Job Title: Humanitarian Media Officer
Location: South Sudan
Reports To: Humanitarian Project Director
Direct Reports: 0
Status: Full-time
Contract Period: October 01, 2024, to Aug 31, 2025.
About Internews
Internews Network is an international media development organization based in Arcata, CA, and
Washington, DC, whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and
information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard. Internews has been working in South Sudan since 2006, establishing community radio stations across the country and training South Sudanese journalists to operate them. We also implement other activities across the sector, including actively working to meet the critical information needs of South Sudanese communities.
Project Summary
Internews will be implementing the Voices on the Move Project in Jamjang, Maban and Renk project funded by the Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). The project is focused on establishing safe, accessible, and life-saving information services that mitigates protection and health risks and optimizes the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian response services for refugees, returnees, and host communities as well as strengthening the Community Engagement Network (CEN).
Position Summary
The Humanitarian Media Officer (HMO is a trainer, communicator, and skilled leader who is passionate
about strengthening the capacity of national partner the Community Engagement Network (CEN),
understanding community needs and preferences and integrating them into effective media programming. The HMO will play a critical role in building the capacity of CEN in its operations of Radio Salam and Jamjang FM. This will include ensuring both Station Managers and team leader in Renk are well-equipped in areas as wide ranging as project management, community engagement, and coordination and representation, and in also building up the operational and journalism skillsets of the staff of both stations. The HMT reports to the Humanitarian Project Director (HPD) and works closely with other Internews staff. The HMT will also lead report writing, in collaboration with the protection specialist, support the MEAL officer in carrying out surveys and compiling monthly and quarter reports, document and share lessons learned in all project locations. This position will rotate equally between Renk, Jamjang and Maban primarily, where the HMO is expected to provide training and advisory support to the stations for at least two months in each location. There will also be periodic travel to Juba.
Key Responsibilities
Training, Advising, and Capacity Building
- Plan and deliver vocational training and training of trainers in media and other relevant topics
to ensure CEN staff are well-trained in information gathering techniques, community engagement, feedback gathering, conducting listening groups, and producing media content to a high technical and editorial standard. - Lead building capacity of CEN’s community correspondents in core protection principles and
accountability to affected populations (AAP). This will include mentoring to effectively manage
listening groups, facilitate group discussions, recording community feedback for programmatic
development and stakeholder engagement. The HMO will lead training on formation, group
dynamics, leadership and AAP. - Advise and support CEN teams in Renk, Maban and Jamjang in daily operations as relates to
community engagement and project management, while ensuring that CEN is independently
managing both stations. - Train and mentor CEN staff as they lead and facilitate relationships with humanitarian partners
(UN and NGO), ensuring CEN remains at the forefront of these interactions. - Collaborate with technical experts in operations, sustainability and management to improve the
overall capacity and performance of CEN. - Training of Internews and CEN’s field staff on Internews methodologies and approaches in
communication and community engagement, accountability to affected populations, gender
mainstreaming and inclusion.
Project Implementation
- Support the HPD in critical areas of office operations and project oversight, including (but not
limited to) timely and effective delivery of project objectives, personnel management, subgrants
management and compliance with donor rules and regulations. - Play a critical role in sustaining positive donor relations, including as a representative on project
updates through quarterly calls with donor and further inquiries at PRM request, and in
supporting site visits with the donor as required. - Work with CEN teams in both locations to ensure on-time and accurate reporting of project
deliverables, and with the HPD and M&E and Reporting Officer to complete accurate and well written quarterly and annual reports for PRM. - Identify and address ways to strengthen the sustainability of CEN operations, in collaboration
with the HPD and Protection Specialist. - Inspire the station staff to achieve required targets, assessing progress toward project indicators
to make necessary programmatic and operational adjustments to improve progress toward
target achievement. - Responsible for working closely with the HPD to ensure team safety and security.
- Engage with direct reports to guide their programmatic deliverables and provide supervisory
oversight, performance feedback and related actions, and on administrative responsibilities such
as payroll/timesheets.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Education or training in communications, journalism, project management, social science, or
related field or equivalent standard of education - Experience in capacity building programs, media development, and/or digital development
programs - Experience in project management, risk communications and community engagement, and
accountability to affected populations - Familiarity with humanitarian and development contexts, including refugee protection and
assistance, UN cluster system, coordination and peacekeeping operations - Experience conducting information needs assessments, audience research, feedback
mechanisms, monitoring and evaluation, distributions in humanitarian settings, etc. - Sensitivity to cross-cultural dynamics in the workplace and experience supervising diverse staff.
- Experience living and working in Africa and/or conflict/post-conflict environments.
- Fluency in English required, knowledge of Arabic a plus.
- Excellent communication skills, written, verbal, interpersonal.
- Understanding of and demonstrated commitment to upholding Internews’ Core Values.
How to apply
1) Email your application to [email protected] .
2) Include an attachment of your resume / CV and cover letter with three professional references
3) Indicate on the email subject the position you are applying for “Humanitarian Media Officer”
Note:
- That, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interview.
- That, the closing date for receiving applications for this position is 25th September 2024 at 5:00 pm
Juba time - That, applications received later than this date will not be considered.
- That, due to the number of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be conducted.
- That, this position is open to South Sudanese nationals only.
- Please note that this position needs to be filled rapidly. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.