Communications Manager in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Requisition ID: req52777

Job Title: Communications Manager

Sector: Communications

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

The IRC has a focus on narrowing the gender gap in humanitarian aid and ensuring that we contribute to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in both our programs and operations by working to establish a context where our clients (including those from minority groups) enjoy the same rights and opportunities as well as an equal access to services. The IRC also has a strong commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive culture, where safeguarding is upheld in our workplace and programs. We are determined to protect our clients and staff from safeguarding violations through prevention and, where misconduct is alleged, to address it without fear or favor.

Job Overview

Based in Addis Ababa, the Communications Manager will support internal and external communications and visibility initiatives for IRC Ethiopia. The Communications Manager will be responsible for designing and delivering a range of communications products, including country office fact sheets, briefing materials, program success stories, photos, videos, interviews with beneficiaries, blog posts for the IRC’s website, social media posts and staff profiles. The post holder will be expected to develop and maintain a communications strategy for the country office, train staff on communications approaches, and be accountable for meeting IRC Ethiopia’s contractual donor visibility requirements. The position is supervised by the DDGP and will work closely with other grants and partnerships staff, area managers, and program staff.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develop, update, and implement an internal and external communications strategy for IRC Ethiopia

• Liaise with the global communications/advocacy teams to periodically review the IRC Ethiopia communications strategy and raise awareness of humanitarian needs in Ethiopia.

• Lead in designing and developing information and visibility materials, such as fact sheets, briefing papers, brochures, posters, and social media content.

• Facilitate and promote dynamic communications methods, such as novel media outreach, original digital content, and dynamic, audience-driven social media output, with internal stakeholders such as field teams, advocates, fundraisers, and technical specialists.

• Develop and track implementation of donor visibility and branding plan.

• Proactively seek out interesting stories from programs, initiating or accompanying field visits to collect high-quality photos, quotes and audio and video material suitable for use in media and communication products.

• Help IRC country program staff to proactively prepare for communications needs contributing to overall better information flow and coordination of all programming.

• Train, coach and support IRC program staff and partners on external communications, including how to recognize and disseminate relevant information, data, and human-interest stories from their work in order to convey project successes and positive influences on clients’ lives.

• Maintain a database of essential connections and establish a solid working relationship with relevant media practitioners in Ethiopia and field locations.

• Potentially represent IRC to external and internal audiences, both through media interviews and digital content contributions. As needed, provide media training to field spokespersons.

• Develop and maintain communication resource materials and products library in box.

• Maintain and analyze data on the scale and reach of communication products.

  Safeguarding Responsibilities:-

• Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]

• Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue and reflection to strengthen safeguarding and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies

  Qualifications

  Job Requirements:

  Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (journalism, humanitarian affairs, etc.)

  Preferred experience & skills:

• 4 years of work experiences in communications, journalism or documentation, ideally for an international humanitarian organization;

• Demonstrated experience producing public relations and/or visibility materials in different media;

• Understanding of the humanitarian context in Ethiopia and knowledge of Ethiopia’s regions;

• Experience with websites and blogs highly desirable;

• Experience in conducting trainings and workshops would be an asset;

• Strong written communication and editing skills (including creative writing) with the ability to make complex information and data accessible to non-experts;

• Computer literacy: Proficiency in MS Word, MS PowerPoint and MS Publishing or other publishing software required with experience in graphic design/layout for publications desirable;

• Must be proactive, a good team player, open to criticism and be results oriented;

• Ability to coordinate and liaise between colleagues from different technical areas across various levels (local/regional, country level, global) of the organization and across partner organizations;

• Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment and prioritize tasks;

• Experience with photography, videography, and script-writing highly desirable;

• Must be culturally and gender sensitive both in personal interactions and communication.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as, an overall ability to be clear and concise in all communications.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills; proven ability to prioritize and deliver on time.

• Strong analytic problem-solving skills

• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional global team structure.

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.

  Language Skills:

• Fluency in spoken and written English required.

  IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

  IRC strives to build a diverse and inclusive team at all levels who as individuals, and as a group, embody our culture statement creating a working environment characterized by critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity for us to achieve our aspirations as a team and deliver the best possible services to our clients.