Communications Advisor at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES:

• Is responsible for the development of overarching communications strategies specific to each context, ensuring these strategies align with the needs in the field and with the country framework.
• Develops and formulates, in coordination with Heads of Missions and Operations, a communication strategy that includes digital media and audio visual, for external communications focusing on various themes; emergency, proactive and reactive communications and public advocacy; and internal guidance.
• Analyses the contexts and actively follows the portfolio of countries and themes, taking part in various project teams and platforms and identifying cross-cutting thematics for communications from the portfolio countries.
• Drafts and disseminates the external material e.g. press releases, articles, AV productions, reports and other forms of publications including briefing documents, lines of response and talking points.
• Coordinates, compiles and distributes project and thematic information for regional and international media.
• Identifies potential strategic alliances with trusted media contacts for mutually beneficial objectives. e.g. when we want to bring visibility to an issue but MSF cannot risk being front and centre of the coverage.
• Advises MSF operational management, head of missions and the wider MSF network about communication strategies, risks and tactics and contributes to the communication policies, plans and strategies.
• Informs, involves and consults all Home Societies, fundraising departments and the wider MSF network including the International Office (IO) and Hubs about OCA comms plans for each country, exchanging information and feeding material.
• Provides/coordinates additional media monitoring support to the field team at times of heightened media interest in crisis moments or throughout a critical incident. Scans upcoming relevant dates/events and sets up alerts in order to prepare scenario planning e.g. impact of upcoming elections.
• Maintains regular contact with media following the same portfolio of countries, and liaises with the FCM to ensure a record of any meetings and all information exchanged is relayed to operations to support context analysis.
• Provides full support to FCMs and FCO in producing briefing documents and communication guidelines; participates in recruiting/matching of FCOs and FCMs, identifying training and development needs as well as providing trainings at HQ and Field level.
• Joins the Crisis Incident Management Team (CIMT) as the communications focal point during critical incidents – leading the comms strategy and advising the CIMT leader and Field Incident Management Team (FIMT) for the communications actions and decisions, as well as advising and providing guidance to the wider MSF network (including GDs and other directors).

COMMUNICATION:

Internal:

• With the wider OSCAR team, AV, Digital and humanitarian affairs colleagues about communications plans and strategies
• With Operations and the Head of Department about communications strategies, crisis, risks, plans and content
• With the wider MSF network about communications plans and products, dissemination tactics, public events

External:

• With all major press agencies, public influencers and other stakeholders on emergencies and forgotten crises to position MSF adequately

REQUIREMENTS:

• Essential: At least five years’ experience working in communications, journalism or public relations, communicating on challenging contexts or humanitarian crises at national or international level;
• Essential: At least 18 months field experience;
• Essential: Excellent writing and editing skills, with an ability to synthesise complex and sensitive information/material for communications content production;
• Essential: Knowledge of digital and social media, as well as media monitoring;
• Essential: Experience with MSF or other international NGOs/organisations in developing countries. Experience working in an international environment; 
• Essential: Genuine interest in, and commitment to the humanitarian principles of MSF; 
• \Desirable: MSF experience; 
• Desirable: Knowledge or understanding of MSF mandate and goals in emergency response relief or experience in similar positions in the international development or humanitarian sectors;
• Desirable: Experience in planning and implementing communications strategies in an emergency setting, including working ith international and national media outlets.

Skills

• Ability to develop, implement and evaluate communications strategies in emergencies;
• Proven skills in the development and implementation of communications products (such as press releases, articles, internal guidance, AV and digital materials) and tactics, including relations with the media/press;
• Demonstrated diplomatic and negotiation skills to work among highly busy colleagues in a fast-paced environment;
• Excellent interpersonal skills complemented by the ability to conceptualize ideas and promote consensus;
• Knowledge of the impact of emergencies and crises on people; 
• Ability to propose creative solutions and to make innovative proposals as related to communication at the local community, national and global levels; 
• Demonstrated understanding of digital and social media; 
• Excellent communication skills, with proven ability to write in English in a clear and concise manner. 

COMPETENCIES:

• Cross-cultural Awareness.
• Strategic Vision.
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Initiative and Innovation.
• Capacity to Negotiate.
• Teamwork and Cooperation