Brand Specialist

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, we now work in over 40 crisis-affected countries as well as communities throughout the U.S., Europe and Latin America. We deliver impact by providing health care, helping children learn, and supporting individuals and communities to become self-reliant, always with a focus on the unique needs of women and girls.

Our External Relations department works to build the profile of the IRC and raise funds. We want to engage audiences to learn about our organization and the contexts in which we work, hear the voices and stories of the people we serve, and to join with us to make an impact.

Job Overview:

Are you a brand marketing expert, someone with a track record of building strong global brands? The Brand Specialist position is a new role that will be essential in helping us to refine and build our brand globally. This role reports into the Senior Director, Brand and will work with the Communications, Creative & Content Studio, Digital Engagement teams – as well as the Mass Markets fundraising teams in each of our markets (U.S., UK, Germany, Sweden, South Korea). If using your expertise to help drive the growth of a storied humanitarian organization sounds fulfilling to you, please read further!

Major Responsibilities:

• Play a key role in the readying of our brand refresh. This includes assisting with testing and participating in the planning and execution of the global roll-out, internally and externally.

• Partner with our Analytics team on brand health tracking: setting up tracking in each market, gleaning key insights and cascading a concise report. Over time, optimize the tracking and reporting to best meet teams’ needs.

• Develop an online brand training module to help the broader organization understand our brand proposition, our evolved approach to storytelling and imagery, and to build a brand ambassador mentality across all staff.

• Input into the development of campaigns and evergreen content, helping global and market teams build towards a consistent, cohesive and distinct brand. Review creative to ensure that materials adhere to our brand positioning, voice & tone and imagery guidelines.

• Guide new and recently launched markets to develop their brand strategy, collaborating with the local teams, agencies and consultants. Assist in conducting market research as needed, whether to understand current and prospective donors, to test campaign concepts or facilitate other data-driven decisions.

• Support the External Relations teams as they create activations and programs that have brand-building components. For example, participate in the selection of new corporate partners and the development of new cause marketing programs.

Job Requirements:

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of work experience in brand marketing roles, preferably for consumer brands.

• Have developed and implemented brand strategies and brand guidelines, ideally globally. Have helped refresh and/or build at least one strong, distinct brand and grown brand awareness with target audiences.

Skills:

• Strong strategic and analytical thinking: able to diagnose key issues and opportunities; adept at analyzing and synthesizing data, identifying the key takeaways.
• Expert written and verbal communications: able to craft and deliver clear, compelling presentations and plans.
• Experience with brand health tracking.
• Collaboration: ability to build positive work relationships internally and externally; ability to engage with everyone in an inclusive way.
• Resourceful: willing to roll-up your sleeves and help get things done in timely, practical ways; seize opportunities and resiliently overcome obstacles.
• Client and supporter-centric: we put our clients at the heart of everything we do, and we deeply appreciate our supporters. So, having that mentality is also critical for success.

Working Environment:**

• This role is based in the U.S. and will need to be on Eastern time zone hours, which is our NY office hours.
• Remote or hybrid work is an option.

Gender Equality

IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowance.

The IRC and IRC workers adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Compensation:

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:

In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity:

IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

US Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.