protection as well as the psychosocial impact of the conflict and displacement.   With the support of the Government of Canada, Mercy Corps is launching the Youth for Tomorrow program, which will be implemented in Saida, Mt. Lebanon, and Tripoli.   This three-year program is part of a regional initiative by Mercy Corps, funded by the Government of Canada, in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to build improved, evidence-based provision of psychosocial support and market-driven skills to vulnerable youth in the region.  The program will benefit from regional synergies to increase impact and will contribute to improving the evidence base for interventions of this type.   The program will engage Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese adolescent boys and girls, between the ages of 12 – 18 who are not currently enrolled in school or are at high risk of dropping out. The program will also engage young adults between the ages of 19 – 35 from among refugee and host communities to act as mentors and facilitators within the project.  Youth for Tomorrow will provide adolescents on-going psychosocial support and market-driven skill-building opportunities while building an enabling environment for young people through community engagement and provision of enhanced adolescent and youth services.        [Describe overview of job missioGENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:     The Communications Coordinator is responsible for managing the Center’s communications, marketing, visibility and fundraising initiatives. The Coordinator will work with program staff to develop outreach materials and provide communications support, with a primary focus on the Center’s newest program. The Communications Coordinator will also coordinate press coverage, manage the organization’s social media accounts and e-newsletter, and maintain consistency in the organization’s messaging to diverse audiences.   ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:   COMMUNICATION STARTEGY Provide necessary support to the development of a comprehensive communication strategy and ensure adequate follow up in the implementation of its various components and aspects with emphasis on increased visibility of the project; Train partner staff and coaches communications teams on strategies, social media, tactics, branding, and methods of communicating to stakeholders, donors, and the public. Follow up and monitor the elaboration of communication messages through the projects, and contribute to the development of communication messages and materials of the project; Identify and engage reporters, photographers, and consultants for provision of needed services related to media and communication; and prepare/contribute to relevant Terms of Reference; Drafting manuals for partners about communication and mediaWork with Mercy Corps communciaiton Coordinator to ensure proper branding alongside with partners   DONORS Contribute to developing advocacy and project briefs/material to donors, media, national partners, etc.; Conduct field visits to project sites; and organize media/donor field visits to project sites; Prepare visibility and communication plans for different donors;   Media CAMPAIGNS Prepare and coordinate media campaigns with coaches, youth and youth councils Prepare cost-related budget including above and below the line expenditures(Including TV space). Oversee the securing of releases and negotiate for locations and personnel. Ensure the release of TVCs on all TV stations and prepare a monitoring report. Initiate partnerships with different media outlets (TVs, Newspapers…) Assemble and oversee a freelance production team to produce short clips and documentaries (Camera-man , audio-man … ) to be used for media and social media campaigns, as well as archived background for the project. MEDIA Develop, apply, and maintain media and communication monitoring tools plus social media Standard operating procedures; Collect, compile, and consolidate knowledge base material (i.e. relevant information, news, material, data, statistics, resources, success stories, good practices, etc.) to be used for various purposes i.e. newsletters, website, leaflets, reports, websites, speeches, social media, etc.; Draft/edit/review reports, press releases, articles, stories, speeches, etc.; Scan local news and resources on refugees and host communities matters – including ones involving and projects – through compiling summary of key issues and forwarding them to relevant team members. Ensure mobilization/engagement of media and celebrities for supporting various initiatives, and supply media with needed information and resources on a regular basis; Maintain an updated/expanded mailing list/network of local and regional media sources; Organize interviews for the staff and donor representatives as requested;   SOCIAL MEDIA Support to elaborate the content of the website, newsletter/bulletins/informative material on a regular basis; Prepare and follow up regularly on social media strategy (Facebook, twitter, Instagram…); Create content for different social media outlets, and ensure the visibility of the project on social media;   EVENTS Prepare and organize dissemination events/meetings including press conferences, and meetings with the communities; Compile relevant background material for use in discussions and public events in support of the advocacy and resource mobilization strategy of the project; Organize inaugurations and hand-over events   Training Develop and execute communications strategy for all partner organizations. Lead and deliver trainings to partner staff on communications strategies and tactics.   OTHER Contribute to the creation and sharing of knowledge by documenting findings and lessons learned, success stories and best practices, strategies and approaches of the project and drafting relevant materials for dissemination; Maintain regular contacts with project managers and information officers and associates for exchange of information and plan/implement joint activities and initiatives; Produce weekly newsletter to be shared with all partners and key stakeholders. Maintain collaborative relationships with all staff as well as implementing partners; Follow up with translators/graphic designers/film makers for translating as well as designing, printing and filming, including proof reading and editing; Contribute to and follow up with software developers in relation to various communication tools and platforms (i.e. website, online surveys, software, applications, etc.) Undertake additional tasks as required.     Do This SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: N/A   ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Program Manager WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Coordinators, Livelihood Coordinator, Partner   KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:   -At least 4-5 years of experience in communications and media work, preferably with a development or humanitarian international or local NGO; -Experience from working with social or political-related work, with good understanding of Lebanon’s current refugee and host community context; -Excellent written and verbal English and Arabic skills, including the ability to craft documentation for different key audiences; -Skills in multimedia production, including audiovisual work and graphic design and proven ability to design effective communication products, lead formulation of communication messages and strategies; -Proven ability to develop relationships with the media, other civil society organizations, and networks; Strong organizational skills, and ability to work independently and take initiative under pressure in a rapidly changing, multi--cultural context, whilst adhering to strict deadlines; Must work well as a member of a team; -Ability and willingness to travel regularly to the field.     SUCCESS FACTORS:   The successful Communications Coordinator will be bright, energetic, hard-working and eager to learn.  S/he will take a deep personal interest in humanitarian and development assistance.  S/he will have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability. S/he will be attentive to detail and able to carry out assigned tasks in a timely manner and according to a very high standard of quality.  S/he will be creative and flexible, contributing to developing and encouraging new and innovative solutions, but at the same time will not have any difficulty in adhering to systems and procedures. S/he will strictly follow all protocols related to safety and security, and holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Mercy Corps’ values.