PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of around 200 people working in North Kivu, South Kivu and Kinshasa, implementing emergency and longer-term development programs with funding from USAID/FFP, USAID/OFDA, DFID, UN agencies and private donors. Current Mercy Corps activities focus on the provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services in camps of internally displaced people, but also large-scale WASH infrastructure and service delivery development in urban centers. Mercy Corps also has Food Security, Economic Recovery/Development and Governance programs, with an increasing shift towards transitional and integrated development programming. The DRC team has a strong commitment to providing entrepreneurial and innovative solutions to development challenges. Mercy Corps is actively seeking to improve performance across and among its programs and teams and to enhance the mission's ability to learn through quality monitoring, evaluation, accountability and information management systems that will provide robust evidence to use in strategic decision-making and programmatic design and re-design.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Communications Officer (CO) will lead the implementation of Mercy Corps DRC's external communications strategy in coordination with the senior management. This position will also build the capacity of field offices across DRC to produce quality and timely communications resources (stories, photos, video and other), both proactively and on demand - resulting in the strong and sustained branding of their key activities, as well as the external communications of Mercy Corps DRC's key programming issues and concerns. The CO will work in close coordination with the Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (DMEL) Department to ensure program information is managed in a controlled and efficient manner, and that lessons learned in terms of process and impact, and best practices captured during monitoring and evaluation activities inform communication products.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
External Communication:
- Lead the design and roll-out of an external communication strategy for Mercy Corps in DRC at both mission- and program-level in close cooperation with the senior management.
- Support the development, positioning, presentation and content of articles, stories, photos, messaging, fact sheets and multimedia for key public.
- Ensure all documents published, and all communication disseminated follows* the donors branding and communications guidance.
- Support the senior management in preparing and facilitating donor, partner, government, and HQ visits of Mercy Corps DRC's programs.
- Support the Program Directors to respond to information requests from donors.
- Produce other external reports on an ad hoc basis as necessary and requested by the supervisor.
Internal Communication:
- Support in preparing communications documents, including news at both mission- and program-level letters, situational reports, operational updates for Mercy Corps DRC country office
- Contribute to Mercy Corps' weekly internal updates globally, as required.
- Assist in documenting internal meetings as requested by supervisor.
Capacity Building:
- Advise and collaborate closely with the program managers in building the capacity and performance of field teams in relevant areas of resource provision (stories, multimedia, and visual resources).
- Advise and collaborate closely with the program managers and senior management in building the capacity and performance of field teams in relevant areas of communications.
Other:
- Represent Mercy Corps in coordination meetings as assigned by the Director of Programs
- S/he undertakes any other duty as assigned by the Director of Programs
Accountability:
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Organizational Learning:
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Not applicable
ACCOUNTABILITY/REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director of Programs
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program Directors and Managers, DMEL Director, Director of Internal Control, HR Department, M&E staff, and project staff
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Master's degree in journalism, communications or international studies preferred.
- Minimum 2 years' experience in coordinating and producing written content for donor engagement, public advocacy, media and community relations purposes.
- Prior experience in staff development and training
- Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communications skills
- Strong organizational and time-management skills as well as self-initiative and discipline.
- Strong sensitivity to cultural, religious and gender issues.
- Advanced understanding of the internet and latest communication trends/technologies.
- Ability to work independently and as a virtual team member.
- A full commitment to Mercy Corps core values and mandate.
- News media experience preferred.
- Experience working with USAID and/or DFID an advantage
- Excellent writing and editing skills in
- Fluent written and oral communication in French is required.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
A successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to lead and communicate effectively with team members of varied work styles and cultures, follow procedures, and meet deadlines with flexibility and creativity in planning and problem solving. S/he will have a proven ability to learn quickly, multi-task, prioritize, take initiative, and be accountable for results, understand the larger picture while remaining focused on the details, work within a complex and sensitive setting and to follow laws and security protocols. As a key technical position, this person should be able to express and document his/her ideas clearly and convincingly. The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. In DRC, patience, diplomacy, tenacity, compassion, determination and a sense of humor are all success factors.
LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position is based in Goma, DRC with travel (estimated up to 40%) to other program sites and Kinshasa. This position is an unaccompanied post and will be housed within group housing. Living in Goma is comfortable, although water and electricity can be unstable. There is a reasonable selection of shops, markets, restaurants and activities. Health and some education services are available. Outside Goma, travel can be dangerous and unpredictable due to armed forces and rebel activity.
While conditions in the country are improving, and security is quite stable in Goma, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity. Mercy Corps' sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is available in all Mercy Corps offices. Travel to field sites will be required where living conditions are clean and secure, but basic. There are a number of health services available with evacuation options for serious illnesses. There's reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps' policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in- country venues.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=dGNoYWJvdW5pLjg1MjMzLjM4MzBAbWVyY3ljb3Jwcy...
