Senior Communications Officer

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 more than 25 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees delivers 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.

Marketing & Mobilization

Marketing & Mobilization (M&M) is a dynamic team that is tasked with building the IRC’s global profile and brand, increasing private revenue from deeper donor engagement and partnerships, and influencing our target audiences. The team is responsible for all of IRC’s brand, communications, creative and content and digital engagement efforts. In alignment with our Strategy100 commitments, M&M has launched compelling multi-year campaigns that raise funding, profile and influence and will improve our share of voice and resonance in key geographies and globally. Lastly, they consistently work on innovating the IRC brand, which enables us to increase awareness, understanding of and support for our work so that we can raise more money and change policies to improve our crisis-affected clients’ lives around the world.

Global Public Affairs & Communications

Global Public Affairs, a part of the Marketing & Mobilization (M&M) team, targets priority IRC markets and audiences to advance and protect our policy goals, brand and profile. It’s a key part of external messaging and product development, distribution and coordination for External Relations. The team uses proactive and reactive earned media (broadcast, digital & print) to support policy and income objectives, while also using frontline storytelling to advance our cause.

Job Overview: The Senior Communications Officer will raise the visibility of the International Rescue Committee’s thought leadership and solutions, with particular attention to the work of, and in partnership with, the IRC’s Technical Excellence, Research and Innovation teams, and the Airbel Impact Lab. The Senior Communications Officer will also work closely with other External Relations teams.

The Senior Officer must have a genuine interest and background in the humanitarian aid world and in public relations. They will lead several ongoing or expanding thematic campaigns – with a focus in particular on malnutrition, health and climate change – as well as providing insights and guidance on proactive communications projects focused on IRC’s technical excellence, research and innovation. They will help develop and execute communications strategies positioning the IRC as a thought leader of the humanitarian sector and a Solutions NGO.

Major Responsibilities:

• Convene, collaborate with, and lead a dynamic range of IRC teams across technical excellence, research and innovation portfolios as needed, to develop and implement communications strategies that drive awareness of the IRC’s impact, priorities for change and its role as the Solutions NGO.

• Work with internal stakeholders, including communications team-members across markets, advocates, fundraisers, and technical experts to facilitate and support dynamic communications tactics, including innovative media outreach, top tier op-eds, creative digital content and dynamic, audience-driven social media output.

• Deliver strategic proactive and reactive media relations, leveraging insights and expertise in both top-tier global and sector-specific media to increase the IRC’s media footprint – with a keen eye for advocacy priorities and humanitarian systems change priorities.

• Deploy excellent writing skills to deliver pitches that land IRC-led features, high-level IRC messages for cross-organizational use, top tier landing op-eds, and talking points.

• Respond to media queries—providing accurate information, arranging interviews, preparing staff as needed.

• Partner with in-house and external experts to produce Digital Content and Communications outputs that are integrated with strategic external relations objectives, aligned to clear distribution, and measurement, working closely with the Marketing Communications department.

• Contribute to quarterly reports on media coverage and content results using industry standard metrics and bench-marking, building strong lists on Meltwater/Cision/Muckrack on specific issues, expanding and nurturing IRC’s communications network.

• Strengthen and develop internal systems, processes, and talent to deliver communications objectives.

• Foster environment that exhibits the IRC Way and GEDI values.

Key Working Relationships:

**Position Reports to:**Director, Thought Leadership and Solutions Communications

Job Requirements:

• Education and work experience

o Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, international affairs or related field or equivalent 5- 6 years of professional experience in communications, media or advocacy preferably with a focus on international affairs or issues that cross with the humanitarian sector.

o In house/agency communications preferable

• Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• Minimum:

o The Communications Senior Officer demonstrates a flexible approach and ability to navigate ambiguity, as well as multiple projects and priorities at once

o Ability to work effectively, efficiently, diplomatically, and calmly in a fast-paced environment on issues that are often sophisticated and politically sensitive.

o Deep knowledge and experience of working successfully with media covering technical and humanitarian issues and proven track-record of results.

o Experience in producing and editing, under tight deadlines, accurate and dynamic communications materials including press-releases, op-eds and talking points.

o Record of creativity in developing compelling content, and dogged pursuit of targets in achievement of communications objectives across different channels (media, social, web etc.)

o Experience working with executive level leaders within a public profile organization with speed, fluency and accountability.

Working Environment: Standard office work environment. The IRC can accommodate for hybrid working and offer the possibility of working from home as agreed with their supervisor.

Compensation:

Posted pay ranges apply to US and UK-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

US Benefits:

The IRC offers a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. All US employees are eligible for sick time, a 403b retirement savings plans: up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus an 3-7% additional IRC contribution, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

In addition, full-time employees are eligible for 10 US paid holidays, 20-25 paid time off days, disability & life insurance, medical, dental, and vision insurance (employee contribution starting at $135, $7, and $5 per month respectively) and FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs. Part-time employees are eligible for a proportionate amount of paid time off. These additional benefits apply to employees who work at least 6 months within a 12 month time period.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.