Deputy Director, Public Affairs and Communications, MENA

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Background:

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.

MENA:

Job Overview:
As a strategic leader within the IRC's Global Crisis and Response Communications Team and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the Deputy Director will lead a team of regional communications professionals to develop and execute a comprehensive 360-degree communications strategy to raise the profile of IRC's work, advocate for better outcomes for IRC clients, and raise IRC's income within target markets - including the US, UK, Sweden, Germany, Korea, France and Brussels - and the MENA region. In turn, s/he will help to position the IRC as a global thought and practice leader. The Deputy Director will lead External Relations through emergency appeals related to crises in MENA and serve as a spokesperson as needed.

The Deputy Director has dual reporting to the MENA Regional Director of Policy, Advocacy and Communications in Amman and the Associate Director, Global Crisis and Response Communications via Management in Partnership. This position can be based in Amman or Beirut and requires travel throughout the region and occasionally to Europe and the US, estimated at 30%.

Major Responsibilities:

The Deputy Director will lead a team of regional communications professionals to

●      Lead, convene and collaborate with a dynamic range of IRC teams across MENA, including the crises in Gaza and Lebanon, 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, particularly in the IRC's target markets, including the US, UK, Sweden, Germany, France, Korea and Brussels.

●      Support the MENA Policy, Advocacy and Communications Department to build IRC's visibility as a 'go to' humanitarian-development actor in the region, acting as a key strategic thought-partner to the MENA Policy, Advocacy and Communications Director and deputizing  as and when required.

●      Coordinate and lead crisis and emergency communications, including deploying during emergencies to lead high profile visits, deliver rapid content and storytelling, and serve as a frontline spokesperson for media and digital content

●      Keep the external relations department updated with consistent, contextual knowledge of IRC's crises and response across MENA

●      Drive reactive storytelling and emergency action plans during crisis moments to support income generation

●      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.

●      Deliver strategic proactive and reactive media relations, leveraging global insights and expertise in both international and humanitarian media to increase the IRC's media share of voice

●      Issue press releases and reactions in response to events and news cycle moments that present opportunities for IRC to influence and raise our profile

●      Land media coverage in key target outlets and host reporters to visit frontline programs

●      Land high-profile, feature stories on IRC's thought leadership and solutions priorities, positioning IRC as a Solutions NGO, influencing stakeholders and establishing iRC as a partner of choice.

●      Manage a team of regional communications focal points and provide strategic direction on meeting ER-wide and national communications objectives

●      Represent the IRC as a spokesperson to external and internal audiences, both via media interviews, fundraising events and digital content. Provide media training to frontline spokespeople

●      Produce client-centered content and storytelling that portray clients with dignity and agency

●      Partner with in-house and external experts to produce digital content and communications outputs that are integrated with strategic external relations objectives

●      Build the IRC's profile and influence within MENA to support programming, fundraising and influence opportunities

●      Oversee the development and growth of local and regional social media channels

●      Support relationships with major donors including corporations, governments and high net worth individuals

●      Host events and support global marketing campaigns; lead or collaborate on local/regional advocacy campaigns that drive better outcomes for IRC clients

●      Enhance relationships with IRC voices and engage local and regional influencers

●      Contribute to quarterly performance reports using industry standard metrics and bench-marking.

●      Strengthen / develop internal systems and processes to deliver on communications objectives.

●      Deliver and lead executive communications for IRC leaders, including the CEO, as needed

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Director, Policy, Advocacy & Communications, MENA & Director, Global Crisis and Response Communications

Indirect Reporting: n/a

Supervises: Content & Digital Specialist, MENA, MENA-based country communications staff
Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Work with global communications colleagues, writers, content creators, IRC advocates, fundraisers, program leadership and on the ground program delivery staff
External: Work with journalists, media producers and editors, strategic influencers, content creators and peer humanitarian organizations

Job Requirements:

Education: Minimum: Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, international affairs or related field

Work Experience: Minimum: Eight plus years of professional experience in communications, preferably with a focus on international affairs or issues that cross with the humanitarian sector.

Language(s)

· English (required)

· Arabic (required)

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

Minimum:

• Demonstrate a flexible approach and ability to navigate ambiguity, as well as multiple projects and competing priorities at once.
• Ability to balance partnership with various departments and creative, breakthrough communications efforts.
• Ability to work effectively, efficiently, diplomatically and calmly in a high-pressure environment on issues that are often complex and politically sensitive.
• They will have deep knowledge and experience of working successfully with major global media, especially in the US, UK, and Europe.
• Experience in producing and editing, under tight-deadlines, accurate and dynamic communications materials, including press-releases, op-eds, talking points and digital content.
• Experience serving as a media spokesperson and representing an organization at conferences and events.
• Record of creativity in developing compelling content, and creative pursuit of targets in achievement of communications objectives across different channels (media, social, web etc.)
• Excellent capability and creativity using digital cameras and audio gathering tools and editing suites
• Experience managing a team of communications professionals to successfully deliver on a 360-degree communications strategy.
• Experience working in emergency crisis contexts and ability to deliver results under pressure

Working Environment:

· Standard office working environment

· Ability to work remotely within the region

· Some international travel as needed up to 30%

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

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

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