Communications Officer

Role & Responsibilities

To gather resources and prepare materials which contribute actively to generating awareness and support for Medair’s work in Ukraine. The primary focus is on international audiences, with an expectation to also identify opportunities with national audiences. The Communications Officer works closely with the Programme Funding Manager to fulfil requirements for institutional donors and foundations, with input into proposals and contributions to reports.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic, passionate, and creative communicator with professional experience and skills in communications, fundraising, public relations, media or a related field. S/he will be highly motivated, capable of managing an exciting and varied workload, and able to operate in complex but fascinating contexts.

Given the high importance of private, in addition to institutional, funding, the role is essential in ensuring that Medair raises the financial support and awareness necessary to achieve its mission.

Project Overview

Medair works in Ukraine to assist people who have been impacted by conflict. This includes multi-sectoral relief projects, currently in northern and western Ukraine. The programme will continue to respond in new areas as needed, and the Communications Officer is responsible for collecting stories, quotes, photos, video clips, and programme updates for all project sites in Ukraine.

Workplace & Conditions

Field position based in Ukraine.

Starting Date / Initial Contract Details

As soon as possible. Full-time, 12 to 24 months.

Key Activity Areas

Communications and Fundraising Resources

• Travel frequently to field sites to pro-actively and re-actively obtain resources including photography, interviews, case studies, quotes, video etc. Gather and prepare communication materials for publishing on Medair’s website, social media, and in donor communications.
• Ensure that there is a collection of high-quality photos, video clips, and quotes from beneficiaries, staff, and communities for each project within the Ukraine response.
• Proactively engage in regional communications meetings, and the monthly global editorial meeting, including pitching and collaborating with other Communications Officers from other country programmes.
• Gather and prepare fundraising materials (e.g. gift handles, direct marketing resources, thank-you videos) in coordination with the Engagement Department at the Global Support Office (GSO) in Switzerland, and ensure quarterly updates of the First Stop document.
• Work closely with the Regional Communications Manager (RCM) to gather specific resources for GSO or Affiliate Office initiatives and projects, the year-end campaign, events, or fundraising campaigns.
• Provide in-country briefings to all staff about their role in communicating about the organisation and its work, and how to support the public communication and fundraising activities of Medair.
• Act as the key Communications focal point for all communications enquiries about the Ukraine response
• Provide support to the Programme Funding Manager to deliver Private Funding proposals and reports to small institutional donors and foundations.

Media and Public Relations

• Regularly monitor local press and events and track mentions of Medair which may impact the perception of neutrality or impartiality.
• Prepare, organise, and lead field visits of high-profile visitors, photographers, journalists, or media crews.
• Propose press statements and news items according to the brand and media communication guidelines.
• Advise national staff regarding media and communication. Develop Key Messages with the RCM and provide training to field staff as necessary for interviews.
• Act as media spokesperson for Medair’s interests with Ukrainian-speaking media in coordination with RCM.

Social Media

• Produce short content updates and creative interactive features for Medair’s international social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, in coordination with the RCM and GSO.
• Train and encourage field staff on the appropriate use of online social media. Actively monitor Ukrainian communications initiated by field staff (e.g. social media posts, personal websites, blogs, newsletters, etc.) and if necessary propose corrective actions to ensure strong brand reputation.

Internal Communication

• Assist field leadership team in developing tools and structures to pro-actively support the team in improving internal communication within the programme, e.g. internal news, contributing to team meetings, etc.
• Distribute the Annual Report, newsletters and other communication material among staff and external contacts in the field as appropriate. Train project teams in communication guidelines specific to the Ukrainian context.

Brand and co-branding Coordination

• Assist Medair staff on institutional donor and Medair visibility budgets, conditions, and requirements.
• Create field communication tools at the request of the Project Managers or other field staff.
• Raise awareness about appropriate branding in team trainings and meetings; ensure that Medair staff, facilities and equipment have access to appropriate Medair branded items.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• Degree/professional qualification.
• Professional qualification in communications/fundraising/PR/media/marketing or a related field desirable.
• Excellent working knowledge of the English (spoken and written).

Experience

• Experience in media, communications, advertising, marketing, or fundraising.
• Training or experience in multi-media production and editing desirable.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook, knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Lightroom.
• Strong grasp of online social media tools and techniques.
• Highly organised with a creative flair and good attention to detail.
• Able to interact with people in crisis to gather stories with tact and diplomacy.
• Excellent writing skills adaptable to varied internal and external audiences, adapting technical language, ‘human interest’ angles and sector needs. Above-average photography skills and ability to collect video footage.

All new deploying international staff to Medair’s country programmes (and other roles which require field travel) should be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved COVID vaccine, supported with a COVID vaccination certificate as evidence.