MSF Intersectional Field Communications Manager (m/f/x) Mozambique – English & Portuguese speaking

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides assistance in more than 60 countries to populations in distress, to victims of natural or manmade disasters and to victims of armed conflicts, without discrimination and irrespective of origin, religion, creed or political affiliation.

We are looking for a:

MSF Intersectional Field Communications Manager (m/f/x) Mozambique – English & Portuguese speaking

CONTEXT

MSF has been working in Mozambique since 1984. For more than 30 years, our teams have responded to medical and humanitarian emergencies countrywide, including HIV, TB, malnutrition, malaria, cholera, natural disasters, COVID-19 and people displaced from their homes by conflict. In Cabo Delgado province, we respond to emergencies and help to fill gaps in healthcare, often working alongside health authorities and other partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES

To define, implement, coordinate and supervise all operational communication activities according to MSF standards in the mission of Mozambique, with focus on the operations in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. The Intersectional Field Communications Manager (FCM) is based in Pemba (approximately 80%), and also covers Beira (MSF OCB), and provides supports to Nampula (MSF OCG) in liaison with OCG Head of Mission (HoM), Communications Advisor (CA) and Field Communications Officer (FCO). The FCM also supports punctual activities and travels for meetings in Maputo (coordination) on a need basis. The FCM aims to increase the visibility of the organisation, improving awareness of its principles and work, reinforcing information on MSF activities among communities and to support operational priorities and objectives. For any large-scale emergencies, an Emergency FCM or a flying communications manager with the similar responsibilities as the FCM may be sent to the mission to work alongside the FCM and/or lead on emergency communications.

Strategy Building

• Under supervision of the Emergency Coordinators/ HoMs and in cooperation with the CA in HQ the FCM defines the communications strategy for the mission.
• The FCM should have the capacity to identify key cross cutting issues across MSF operations which are relevant to communications and to advise on public positioning.
• The FCM will develop guidelines for dealing with crisis communications, including through local media, and have the capacity to remain reactive to emergencies.
• In emergencies with high media pressure the FCM is able to act as a spokesperson to take interview pressure away from the field teams.

Media Management/ Alert

The FCM

• Maintains close contact with foreign correspondents and works with the FCO to maintain a network of key national and local media.
• Liaises with communications staff from other organisations and institutions and monitors and analyses the communication lines developed by actors of importance for MSF (authorities, armed groups, other NGOs, etc.).
• Facilitates international media visit to MSF projects and organizes media events (Press conference, Press briefing, etc.) in collaboration with MSF international communication network and under the guidance of the CAs.
• Briefs spokespersons and assesses media training needs for key staff. She/he can organise workshop on communications for international and national staff.
• Can play the role of a spokesperson when seen as opportune and necessary upon agreement with the operational lines.
• Works with the FCO to produce strategic reports on the local media landscape and regularly reports on new developments.
• Provides guidance on how to deal with local media at time of crisis and will develop guidelines for dealing with such crises through in-country media.

People Management

• The FCM manages, develops sand supervises the FCO under his/her direct responsibility.
• The FCM also provides guidance and technical support to the OCG FCO, in liaison with the OCG CA.

Content Production

The FCM

• Advises on which communications tools to choose according to objective, message and audience agreed with operations.
• Produces – or supervises the production of – local comms contents (leaflets, brochures, posters, radio spots, articles, photos, videos.) according to strategy and budget.
• With the FCO, is directly involved in producing international comms content by providing data, information, quotes, testimonies, pictures, videos, etc. and preparing content packages as agreed with the relevant CA/CAs.
• Identifies opportunities for agile communications on social media about timely developments where MSF has an added value and produces social media content in collaboration with social media teams in relevant offices.
• Tracks and archives communications production on the country to build institutional memory.
• Liaises and collaborates with regional and HQ comms staff to facilitate MSF initiatives relevant to the movement and the country.

Content Diffusion

• The FCM actively promotes the diffusion of MSF content in the country.
• Under the supervision of the emergency coordinators, the FCM identifies communications opportunities using MSF comms network production (from List Press or Yammer) or returning staff to pitch content on MSF activities in the country and other countries.
• When judged opportune and strategic, the FCM uses social media (twitter, blogs, Facebook….) to promote MSF contents and visibility.

Reporting and briefings

The FCM

• Produces regular reports on achieved results, changes in the communications environment, challenges and future priorities.
• Briefs on communications key international staff arriving to the missions on communications.
• Works with all MSF sections in the country and is responsible for ensuring that all sections are aware of planned comms initiatives and key developments in the communications environment.

Budget Management

• The FCM will produce a yearly communications budget meant to support identified and agreed communications priorities. This budget will be submitted for approval to the HoM(s) and Communication Department at HQ.

REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Desirable: degree in Journalism, Communications, Humanitarian affairs, Political Sciences or related university degree.

Experience:

• Essential: previous working experience of at least 4 years in communications, journalism or public relations.
• Essential: previous working experience in producing communications content production
• Essential: experience with MSF or other international NGOs in developing countries.
• Experience working in an international environment.

Competencies:

• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Demonstrated understanding of digital and social media
• Ability to develop, implement and evaluate communications strategies
• Proven skills in the development and implementation of communications products and tactics, including relations with the press, digital and media
• Command of photo and video skills are desirable
• Command of the Adobe Creative Suite is desirable
• Essential computer literacy (word, excel and digital media)
• Communicating in a credible and effective way
• Demonstrated diplomatic and negotiation skills
• Tact, discretion, and diplomacy
• Flexibility in a changing environment
• Result oriented
• Tenacity and positive attitude
• Ability to manage emergency and crisis communications situations
• Language skills: Fluency in English and Portuguese (written and spoken) are essential. Command of local languages is desirable.

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: 1 December 2022
• Contract type: 12-month fixed term contract
• Location: based in Pemba, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique; mobility approximately 20%
• Salary according to MSF-OCB Field salary scale
• No family position
• Adhere to the MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments