Senior Communications Officer

Background

A global leader in humanitarian assistance, the International Rescue Committee works in more than 40 countries offering help and hope to refugees and others impacted by violent conflict and disaster. During crises, IRC teams provide health care, shelter, clean water, sanitation, learning programs for children and special aid for women. As emergencies subside, the IRC stays to revive livelihoods and help shattered communities recover and rebuild. A tireless advocate for the most vulnerable, the IRC is committed to restoring hope, dignity and opportunity.

Marketing & Mobilization

Marketing & Mobilization (M&M) is a dynamic team that is tasked with building the IRC’s global profile and brand, increasing private revenue from deeper donor engagement and partnerships, and influencing our target audiences. The team is responsible for all of IRC’s brand, communications, creative and content and digital engagement efforts. In alignment with our Strategy100 commitments, M&M has launched compelling multi-year campaigns that raise funding, profile and influence and will improve our share of voice and resonance in key geographies and globally. Lastly, they consistently work on innovating the IRC brand, which enables us to increase awareness, understanding of and support for our work so that we can raise more money and change policies to improve our crisis-affected clients’ lives around the world.

Global Public Affairs & Communications

Global Public Affairs, a part of the Marketing & Mobilization (M&M) team, targets priority IRC markets and audiences to advance and protect our policy goals, brand and profile. It’s a key part of external messaging and product development, distribution and coordination for External Relations. The team uses proactive and reactive earned media (broadcast, digital & print) to support policy and income objectives, while also using frontline storytelling to advance our cause.

Job Overview: The Senior Communications Officer will raise the visibility of the International Rescue Committee, its humanitarian programs, leadership, and solutions, and turn public attention in the US to the organization’s humanitarian aid in 40 countries, including its US programs. The Senior Officer must have a genuine interest and background in the humanitarian aid world and in public relations. S/he will lead several ongoing or expanding outreach campaigns, as well as providing insights and guidance on other media relations and communications projects worldwide. S/he will help develop and execute communications strategies positioning the IRC as the thought and practice leader of the humanitarian sector. The Senior Officer will play a key role in managing and upgrading IRC’s global media relations systems and processes. S/he will also execute on key executive communications efforts, including for the CEO, and work across emergencies and reputational issues management.

Major Responsibilities:

• Convene, collaborate with, and lead a dynamic range of IRC teams across U.S. portfolios as needed, to develop and implement communications strategies that drive awareness of the IRC’s impact and advocacy, enhancing the IRC’s reputation, supporting fundraising objectives, and influencing target policy makers.
• Work with (and persuade) internal stakeholders, including communications team-members, field teams, advocates, fundraisers, and technical experts to facilitate and support dynamic communications tactics, including innovative media outreach, top tier op-eds, creative digital content and dynamic, audience-driven social media output.
• Deliver annual Global and Multilateral Communications strategy and regular reporting on progress.
• Deliver strategic proactive and reactive US media relations, leveraging insights and expertise in both international and humanitarian media to increase the IRC’s media share of voice and digital engagement – with a keen eye for advocacy priorities.
• Assist on key executive communications initiatives including working with the CEO ahead of key external appearances, preparing briefings and thinking strategically about time requests for key executives.
• Deploy excellent writing skills to deliver pitches that land IRC-led features, high-level IRC messages for cross-organizational use, top tier landing op-eds, and talking points for spokespeople.
• Respond to media queries—providing accurate information, arranging interviews, preparing staff as needed, and facilitating media visits to field programs as needed, including during emergencies and breaking news. Provide surge media outreach support during emergencies (20%) / as indicated by the US Communications Director and/or Director of Global Communications
• Act as the IRC spokesperson and representative to external and internal audiences, both via media interviews and contributing to digital content. Provide media training to field spokespeople as needed.
• Partner with in-house and external experts to produce Digital Content and Communications outputs that are integrated with strategic external relations objectives, aligned to clear distribution, and measurement, working closely with the Marketing Communications department.
• Contribute to quarterly reports on media coverage and content results using industry standard metrics and bench-marking.
• Deliver global strategic guidance on media relations best practice – including custom market (geo) approaches to: organizing target outlets; journalists with segue to Meltwater/Cision/Muckrack databases for specific issues or geographies, and identifying cut-through and ongoing editorial opportunities for IRC stories and campaigns; training focal points on media reporting and metrics best practice.
• Strengthen and develop internal systems, processes, and talent to deliver communications objectives.
• Coordinate and lead global crisis and emergency communications, including high profile field visits and high-speed content gathering.
• Deliver and lead executive communications for IRC leaders, including the CEO, as needed.
• Expand and nurture IRC’s communications network.
• Manage Communications Manager, encouraging development and duty-of-care.
• Foster environment that exhibits the IRC Way and GEDI values.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Communications Director, US

Job Requirements:

• Education and work experience
  • Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, international affairs or related field or equivalent 6 to 8 years of professional experience in communications, media or advocacy preferably with a focus on international affairs or issues that cross with the humanitarian sector.
  • In house/agency communications preferable

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Minimum:
  • The Communications Senior Officer demonstrates a flexible approach and ability to navigate ambiguity, as well as multiple projects and priorities at once
  • Ability to work effectively, efficiently, diplomatically, and calmly in a fast-paced environment on issues that are often sophisticated and politically sensitive.
  • Deep knowledge and experience of working successfully with US media covering international and humanitarian issues and proven track-record of results.
  • Experience in producing and editing, under tight deadlines, accurate and dynamic communications materials including press-releases, op-eds and talking points.
  • Experience training and coaching global media teams in industry best practice, reporting, and technology
  • Experience running emergency communications efforts as well as handling reputational issues management
  • Record of creativity in developing compelling content, and dogged pursuit of targets in achievement of communications objectives across different channels (media, social, web etc.)
  • Experience working with executive level leaders within a public profile organization with speed, fluency and accountability.
  • Experience in management and track record of fostering a positive team culture

Working Environment: Standard office work environment. Up to 20% travel required. The IRC can accommodate for hybrid working and offer the possibility of working from home as agreed with their supervisor.

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.

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.