IRC: Social Media Governance Consultant – New York

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world”s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world”s largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you”re a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Social Media Governance Consultant

International Rescue Committee

1. BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world”s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees and displaced people forced to flee from war or disaster. At work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster.

As our global presence and digital engagement continue to expand, the IRC seeks to develop new comprehensive social media governance frameworks to ensure consistent, effective, and responsible use of social media platforms across all levels of the organization. This initiative will strengthen our digital communications capacity and ability to advocate for our clients, raise revenue and profile, while maintaining brand integrity and operational coherence across local, country, and regional offices.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The IRC seeks an experienced consultant to develop a comprehensive social media governance framework that will guide the establishment, management, and oversight of branded social media accounts across our global operations. This framework will ensure strategic alignment, brand consistency and risk mitigation while respecting the unique contexts and needs of our diverse operational environments. It will include the criteria for opening new accounts as well as a process for reviewing and reevaluating existing accounts.

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will be responsible for:

3.1 Assessment and Analysis

• Review existing social media presence, current practices, approval process, guidelines, and challenges in social media management.
• Conduct an audit of existing accounts.
• Identify gaps, risks, and opportunities in current social media usage

3.2 Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage with Public Affairs/Digital Engagement and Creative & Content leadership to understand strategic priorities, as well concerns over reputation and brand management.
• Facilitate consultations with Regional and Country Communications and Advocacy, Awards Management Unit, Partnership Communications, and Fundraising teams

3.3 Framework Development

• Create, in partnership with the Digital Engagement Director, Director of Public Affairs and Director of Brand Engagement, a comprehensive social media governance policy including:
• Overarching purpose of social media accounts at the IRC
• Account creation approval processes and criteria
• Governance structure to ensure reputation management, brand guidelines and visual identity standards
• Content approval workflows and escalation procedures
• Crisis communication protocols for social media
• Governance roles and responsibilities
• Required minimum performance and review framework
• Account closure and transition procedures

3.4 Guidelines and Standards

• Define, covering:
• Brand and messaging guardrails
• Platform-specific strategies and best practices
• Content planning and editorial calendar management
• Community management standards and response protocols
• Performance metrics and reporting requirements
• Accessibility and inclusion standard
• Review cadence and criteria for account closure

3.5 Roles and Responsibilities Framework

• Define clear roles and responsibilities for:
• Account ownership and administrative access
• Brand/messaging adherence
• Content creation and approval authorities
• Monitoring and response duties
• Training and capacity building responsibilities
• Periodic reviews and decision-making

3.6 Implementation Support

• Create implementation roadmap with prioritized phases
• Develop training materials and resources for staff
• Design monitoring and evaluation framework for governance effectiveness
• Provide recommendations for necessary tools and resources

6. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential Requirements:

• Minimum 7 years of experience in digital communications and social media strategy
• Demonstrated experience developing social media governance for large, complex international organizations
• Proven track record working with non-profits, NGOs, or humanitarian organizations
• Experience managing multi-stakeholder consultation processes
• Strong understanding of social media platforms, trends, and best practices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with humanitarian or development sector communications
• Knowledge of data protection, privacy laws, and digital security considerations
• Experience working in multicultural, multilingual environments
• Understanding of crisis communication and reputation management
• Familiarity with social media management and monitoring tools
• Additional language skills relevant to IRC operational contexts

7. REPORTING AND COORDINATION

The consultant will report directly to the Director of Digital Engagement and work closely with:

• Public Affairs team
• Digital Engagement team
• Fundraising
• Regional and Country Office representatives

10. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Interested consultants should submit:

Cover letter outlining relevant experience and approach to the assignment Current CV/resume Daily/weekly rate and confirmation of availability

The International Rescue Committee is committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from qualified consultants regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.

Application Deadline: [Insert Date] Expected Start Date: [Insert Date] Contact: [Insert Contact Information]

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.