Ukraine Crisis Response – Humanitarian Media and Communications Manager

As one of the few INGOs with an operational presence in Ukraine, we are already responding with initial life-saving activities in the Donetsk and Luhansk Regions, with the intention to scale-up assistance in the central and western regions of Ukraine. We have also launched a programme to support refugees arriving in Moldova, where we also already have a presence, and are investigating a further response in Poland.

We are now seeking passionate, professional and experienced humanitarian professionals to support our response to the crisis. We are looking for talent which thrives in collaborating with others (inside HelpAge International and beyond) and who can work in agile ways and across boundaries.

Key areas for impact, influence and responsibility

As the Humanitarian Media and Communications Manager in Ukraine, you will:

• Develop communications content around HelpAge’s role in the Ukraine crisis, promoting our work and the specific needs of older people impacted by events.

This might include

• • case studies, blogs, photos, videos, media materials (including social), fact sheets, Q&As, and other materials relating to our humanitarian response.
• Ensure a timely pipeline of updated materials and information needed for communications, advocacy and fundraising outreach.
• Act as key point of contact on the ground, providing information updates, including key messages, new data and Q&As.
• Develop a network of contacts with the international media covering the crisis.
• Work closely with colleagues to respond to media requests, including organising media visits and developing both media leads and story ideas.
• Prepare and brief HelpAge spokespeople.
• Assist with fundraising activities such as reacting to requests for specific information and evidencing programme delivery.

This outlines the broad areas of responsibility in the role, but in collaboration with your colleagues you will be able to shape and design specific activities that are relevant at any point in time. We want you to work creatively and strategically to deliver impact and respond to relevant opportunities.

Let’s talk about you

You will be someone with:

• Excellent writing skills with fluent spoken and written English
• Experience of managing and delivering communications during a humanitarian emergency
• Ability to network with content gatherers for recruitment of specific projects
• Experience working in communications, social media, or journalism, preferably in an international humanitarian organisation
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage relationships across different teams and time zones
• Willingness to work as an enthusiastic member of a team who can also work independently and with initiative to secure content and information and share as appropriate
• Able to think creatively and translate complex issues into simple sound bites
• Able to self-manage, be proactive, work under pressure and meet deadlines

Desirable

• Hostile environment training within the last three years
• Fluency in Ukrainian or Russian
• Photography / video skills
• Experience of working with older people or other at-risk groups
• Knowledge of how to present information to different audiences including from general public to media to high level decision-makers
• Proficiency in design and photo/video editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Final Cut Pro, etc

The Organisation

HelpAge International is entering into an exciting phase of its evolution as we fundamentally transform what we do, how we do it and how we are organised. Driven by our commitment to the localization agenda, we are evolving the way we partner and deliver value at the country and local level. In the coming 3 years, we will localize our country offices and programmes, and develop new and diverse forms of partnerships globally.

We seek to give primacy to local agents for change. To this end, we will replace all programmes delivered by HelpAge staff and resources on the ground with implementation by partners. This will apply across all our work -humanitarian and long-term development. Going forward, our value is framed around supporting, convening and thought leadership.

A key way of creating value and bringing impact is collaborating across boundaries and by bringing different perspectives, skills and talent together. We will deliver our work through agile teams and a global operating model, with regional roots, to focus on impact and maintain the relationships at the national level to help build collaborations and support others to set their own agendas.

Our Values

At HelpAge International we work hard to achieve our goals together as a team with a clear shared purpose. Our values inform how we work together:

Inclusive

We respect people, value diversity and are committed to equality.

Impact

We value and recognise the contribution of our staff and network members, as we put older people at the center of everything we do.

Partners

We work alongside network members and others to increase reach, influence and impact. We are committed to a culture of collaboration and building positive relationships.

Learning

We are passionate about learning, accountable and work together to find creative solutions.

Everyone who works at HelpAge share our values and are committed to behaviors that demonstrate and support them.

Safeguarding

Everyone has a role in creating and sustaining a safe and respectful working environment, where no one comes to any harm or is maltreated. At HelpAge we take our responsibilities very seriously and will take action against wrongdoing. We will do everything we can to ensure that we do not engage people that pose a safeguarding risk and will undertake criminal record checks as required.

Equal Opportunities

HelpAge International is committed to creating an inclusive working environment, promoting and providing equal opportunities and respecting diversity in employment. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

How to apply

To apply for a job at HelpAge, please submit the following documents:

• A cover letter, setting out how you meet the requirements of the job profile. Please use bold headings for each requirement and provide examples.
• Your current curriculum vitae (3 pages maximum)
• Three referees, including your most recent employer

To be considered, please read the job description to find out more information and then email your application to [email protected] before the closing date.

Closing date: We will review the applications as and when they are received due to the urgent need to fill the role.

Important Message: Please ensure that you remove personal information including your date of birth, age, gender and marital status from your CV. Please do not include any photographs.