Panama: Communications Officer (Zika Project)

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (“the Federation”) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network with 190 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

The Secretariat of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (“the IFRC”) works to a Business Model and has a Business Delivery Plan with key commitments that sharpen its focus, clarity, and efficiency and accountability results. The Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva, has five decentralized regional offices: one of which is the Americas, guided by the Secretariat strategies for implementation and areas of focus that builds on the vision of strategy 2020. The Americas’ region is organized in two main hemispheres: a group of service-based departments and geographical configurations of (i) Country Cluster Support Teams and (ii) Country Office(s), as well as the Deputy Regional Director, each of them led by the Regional Director; and another hemisphere: six building blocks composed by (i) Partnerships and Resource Development, (ii) Policy, Strategy and Knowledge; (iii) Communication, (iv) Disaster and Crisis: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, (v) Health and Water and Sanitation, (vi) Logistics, each of them led by the Deputy Regional Director.

The Americas Region Office is headquartered in Panama City, Panama and provides coverage through regional cluster groups to all National Society members in the Americas. The Communication officer reports directly to the Coordinator of the Regional Health and Care Department at the Regional Office in Panama. The position, will be responsible for the overall coordination of communication materials, training and activities of health programmes supported by IFRC, including those related with infection diseases and vector borne diseases, as the Zika outbreak.

The Zika Virus (ZIKV) outbreak in the Americas is unprecedented and alarming in terms of the number of cases and its potential association with a steep increase in the birth of babies with various congenital syndromes, including abnormally small heads (Microcephaly) and neurological issues in adults, such as the Guillain-Barre syndrome. The virus is carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and can also be transmitted through sexual relations.

Job Purpose

The scaling-up of local capacity to promote prevention will continue to be the key factor that can truly halt he further spread of the disease. The success will be highly reliant on the cooperation of communities, governments and health services, on the rapid containment of cases in new areas, and on the scale up of the response and support from multiple actors and from the international community.

This exactly is the strategic thrust of IFRC in countering the regional challenge of Zika Virus epidemic.
Communication is a key element in this response and is an important part of this additional regional support structure/approach and it is vital that there is strong capacity dedicated to this role.
It is important to continue giving visibility to vector borne diseases in public health agendas in the region, by ensuring a more structured and targeted approach to reach key decision-makers. There is also the need to strengthen communications and advocacy with external actors, including media, partner organizations and governments/authorities. Health and sustainable development are intrinsically connected and interdependent, and the achievement of the universal health outcomes will be possible only if we address the broader social and economic determinants of health at the same time we expand services for the most marginalized and unserved communities of this region.

The post holder will be responsible for the following duties:

• Support and coordinate the implementation of IFRC communication strategy and action plan in support to Zika CAZ Project and National Societies involved, with a view of proactively addressing key issues of the operation.
• Ensure the provision of quality material in a planned way, and coordinate on relevant communication activities as required in the communication strategy and action plan for Zika. That includes media products, advocacy pack, audiovisual materials (films, b-roll, photos…), web stories, case studies, short films for social media, keep the website update, etc.
• Facilitate and coordinate for communication capacity-building activities in support to the Nationals Societies.
• Initiate additional actions as well as support services and tools that enhance communication and advocacy achievements included in the Health Regional Strategy and Regional Operation Framework.
• Facilitate efficient and effective internal communications, information and knowledge-sharing processes.
• Prepare information and communication materials and disseminate to different audiences
• Contribute to highlights , monthly and annual reports and briefing papers for advocacy and partnership
• Report back on communication and advocacy activities on a regular basis.
• Carry out any other professional tasks connected to IFRC communications as directed by the health coordinator

Education

• Graduate in communications/journalism/public relations
• Training course: web edition, preferred
• Training course: audiovisual products, preferred

Experience

• 3 years’ experience in communications / advocacy, media relations
• 3 Experience of working with media, public relations and communications (including multimedia and social media tools)
• Professional experience in a National Society / Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, preferred

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent writing skills
• Self-supporting in computers (including web related softwares/hardwares)
• Outstanding media handling and live interview techniques
• Skills in staff training and development
• Highly motivated, self-starter able to lead a process, engage others and create ownership.
• Team player, self-motivated and proactive on own initiative to set and achieve goals
• Planning and Programme Management and Monitoring
• Ability to negotiate and establish partnerships and develop relationships with key media
• Ability to multi task, work under pressure and advanced analytical skills
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and networking skills

Competencies

VALUES: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication; Collaboration and Teamwork; Judgement and Decision Making; National Societies and Customer Relations; Creativity and Innovation; Building Trust
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FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES:** Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others

A letter of motivation must be submitted along with the application no later than January 26, 2018. In order to ensure a proper comparative evaluation of your application for this vacancy and to enable us to consider your profile against other similar current and future vacancies, we ask that you submit your application thru the following link http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-description/?id=5086 taking into account the following:

Important Note:
Please note that the selected candidate will be hired through a national contract under the Panamanian labour law; therefore only Panamanians as well as foreign applicants with valid and current residence and work permit in Panama will be considered for this vacancy;

• The incumbent is responsible to abide by Federation policies, procedures, plans and local labour laws;
• The closing date is midnight Panama time;
• Only those candidates shortlisted for interviews will be notified.