Panama: Regional Communications Manager, Americas Region

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Deputy Director, the Regional Communications Manager will develop and coordinate the execution of IFRC's communications strategy across the Americas Region, designed to position the IFRC as a key humanitarian leader and actor, profile the achievements of National Societies, help build communications capacity of IFRCs members, and highlight proposed solutions to humanitarian challenges.

The Regional Communications Manager pursues the goals outlined in Strategy 2030 in the interests of vulnerable people and communities. S/he also serves as a key member of the global communication team, and is the strategic communications advisor to and a spokesperson for the office of the Regional Director. The Communications Manager oversees a team of communication specialists working in Panama and other country or sub-regional offices and guides the communications approach across all the units of the Regional Office. The Communications Manager serves as a focal point for the National Societies of the Americas Region communication network.

IFRC’s Regional Communications Manager for the Americas has several main functions:

• Develop the communications capacities of the National Societies in the Americas including development of a National Society communications network.

• Working as part of global communications team to profile IFRC and National Society achievements and leadership in humanitarian operations, advocacy and organizational excellence globally, regionally and locally Supporting regional senior management on regional communications priorities and products

Job duties and responsibilities

Lead and produce global IFRC communications: • Produce and curate compelling, creative and sharable cross media content for IFRC communication channels and platforms and external media that profiles and positions the IFRC’s work in the Americas. • Expand IFRC’s digital footprint through a strategic and coordinated approach across corporate, leadership, private and National Society social media accounts and foster a ‘digital communications culture’ amongst National Societies in the region. • Act as IFRC’s regional media spokesperson and lead on media relations in the region, shaping the mainstream news and current affairs agenda through proactive and timely engagement with media outlets and journalists. • Build and sustain a network of key contacts from the international media, professional communications networks and other key influencers to ensure that the IFRC is recognised as a leading reference on humanitarian issues in the region. • Support regional and global advocacy and reputational risk management through coordinating media relations and engaging regional National Societies in planning and activities. • Coordinate leadership communications in support of missions undertaken by the IFRC Secretary-General and IFRC President to the Americas region.

Lead and support global emergency communications system: • Coordinate recruitment for regional emergency communications deployments. • Develop and implement editorial strategy for emergency communications assignments.

Lead and support regional/global communications capacity strengthening strategy: • Develop and maintain a network of National Society communications staff to create a community of practice, and encourage the transfer of knowledge, skills, expertise and resources. Shape and contribute to global IFRC communications priorities through active participation in the global communications team, content creation for global channels and sustained and coordinated engagement on shared priorities. Development of National Societies capacities in communications • Identify opportunities for national society to enhance their communications capacity through trainings, workshops and other regional/global events. • Work with the DCPRR and other service units, to mobilize national society resources to support the IFRC communications needs in the Americas.

Support to Americas Regional Office priorities. • Work with all American country, cluster and units in the Americas to identify and develop an expanding network of communications practitioners in national societies, through the use of internships, shared missions, and regional interchange. • Work with the Partnerships and Resource Development unit to identify and execute marketing plans to support Americas Regional Office fundraising. • Support new and ongoing operations with communications materials as needed, strategies and resources through the regional communication network. • Maintain communications materials for IFRC Americas Regional Office up to date and available at all times to support the actions of partnership development, donor meetings and visitors.

Education

•University Degree in journalism, communications or international relations. Or equivalent work experience. Required •Red Cross, humanitarian, development and management training or equivalent experience.

Experience

•Experience of working in complex disasters and in regions, including a track record of coordinating, inspiring and leading. •Minimum of ten years as a communications specialist with at least three years in an international humanitarian context, public health, international development or related field. •Five years of management and policy experience in communications, advocacy and/or media relations.

Knowledge, skills and languages

•Strong knowledge of current affairs as they relate to humanitarian developments and opportunities for humanitarian diplomacy in Europe and Central Asia. •Strong professional and management skills and ability to both be proactive and ready to respond rapidly to changing needs from senior management. •Ability to lead and manage in a diverse cultural and social context. •Analytical and strategic thinking. •Strong relationship management skills including ability to rapidly build and extend professional networks. •Excellent writing and public presentation / media relations skills. •Experience as a spokesperson. •Proven track record of management of specialized communications teams. •Presentations, public speaking and speech writing. •English editing skills. •Fluent spoken and written English •Fluent spoken and written Spanish •Good command of another IFRC official language (i.e. French), or use of a language relevant in the region (i.e., Portuguese) Preferred

Competencies and values

VALUES: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability

CORE COMPETENCIES: Communication, Collaboration and Teamwork, Judgement and Decision Making, National Society and Customer Relations, Creativity and Innovation, Building Trust

MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES: Managing Staff Performance, Managing Staff Development

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES: Strategic Orientation; Building Alliances; Leadership; Empowering Others.

Important note: Applicants will need to send their applications together with a letter of motivation, no later than the closing date. For us to assure a proper comparative evaluation of candidates for this vacancy and to enable us to consider your profile against other similar current and future vacancies, we ask that candidates submit their application considering the following:

• Please note that the selected candidate will be hired through an international contract;
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by Federation policies, procedures, plans and applicable international labor law;
• Only those candidates shortlisted for interviews will be notified.
• The position will be based in Panama, Republic of Panama - the regional office.
• The closing date is midnight Geneva time.

Please apply online in the following link:https://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-description/?nPostingId=427...