Ethiopia: Communication Officer (Re-Posted)

SCOPE OF WORK

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. The IRC has been working in Ethiopia for over 15 years implementing emergency and resilience programming in the areas of WASH, education, livelihoods, reproductive health, gender-based violence, and child and youth protection and development. In 2017, IRC provided services to approximately 405,200 refugees in 20 camps and more than one million vulnerable Ethiopians in seven regions.

Position Summary

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is seeking a Communications Officer (CO) to manage internal and external communications and visibility projects for the IRC Ethiopia country program. He or she will be responsible for designing and delivering a range of communications products, including country office fact sheets, VIP visit briefing materials, program success stories, photos and videos, interviews with beneficiaries, blog posts for the IRC’s website, interviewing and writing staff profiles, and maintaining a new website for the IRC’s three-year Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) project funded by USAID, among other tasks. He or she will be expected to develop and maintain a communications strategy for the country program, train staff on communications approaches, and be accountable for meeting IRC Ethiopia’s contractual donor visibility requirements. The Communications Officer will report to the Deputy Director of Programs and work closely with the RRM Program Director, other IRC Ethiopia staff members, and the IRC’s regional and HQ communications staff.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities

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

· Lead in designing and developing information and visibility materials, such as fact sheets, briefing papers, brochures, posters, as well as RRM website content;

· Develop and track implementation of donor visibility and branding plans for the RRM project and other IRC programs;

· Lead the development of a RRM project website with up-to-date information on humanitarian needs and project responses/interventions and data on outputs and outcomes;

· Help IRC country program staff to proactively prepare for communications needs in emergencies to contribute to overall better information flow and coordination of rapid response interventions;

· Be in regular contact with communication and advocacy staff based at headquarters and provide relevant information for IRC’s global communications products;

· Work with HQ teams on media campaigns to raise global awareness of humanitarian needs and RRM’s and IRC’s other program activities in Ethiopia;

· 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;

· Train and coach program staff on external communications and how to spot and share relevant information, data, and human interest stories from their work to convey the project’s success and impact on clients’ lives;

· Develop networks contacts among humanitarian organizations, coordination bodies, and donor organizations (and, as necessary, national and international media) for more effective information sharing and communication of the RRM consortium’s and IRC’s activities and interests;

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

Qualification and Requirements

· Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (journalism, humanitarian affairs, etc.) and at least three years of relevant work experience;

· Work experience 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;

· Fluency in spoken and written English required;

· 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.

How to Apply:

· Please send your CV, application letter and copies of credentials to the following address:

- IRC P.O.BOX: 107 Code 1110, Addis Ababa, or apply online on www.ethiojobs.net

· Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

· Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

· Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

· Name of the position you have applied for

· Date of application

· Summary of your qualifications and experience

· Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

· Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number

· Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

Are any of your relatives employed by International Rescue committee (IRC)? If answer is “yes”, give the following information:

YES NO

NAME

Relationship

Position

Office/field office

Recruiter of the position**: HR/Admin – Addis Ababa**

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.