Country: Panama
Closing date: 03 May 2016
Organizational context (where the job is located in the Organization)
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 current 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 abnormally small heads (Microcephaly) and Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Without vaccines, the most important response effort currently should be focused on controlling the spread of the virus by eliminating mosquito populations. In Brazil and Colombia, government health officials have been going door to door to spray for mosquito breeding grounds and have launched public education campaigns to urge people to wear repellent clothing or use sprays.
The scaling-up of local capacity to promote prevention, especially through mosquito control, will be the key factor that can truly halt the further spread of the disease. The success will be highly reliant on the cooperation of communities, governments and health services, on the rapid roll out of vector-control measures and promotion of protective behaviours, 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 work at a local community level to spread key messages and promote preventive actions and there is a need to move towards a more structured and targeted approach to reach key community change agents and influencers, there is also the need to strengthen communications with external actors, including media, partner organizations and governments/authorities.
Job purpose
The Communication Senior Officer will report to the Regional Communication Manager, and will be responsible for the regional coordination of all communication activities. S/he will be acting (under the supervision of the Regional Communication Manager) as the focal point on communication issues around Zika with affected National Societies and the IFRC global technical departments. S/he will ensure that quality and timely material is produced and shared regionally and internationally.
Job duties and responsibilities
Working hand in hand with the Regional Communication Manager, and in close coordination with the IFRC operations and country team and PNS’, the Senior Communication Officer w**ill:**
Coordination of the content development:
- Human interest stories
- Profile the work of National Societies, key facts and figures, web-stories, press releases, amongst others.
- Ensure constant liaison with affected National Societies and disaster management colleagues to sustain the flow of technical information
- Liaise with the regional communication coordinator and with affected National Societies
- Coordination of all media requests
- Support the fundraising activities of the emergency appeal
- Travel to the affected areas to collect information from National Societies to guarantee content in IFRC communication channels
- Write a case study on the contribution of communications in the operation.
Education
A university degree in a relevant area such as communication, behavior change communication, productions, journalism
Basic Training Course/IMPACT (International Mobilization and Preparation for Action) or equivalent, preferred
Experience
5 years’ experience in communication, risk communication, social mobilization, content production, community media, with at least 3 years in developing countries (emergency experience an asset)
Video production (filming / editing)
Photography
Social Media Content
Research and report writing
Solid experience developing communication material
Red Cross Red Crescent experience, preferred
Field experience (in Zika, an asset), preferred
Knowledge and Skills
Knowledge of content producer (any platform)
Knowledge of video and photo editing software
Good understanding of challenges affecting Zika in particular
Good understanding of food security, health and malnutrition, disaster management and climate change issues
Sensitivity to challenging political contexts and understanding of risk management processes
Advanced analytical skills and able to capture learning and use it to make improvements in programming
Ability to multi task and work under pressure Excellent verbal and written skills
Ability to negotiate with internal and external partners and develop relationships with key stakeholders
Team player, self-motivated and proactive on own initiative to set and achieve goals
Drive for change and improvements and ability to deliver strategies in a challenging environment
Highly motivated, self-starter able to lead a process, engage others and create ownership.
Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing)
Knowledge about communication interventions under emergency situations, in complex and delicate situations, an asset, preferred
Languages
Fluently spoken and written English
Fluently spoken and written Spanish
Competencies (to be filled in by HR)
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.
How to apply:
Apply to: http://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-description/?id=2883
Applicants will need to send their applications together with a letter of motivation no later than the closing date. In order for us to assure 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 taking into account the following:
Important Note:
• Please note that the selected candidate will be hired through a national contract under Panamanian labour law;
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by Federation policies, procedures, plans and local labour laws;
• The closing date is midnight Geneva time.
• Only those candidates shortlisted for interviews will be notified.
The position will be based in Panama thus Panamanian as well as foreign applicants with valid and current residence and work permits in Panama are encouraged to apply.