Job Purpose
The Senior Communication Officer will act as a focal point to support the Emergency Appeal, any projects around the earthquake operation, the ESSN as well as other strategic communication needs in Türkiye. He/she will be in charge of developing regular and quality communication materials to position the National Society as a key responder on international media and amongst different stakeholders, and to work to support the capacity of communications for the National Societies.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
In line with IFRC’s Standard Operating Procedures for emergency communications (annex 1), and in close cooperation with regional communications managers and IFRC’s communications department in Geneva, the Senior Communications Officer is responsible for supporting the National Society and IFRC communications through:
1. Executing IFRC’s communications strategy for Earthquake Operations including:
- Liaising with IFRC in Europe Regional Office and Geneva HQ for information sharing;
- Updating external facing key messages and reactive lines for use by IFRC staff and the National Societies and the wider movement communications network; and
- Supporting revisions of appeal and other major operations milestones with diverse people-centred content and information
2. Strengthening National Societies’ communications capacity through strategic communications advice and providing opportunities for learning, coaching, skills transfer, mentoring and facilitation of peer-to-peer exchanges.
3. Supporting the coordinationwith the IFRC networkmembership on communication strategies related to the earthquake response and recovery.
4. Ensuring visibility in local andinternational media through pitching story ideas about National Society and IFRCoperations to media, ensuring the availability of well-briefed spokespeople for media, and supporting officials (National Societies and IFRC) in their media engagements.
5. Ensuring strong social media engagement through proposing and producing content for IFRC and Turkish Red Crescent channels such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and tracking and responding to audience engagement with social media.
6. Supporting high level visits and events that help position IFRC andTurkish Red Crescent in media/social media coverage
7. Sharing any communications material created with the IFRC communications team for wider distribution via the Newswire and use among the Red Cross Red Crescent communications network
8. Supporting themanagement of reputational issues through monitoring, advising on and responding to local developments and issues with reputational consequences
9. Supporting the national society with additional communications needs as required by the Turkish Red Crescent communications experts.
10. Supporting any other needs in the IFRC Türkiye communications department.
Education
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in one of the following communications/journalism/public relations/community engagement or similar
Preferred:
- Master’s degree in communications/journalism/public relations/community engagement or similar
Experience
Required:
- At least 5 years of experience working as journalist/press officer and/or communications
- Experience in managing communications issues in complex and delicate situations
- Experience in working with the media
- Experience in managing social media tools and multimedia storytelling
- Red Cross and Red Crescent experience
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
Required:
- Knowledge of humanitarian affairs and Red Cross Red Crescent principles
- English writing skills including proven experience in drafting people-centered communications content for a variety of communications channels
- Demonstrated understanding and use of social media for communications and advocacy purposes
- Self-supporting in IT (including web and social media tools)
- Basic graphic design and A/V skills
- Fluently spoken and written English
- Fluently spoken and written Turkish
Preferred:
- Fluently spoken Arabic
Competencies, Values and Comments
Values: Respect for diversity; integrity; professionalism; accountability.
Core Competencies: Communication; collaboration and teamwork; judgement and decision Making; creativity and innovation; building trust.
Functional Competencies: Strategic orientation; building alliances; leadership; empowering others.
How to apply
Please click here to apply.