East Africa Communications Officer

Job Overview

As a key member of the IRC's Global Crisis and Response Communications Team (GCRC), the Communications Officer for East Africa will develop and implement communications strategies related to the IRC’s work in East Africa. In turn, they will help to position the IRC as a global thought and practice leader by contributing to wider IRC External Relations objectives. The Communications Officer will lead and collaborate on IRC communications efforts within a set portfolio and surge into crisis projects as needed, convening and leading multiple departments and collaborators to deliver breakthrough communications results. This position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, with frequent travel within East Africa.

The Communications Officer will act as a spokesperson as needed.

Major Responsibilities

• Convene, collaborate with, and lead a dynamic range of IRC teams across the East Africa Region in collaboration with the Associate Director for Global Communications, to develop and implement a communication strategy for East Africa that drives awareness of the crises in the region, especially related to the Sudan crisis at the moment, as well as IRC’s impact and advocacy, enhancing the IRC's reputation, supporting fundraising objectives, and influencing target policy makers.
• Work with (and persuade) internal collaborators, including communications team members, programming teams, advocates, fundraisers, and technical experts to facilitate and support dynamic communications tactics, including innovative media outreach, top tier opeds, creative proactive and reactive digital content and dynamic, engaging social media output.
• Work with country-based communications officers in East Africa to create an editorial calendar and update the East Africa social media page on a regular basis.
• Work with Country Directors and country-based communications staff to support on country-level communications strategies and activities that raise the profile of crises and IRC programming on a national level.
• Deliver strategic proactive and reactive media relations, using global insights and expertise in both international and humanitarian media to increase media share of voice and digital engagement.
• 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.
• Represent the IRC as a spokesperson to external and internal audiences, both via media interviews and contributing to digital content. Provide media training to field spokespeople as needed.
• Gather content in the region through multiple digital mediums -- photo, video, audio etc using industry standard practices and equipment.
• Contribute to quarterly reports on media coverage and content results using industry standard metrics and bench-marking.
• Strengthen and develop internal systems and processes to deliver on communications objectives.
• Coordinate and lead crisis and emergency communications, including high profile field visits and emergency content gathering.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to: Associate Director, Global Public Affairs and Communications
• Position directly supervises: 50% management in partnership of country based communications officers.
• Indirect Reporting: n/a
• Other Internal and/or external contacts:
• Internal: Work with global communications colleagues, program staff and media market leads

Job Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, international affairs or related field or equivalent experience
• Work Experience: 3-5 years of professional experience in communications, preferably with a focus on international affairs or issues that cross with the humanitarian sector.

Language(s)

• English is essential and Swahili or an East African language is strongly preferred

Minimum

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Demonstrated experience supporting communications efforts in relevant organizations and contexts.
• Flexible approach and ability to navigate ambiguity, as well as multiple projects and various priorities at once.
• Able to balance partnership with various departments and creative, breakthrough communications efforts.
• Able to work effectively, efficiently, diplomatically, and calmly in a fast paced environment on issues that are often complex and require politically nuance.
• 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.
• Record of creativity in developing compelling content, and creative pursuit of targets in achievement of communications objectives across different channels (media, social, web etc.)
• Experience using/updating social media pages for a business or organization
• Excellent capability and creativity using digital cameras and audio gathering tools and editing suites.

Other information: This is a 1-year position with potential for extension depending on budget requirements and restrictions.