We are looking for a highly qualified regional communications officer (RCO) to provide support to DRC’s regional and country offices in in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and Libya on internal and external communication.
Who are we?
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an International non-governmental organisation, which promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people in over 30 countries around the world. DRC has been operating in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Libya/Tunisia, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and a Regional Office (RO) in Amman. DRC has 17 offices and about a thousand staff members across the MENA region.
Duties
The Regional Communications Officer (RCO) will support DRC’s visibility in the MENA region, and raise the general awareness of the humanitarian situation addressed by DRC. As such, the RCO will gather and consolidate input from the DRC COs to develop information materials for internal and external use, update online outlets and social media, pitch stories to journalists in coordination with DRC HQ, arrange public events, manage public relations and news inquiries on behalf of the Regional Director (RD).
The RCO will be responsible for providing support to the DRC RO and COs in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and Libya on internal and external communication. The RCO will primarily have regular contact with DRC staff in various COs to provide and/or collect regional/country programme information for dissemination internally and externally, and secondarily together with HQ provide guidance on media relations to the RO and COs.
The RCO will report to the RD and/or Deputy, and will functionally work closely together with the Communications Department at DRC HQ.
Specific duties and responsibilities
Internal coordination and support
- Coordinate and consolidate CO input to design, develop and create regional and country specific overviews of DRC’s work to be used by programme staff the senior management (HQ; RO and CO) for external purposes (donor meetings, events, news outlets etc.)
- Coordinate and consolidate CO input to design, develop and create regional and country lessons learned materials and/or publish “cases” via various media outlets, and support COs and RO when surveys and/or evaluations are announced.
- Together with HQ Communications Department assist the RD/RO in organizing press events, handling interviews requests, and providing responses to requests from media in regards to DRC work in the region.
- Monitor media coverage of DRC operations in the region and make recommendations for response when necessary.
- In line with DRC’s global advocacy strategy; provide appropriate support to the COs or RO (e.g. framing and communicating key issues) when launching regional advocacy efforts directed at the UN system, governments, donors and stakeholders.
External relations
- Together with DRC HQ Communications Department actively pursue media relations in the region ensuring that media are briefed regularly on issues of importance to DRC.
- Assist the Country Directors (CDs), programme staff and HQ in providing briefings to external persons requesting information on the DRC programmes.
- Undertake field trips to the various DRC COs with media representatives, and make sure that official visitors have access to information about DRC programmes and activities
Capacity Building and Mentoring
- Internal: Monitor and provide regular feedback and guidance on country specific communications to as needed.
- External: Ensure that partners use the proper DRC tools and develop appropriate visibility materials, in close coordination with in-country DRC programme staff.
Supporting Grant Management -Donor visibility.
- Support the RO and COs on issues related to donor visibility requirements – working closely with Grants Managers (GMs) to make sure that activities and program achievements are documented through photography, video, and written stories for use on the website, by external news outlets etc. in accordance with donor contracts.
- Supporting COs (especially GMs) on making sure that donor compliance with regards to visibility is adhered to.
About you
To be successful in this role you must have:
- A bachelor degree in social sciences, journalist, media relations, development, gender or related field. Master degree or equivalent desirable, but it is not a requirement.
- Fluency in English a must (advantageous if you also speak Arabic, but not mandatory)
- Up to 3 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications, specializing in implementation and assistance to planning and design of communications strategies
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail
- Experience with a communication on Human Rights Law and/or Refugee rights will be considered an asset.
- Knowledge of html, internet publishing tools, photo editing and multimedia
We offer
An interesting job in one of the best NGO’s in the world. DRC will offer the successful applicant a 12 months contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance. You must be available to start work as soon as possible and be willing and able to work in Amman, Jordan.
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies. This position will be placed at level A12-14 dependent on experience.
Need further information?
For more details on this position please contact Peter Klansøe at peter.klansoe@drc.dk
Please note that applications sent directly to Peter Klansøe will not be considered.
If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contactjob@drc.dk
Commitments
DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.drc.dk/HAF.4265.0.html).
About DRC
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than twenty five countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.
The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes. In addition, support and capacity building of local and national authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRC’s work.
The protection and assistance to conflict affected population is provided within a long-term, regional and rights-based approach in order to constitute a coherent and effective response to the challenges posed by today’s conflicts. Assistance consists of relief and other humanitarian aid, rehabilitation, support to return and repatriation as well as promotion of long-term solutions to displacement and its causes. In addition, support and capacity building of local and national authorities and NGOs form an integral part of DRC’s work.
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button or go to www.drc.dk and findCurrent Vacancies. All applicants should send a cover letter and an updated CV no longer than four pages, both in the same language as the vacancy note. Your CV should also include contact details of three professional referees.
Applications close 5 January 2015.
