Research Communications Officer

BACKGROUND

Over the past 90 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC UK
IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in England, a programme that is rapidly growing.

In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm.

The Purpose of the Role

The Communications Assistant will support the Global Crisis and Response Communications (GCRC) team to raise the profile, income and influence of the IRC and our response to humanitarian crises within our global target markets as well as within the regions we work. S/he will work on key external relations products and support the team to achieve its media, messaging and storytelling objectives. The Communications Assistant will provide administrative and communications support to the wider public affairs team, stay abreast of the media landscape in IRC’s regions and support the team to respond to news cycle moments and land coverage in IRC’s global and regional target markets

Key Working Relationships

●      Position Reports to: Director, Global Public Affairs and Communications

●      Position directly supervises: N/A

●      Other Internal and/or external contacts: Works closely with other CMMO teams and across the organization

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

●      Stay abreast of the media landscape in IRC’s programmatic regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Middle East.

●      Regularly update media lists with key reporter contacts.

●      Draft press releases, feature pitches, talkings points, web articles, and social media content as needed.

●      Gather and package information about IRC programs including major reports, assessments, success stories, case studies, factsheets, and other resources, and work with internal stakeholders to use this information to promote IRC’s work to external target audiences.

●      Maintain and track metrics and KPIs for the public affairs team, developing quarterly reports to be shared with leadership.

●      Maintain a calendar of upcoming key external moments.

●      Support the development of TORs for content trips and help to package and share stories to be used across digital and fundraising channels.

●      Support the daily work flow of the public affairs team including scheduling, handling appointments, and streamlining emails.

●      Manage the global communications working group, scheduling trainings, setting and sharing agendas and inviting guest speakers.

●      Maintain and schedule and track updates for all communications messaging documents, ensuring regular updates, fact checking and organizing for easy access to the wider organization.

●      Conceptualize and coordinate travel and workshops as needed, including travel briefs, program meetings, flight, accommodation, visa application, ground transportation and general logistics.

●      Handle and review vendor contract payments and other finance transactions for approval.

●      Maintain ongoing knowledge of and track key department strategies and initiatives.

●      Develop and update onboarding materials for new staff and strategy documents and help support team with recruitment logistics.

●      Support on HQ special projects as agreed

This role calls for an extremely organized, savvy communications professional who has experience operating in fluid and complex situations. You should have a solid understanding of the humanitarian sector and a gift for identifying compelling media angles and creative ways for telling stories in difficult circumstances.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Skills and Knowledge

●      Superb interviewing, writing and storytelling skills.

●      Experience working with international media outlets

●      Ability to juggle multiple priorities and produce high-quality outcomes on a short deadline

●      Must be willing and able to travel, occasionally at short notice and sometimes under strenuous conditions

●      Proficiency in English required

Experience:

·        Demonstrable professional experience supporting a communications team

·        Experience working in communications in the non profit sector

Working Environment: Fact-paced and fluid work environment. Must be willing to travel domestically or internationally up to 30%

The application deadline for this role is 26th of February 2024.

IRC UK strives to be an equal opportunities employer. IRC-UK is committed to equality of opportunity and to non-discrimination for all job applicants and employees, and we seek to ensure diversity in  our  workforce  regardless  of  gender,  race,  religious  beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC UK welcomes applications from all candidates, including underrepresented groups and refugees who have the right to work in the UK. 

IRC UK will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application and/or interview process, and for essential job functions if appointed to a role. Please contact us if you may need such adjustments.