Regional Communications Manager

Location

Starting Date & Initial Contract Details

November 2021. Full time, 24 months.

Role Overview

The Communications Manager is responsible for collecting and producing materials used to communicate Medair’s mission, life-saving work and unique selling points, and highlighting humanitarian needs in the countries of responsibility. Communication materials are vital for connecting our work with people who are needed to ‘give, go, and pray’ in support of people in humanitarian emergencies. The Communications Manager is a member of the global communications team and is involved in supporting the communications needs of the country programme as well as the Engagement team and Affiliate offices.

The Communications Manager, South Sudan has the responsibility to oversee communications for South Sudan, Somalia and Sudan, and is a member of the global Communications team. The Communications Manager position, South Sudan is line managed by the South Sudan Country Director, with technical line management by the Head of Branding and Communications (GSO), with accountability to the Country Director, Somalia and the Country Director, Sudan.

Our Culture

Key Activity Areas

Communications Strategy and Resources

• Identify where the country programme activities, staff and context enhance Medair’s reputation as a global humanitarian aid organisation focused on Emergency Response and develop communications materials in support of the CSP for South Sudan and in line with the global communications strategy.
• Participate in the global content and communications strategy planning including editorial meetings and annual workshop, and identify opportunities to leverage multi-media, video, and online content.
• Gather resources through field visits or by working with field staff and freelance photographers and provide high-quality resources to the global content libraries.
• Prepare communications guidelines, First Stop documents, gift handles, and any programme overviews required to support Engagement and Affiliate colleagues in preparation of external materials.
• Work with Content Support Team to produce donor-facing materials, social media content, corporate materials and facilitate timely reviews with programme leadership.
• Functional line management of field programme communications colleagues or focal points.

Media and Public Relations

• Identify opportunities for media coverage of Medair’s programme activities by monitoring global humanitarian media coverage, key developments related to the context, and programme milestones.
• Prepare press releases, editorials, pitch stories to journalists on behalf of Medair and the country programmes.
• Act as media spokesperson or identify and support programme colleagues in providing interviews to approved journalists; media activities subject to approval of country programme leadership and the Head of Branding and Communications. Respond to requests for media outputs from affiliate offices as approved by country programme leadership and Head of Branding and Communications.

Standard Materials Required

• Annual submission to Medair Annual Report. Contribution to Medair News – three issues per year.
• Quarterly update of First Stop programme overview, media kit, website country programme page.
• Quarterly update to programme gift handles or as programmes change. Monthly prayer reports South Sudan.
• Contribution to quarterly content themes, campaigns, social media channels, private funding initiatives.
• Monthly submission to website content (story, photo story, interactive content etc) for each country.
• Contribution to social media campaigns and ensure current social media content is available each week.
• Photographs, quotes from staff, people we serve, humanitarian partners after each field visit.

Institutional Donor Relations

• Contribute to proposals regarding communications and visibility plans that recognise institutional donors and leverage opportunities for cross-promotion or additional visibility funding. Provide visibility reports as required.
• Build relationships with communications representatives of institutional funders to provide materials and develop opportunities related to global recognition days or programme milestones.

Brand and co-branding Coordination

• Provide oversight of branded/co-branded materials with programme procurement colleagues.
• Advise programme colleagues on the importance of branding and co-branding; provide guidance on quality and presentation of materials; importance of branding clothing and vehicles.

Internal Communication

• Assist field leadership team in developing materials and methods for improving internal communication e.g. internal news and country programme updates, contributing to team meetings.

Financial Management

• Work with programme managers/project coordinators to manage communication budget lines and ensure accomplishment of communication and fundraising objectives (travel costs, translators, staff, visibility costs, etc.)

Global Content Team Responsibilities

• Participate in the global content and communications strategy planning including editorial meetings and annual workshop, and identify opportunities to leverage multi-media, video, and online content.
• Produce content and guide field communications team on gathering footage, producing materials.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• Graduate/postgraduate/ professional qualification. Training or experience in multi-media production and editing.
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written).

What is the ROC and why is it required?

Experience

• 2 years of professional experience in media, communications, marketing, or fundraising.
• Excellent and inspiring communicator, passionate about humanitarian storytelling. Keen to share information internally and provide training. Skilled photographer and videographer.
• Ability to relate well and to establish trust with people who would share their story or have their photo taken.
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to target different audiences and to tailor output accordingly.
• Ability to process technical information into layman’s language with engaging angles.