Senior Officer, Communications at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Job Duties and Responsibilities

•  Gathering and disseminating accurate and timely information on the situation to IFRC communications team and National Societies. Sharing any communications material created with the IFRC communications team for wider distribution and use among the Red Cross Red Crescent communications network.
•  Supporting the gathering and development of relevant, compelling and timely communications content and messages, that can be packaged and distributed by IFRC global communications teams in the region and Geneva for various audiences and channels.
•  Working with the communications focal points of National Societies in the region, stay abreast of critical developments, monitor local media and social media, and use content generated by community engagement activities, such as feedback/concerns from affected communities
•  Coordinating communications support for high-level visits, as well as media related requests and visits from partner National Societies
•  Ensuring strong visibility in local and international media through proactive media engagement, pitching story ideas about Red Cross and Red Crescent operations, coordinating media events and requests, as well as arranging visits to field operations, handling international media interviews when required, identifying spokespeople in country and sharing their information with media, and ensuring the availability of well-briefed spokespeople.
•  Producing materials for media and external audiences and supporting in country officials (National Society and IFRC) in their media engagements.
•  Ensure strong social media engagement by proposing, gathering and sharing engaging content for IFRC and National Society channels, tracking trends and rumours, and supporting host National Society in responding to audience engagement with social media.
•  Provide general communications support to National Societies and IFRC.

Education

•  University degree in journalism, communications, marketing or international policies.

Experience

•  At least 5 years of experience working as journalist/press officer and/or Communications officer. Required
•  Experience in managing communications issues in complex and delicate situations. Required
•  Experience in building and maintaining media relations and contacts. Required
•  Experience in emergency response. Required
•  Red Cross and Red Crescent experience. Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Language

•  Basic Delegate Training Course or IMPACT. FACT, ERU or RDRT Training or equivalent experience. Required
•  Ability to independently deliver a range of compelling communications content from the field including news stories, social media content and AV materials. Required
•  IFRC Emergency Communications training. Preferred
•  Ability to work in a cross-cultural and cross functional environment. Required
•  Ability to work with tight deadlines and handle multiple tasks. Required
•  Must have computer working knowledge. Required
•  Excellent communication and reporting skills. Required
•  Good interpersonal skills an essential part of the job. Required
•  Staff management and development skills. Required
•  Fluently spoken and written English. Required
•  Good command of French is an added advantage. Preferred