Senior Communication Officer at International Rescue Committee

Position Summary:

• The IRC seeks a Senior Communications Officer who will support Country Program teams in Kenya. The Communications Senior Officer will play a pivotal role in implementing our Kenya Country Program's communication strategy. Reporting directly to the Senior Advocacy Manager, the incumbent will be responsible for shaping, organizing, and driving both internal and external communications for the program with an eye towards increasing visibility and engagement with content produced by the country team. They will ensure that the Country Program’s messaging is consistent and engaging.

Job Responsibilities:

• Communication Strategy: Providing strategic leadership for communication efforts, developing, and implementing effective communication strategies aligned with IRC's mission and goals in Kenya.
• Review and update IRC Kenya’s Strategic Communications Plan with the guidance of the Senior Advocacy Manager, for both internal and external audiences based on country program’s goals and implement the plan accordingly.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Establishing and maintaining relationships with a diverse range of collaborators, including media outlets, local and international partners, and the communities served by IRC.
• Message Development: Developing clear and compelling messages that effectively convey the impact and importance of IRC's work in Kenya. Ensuring that these messages are consistent and resonant with the organization's values will be a central responsibility.
• Media Relations: Serving as the primary point of contact for media interactions, handling media inquiries, facilitating interviews, and coordinating the preparation of press releases and media materials. Building a positive public image for IRC in Kenya.
• Content Creation: Lead in the gathering, creation of diverse content and packaging of information, including reports, stories, videos, drafting briefing notes, preparing press releases, fact sheets, press lines and guidance notes, social media outputs, and other materials that showcase the stories and successes of the Kenya Country Program.
• Ensure photos and videos for external are gathered with consent and shared following the IRC's Content process. Draft, edit, and review information products including IRC Kenya’ quarterly newsletter, Darubini, IRC’s internal blog, and the country program’s Annual Report, as needed, and upload and distribute as required.
• Advocacy Support: Collaborating closely with the Senior Advocacy Manager, support IRC's advocacy efforts in Kenya by developing communication strategies that advance key policy objectives and bring about positive change for the communities we serve.
• Track key events, fora and meetings in Kenya and work with the senior advocacy manager to coordinate representation, attendance and sharing of IRC lessons.
• Support the Senior Advocacy Manager to develop, analyze and disseminate high quality evidence-based advocacy and campaign materials such as briefs, position papers, policy briefs, call to actions, advocacy reports, statements, talking points, training materials, and respond to meaningful advocacy moments with messages and materials as required for different advocacy interventions.
• Support to plan for and implement key communication and advocacy events for the Country Program
• Internal Engagement: Collaborating closely with all country sectors and partner programs to identify communication needs, stories, and products.
• Liaise with the IRC's Headquarters and East Africa regional communication, creative and content teams to share photos and videos based on the requirements for the global content library.
• Coordinate with Global Communications team and Partner staff to ensure partner communications requirements are met.

Qualifications

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in communications, political science, Public Relation, International Relations, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience working and leading in media, journalism, advocacy, and communications within an international NGO and/or in the development and humanitarian contexts.
• Experience in leading communication strategies and teams in a complex and dynamic environment, preferably in the humanitarian or international development sector.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with a track record of successfully engaging with diverse collaborators.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to create content that resonates with various audiences.
• A deep commitment to the mission and values of IRC, with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the humanitarian and development sector in Kenya.
• Experience in handling media relations and crisis communications.
• Exceptional planning and organizational skills, with an ability to meet deadlines, handle multiple demands and contending priorities, while maintaining high quality standards
• A creative and innovative mentality, adaptive to evolving communication trends and technologies.
• Experience in content collection, report writing, creating feature stories.