Communications Officer

Communications Officer

Kabul, Afghanistan

Be a vital information link between beneficiaries and Medair's target audiences. Work to actively support communications and fundraising at HQ by providing and facilitating relevant and timely information for Medair’s communication and fundraising activities. Lead and advise the field teams in dealing with external communication (publications, media, etc.), monitor visibility in the field, and support the internal communications of the country programme.

Project Overview

Medair is working in the Central Highlands and southern regions of Afghanistan. The communities in this region are marginalised and very vulnerable to shocks such as drought, flooding and landslides. These erode their coping mechanisms and combined with chronic underdevelopment and poverty lead to food insecurity and extended food gaps. Medair is working with these communities to improve access to WASH services, improve food security, to reduce the risk of disasters via improved natural resource management and to provide assistance when disasters occur.

Workplace         

Kabul, Afghanistan

Starting Date

As soon as possible

Initial Contract Details

Full time, minimum 24 months

Key Activity Areas

Communications and Fundraising Resources

• In order to support Medair’s marketing and relationships strategy, plans and activities, travel frequently to field projects to pro-actively and re-actively gather and pitch resources and updates on programmes and projects.
• Identify and implement systems and channels to provide, as quickly as possible, large amounts of data (i.e. photos and video) to the HQ Marketing (HQ M&R) department from field locations that may be remote and lacking good internet connection.
• Provide regular visual resources from the field programme activities to keep the photo and video database in the HQ M&R department always supplied with up-to-date content.
• Prepare, facilitate and accompany field visits of photographers, journalists, or media crews accredited by HQ M&R department. If and when applicable, draft terms of reference and contracts according to standard guidelines.

Media and Public Relations

• Proactively liaise with local, regional, national and international media in the field. Work closely with the Media Officer to engage media in talking about Medair programmes and activities in the field.
• Act as media spokesperson for Medair’s interests in the field in close coordination with the Country Director and the HQ Media Officer. Be ready to quickly convey strong and accurate messages and information through print and digital media.

Digital Social Media

• Actively facilitate, produce, publish, and/or promote short content updates on Facebook and other social media such as Twitter, in coordination with the HQ Digital Communications staff.
• Train and encourage field staff on the appropriate use of online social media. Actively monitor communications initiated by field staff and if necessary propose corrective actions.

Institutional Donors Relations

• Review proposals and reports in collaboration with HQ M&R, to insure compliance on communication agreements and opportunities.
• Be in close contact with communication representatives of institutional funders to regularly provide stories, photos, and communication reports as required by them.

Branding and Co-branding Coordination

• Promote, review and audit, under the guidance of the Brand Manager, the design and application of Medair and, where applicable, institutional donor branding in all marking, visibility and field communication.

Internal Communication

• Assist field leadership team in developing tools and structures to pro-actively support the team in improving internal communication within the programme.

Financial Management

• Manage communication budget lines included in the financial budget to ensure accomplishment of the communication and fundraising objectives (travel costs, translators, staff, visibility items, communication costs, etc.)

Donor Relations Management

• Administer the drafting of some proposals related to the country programme for submission to private and occasionally institutional donors.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Communications / Fundraising / PR / Media or a related field
• Training or experience in multi-media production and editing desirable

Languages

• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written)
• Ability to speak, or willingness to learn, local language desirable

Experience / Competencies

• 2 years of professional experience in media / communications or private fundraising
• 2 years of experience working in a cross-cultural setting, preferable in a similar position desirable
• Highly organised with a creative flair and a good attention to detail
• Keen to share information internally and provide training; ability to work alone (in terms of own objectives) yet in collaboration with others who are working towards very different objectives
• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels
• Able to cope with basic living conditions in the field and during field trips
• Ability to relate well with many kinds of people, and to establish rapport and trust with people who may be nervous or suspicious to share their story or have their photo taken

Medair Standard Working Requirements for the Field

• Experienced professionals in a relevant field; Overseas intercultural experience
• Committed Christians; commitment to the Medair values
• Strong working knowledge of English, spoken and written
• Working knowledge of French, spoken and written, for French-speaking field programmes
• Single or married (with no children under 18). If married, your spouse must also apply.
• Successful completion of Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC)
• Reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, external contacts
• Able to live and work in a multicultural team under difficult conditions
• Strong character traits, including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, honesty, and physically fit

Benefits

• A salary based upon the grade of the position and the experience of the position-holder
• Comprehensive briefing at our Swiss headquarters, as well as an in-country briefing
• Security training for those going to particularly insecure environments
• Accommodation, food, and transportation in-country
• Return flights to and from the country programme (one return flight for every year of service)
• Rest and recuperation (R&R) leave (including travel, accommodation, and food allowance)
• Annual leave; Death and disability allowance
• Contribution matching programme for retirement savings (for experienced relief workers)
• Additional contract benefit allowance for those who commit to longer contracts
• Comprehensive medical and emergency rescue insurance, with up to 60 days post- assignment coverage, including debriefing

Working Conditions

• This is a field-based position, and working and living conditions may be very different to those previously experienced.

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