International Rescue Committee
Senior Communications Officer
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The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
Programme Scope
IRC is seeking a Senior Communications Officer to lead the communications function of the What Works to Prevent Violence - Impact at Scale Programme (What Works II) - a global flagship seven-year Programme funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to improve prevention and response to violence against women and girls. The What Works II Programme is located within the Violence Prevention and Response Unit (VPRU) at the International Rescue Committee. The consortium delivering the What Works II Programme includes five partners: IRC, Raising Voices, CARE International UK, SD Direct and SAMYA/ Breakthrough. The Programme builds on the success of its predecessor (What Works I) to produce evidence of what works to prevent violence and communicate it to decision-makers and a range of different audiences to influence a more effective, scaled-up global response to end VAWG.
Job Summary
The Senior Communications Officer will lead and deliver the programme’s communications function, shape its narrative, and strengthen high-impact communications in support of this global flagship initiative. Working closely with the External Engagement and Influencing (EEI) pillar, the role will build the programme’s external and internal communications capacity and support advocacy and influencing efforts that engage key stakeholders and build shared agendas across the wider VAWG prevention field. The role will be responsible for translating research findings and programme evidence into clear, audience-specific messages and formats (such as policy briefs, reports, presentations, and media content) and strategically disseminating to policy makers, implementers, funders, and other stakeholders in order to influence policy, inform practice, secure funding, and build broader awareness and support for GBV prevention efforts. The role will supervise a social media and Digital Officer.
Responsibilities
Communication for advocacy and influencing
- Serve as the key communications link between the implementation and research consortia, coordinating on products and publications, and delivering the programme’s evidence dissemination strategy.
- Lead the synthesis and translation of evidence from the grants and studies into easily accessible, engaging, and user-friendly formats for the consortium, VAWG prevention stakeholders, related sectors (e.g. education, climate, humanitarian response), donors, media, and the public.
- Coordinate with the EEI team, grant managers, and technical advisors to respond to information requests, gather material, and identify trends and highlights for donor visibility products and reporting.
- Support the planning, delivery, and visibility of What Works II events and conferences (virtual and in person), including briefing packages and visibility materials for high-level visits and donor engagements.
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Narrative development & strategic messaging
- Develop communication frameworks and forge strategic partnerships around the release of major communication products, events, commemorations, and milestones.
- Translate complex technical documents into clear and compelling narratives for external stakeholders.
- Support policy-related communications as needed.
- Support programme leadership in developing speaking notes, keynote presentations, thought leadership content, opinion pieces, and strategic messaging.
Issues management & crisis communications
- Lead crisis preparedness and response planning, including the development of crisis communication frameworks, playbooks, and escalation protocols.
- Provide strategic guidance during sensitive or high-profile situations involving media, regulatory, operational, or reputational risks.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to develop messaging and stakeholder communications during critical events.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen programme positioning and proactively work with programme leadership to manage reputational risks.
Producing and managing multimedia and communications content
- Produce multimedia and communications content tailored to political, academic, and activist audiences.
- Lead internal communications priorities, including producing and disseminating the quarterly newsletter.
- Source photography, case studies, and field evidence; identify photography opportunities; support the hiring of freelance photographers and videographers, ensuring adherence to informed-consent principles; manage content-collection shoots as needed.
- Produce or project-manage graphic design and formatting support for donor and public-facing materials (reports, briefs, templates).
- Ensure that all materials adhere to the What Works II Programmes branding requirements and applicable donor requirements.
- Compile digital media metrics and communications achievements for quarterly donor reporting.
Line Management
- Supervise the Social Media and Digital Officer, with oversight of:
- Social media management (X/Twitter, Bluesky, LinkedIn, Facebook).
- What Works II website management.
Requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, English, public relations or another related field from an accredited university.
- Experience in, or familiarity with development and/or humanitarian programming and operating in an emergency context.
- Willingness and ability to travel to visit field-sites and document findings.
- Knowledge of/experience with graphic design and social media photography, and videography.
- Fluent written and spoken English required. Knowledge of French or Arabic an added advantage.
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Experience:
- A minimum of 6-8 years of professional experience in a similar role.
- Experience in a communications role and demonstrate experience of developing public/ audience facing documents/ content.
- Experience of using social media for communications and advocacy
- Excellent IT skills, including Advanced Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint. Including experience with communication related AI packages.
- Experience working with quantitative and digital metrics data (desirable)
- Experience of using digital analytics tools and good analytical skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Proven ability to manage a heavy and fluctuating workload
- Proven ability to manage conflicting demands of a large cross-organizational team
- Proven ability to prioritize own workload
- Proven experience in organization of events/workshops
- Results orientated
- Knowledge or experience working in donor funded programmes
Working Environment
- Standard office work environment on a hybrid basis, with periodic travel to the field to visit programme activities or events.
This is a hybrid position open to internal candidates based in countries where IRC operates who have the right to work in their location. Successful candidates will be hired on a local employment contract and according to local salary scale.
This role is open to candidates located and with the right to work in United Kingdom and Kenya.
Compensation:
- (Pay Rate: £52,210-£61,999/yr). Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.
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