Advocacy and Communications Manager At World Vision

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World Vision International

Join and be part of a global relief, development and advocacy NGO, dedicated to work with children, families & communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision International was established in 1950 & operates in nearly 100 countries worldwide.

World Vision is committed to the protection of children and we do not employ people whose background is not suitable for working with children. All employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of all applicable background checks, including criminal record checks where possible.

Job purpose:

This position will lead on advocacy and communications for WV’s Syria Response, including advocacy and communications strategy design and implementation. The manager will consider key influencers, field level realities and WV’s strengths to determine advocacy objectives for and with children in camps and host communities and leverage WV’s presence, evidence, brand and opportunities. To accomplish this purpose, the manager will develop policy analysis, positions, messaging and reports on an ongoing basis and advocate externally. This position will also manage internal and external communications for World Vision’s Syria Response, overseeing strategic direction and management to provide support and resources to enable the organization to appropriately engage with its various audiences in order to raise awareness on WV’s programme and advocacy priorities and help generate funds and raise the profile of the organization as a leading responder to the wider Syria crisis . The position oversees a team of 3-4 staff located in Syria and Amman.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership in Communications & Advocacy

  • Lead the development, implementation, and periodic review of the World Vision Syria Response Communications and Advocacy Strategy and annual workplan, ensuring alignment with the overall Syria Response country strategy, global World Vision priorities, humanitarian context, and programme objectives.
  • Provide strategic direction and oversight for external engagement, influencing, advocacy, media, public communications, digital communications, and visibility initiatives across the Syria Response.
  • Develop and lead an annual integrated communications and advocacy plan, including targeted digital and social media engagement, key messaging, audience mapping, advocacy priorities, campaign moments, and external positioning opportunities.
  • Lead the adaptation and implementation of World Vision International global campaigns, including ENOUGH, and oversee the development of major advocacy products, communications materials, publications, reports, policy briefs, and campaign assets.
  • Collaborate with Resource Development and Donor Engagement teams to integrate advocacy and communications priorities into funding proposals, ensuring proposed activities are strategically relevant, programme-based, realistic, measurable, and aligned with donor requirements.
  • Promote a strong organizational understanding of communications and advocacy, ensuring staff across functions understand their role in communicating impact, identifying advocacy issues, protecting World Vision’s reputation, and supporting external engagement priorities.
  • Represent and engage the Syria Response communications and advocacy function in the regional, global Partnership, emergency response, and coordination structures, including proactive and reactive communications mechanisms such as ARG, IMT, and other established mechanisms.
  • Work closely with Risk & Compliance, Operations, Security, Programmes, and Senior Leadership to identify, assess, and manage reputational, contextual, operational, and communications risks, including the development of appropriate messaging and mitigation measures.

Advocacy and influence

  • Manage and monitor the implementation of the Syria Response advocacy strategy which bridges issues of field programmes, humanitarian protection, coordination, funding and access with issues connected to WV’s sector-based programming.
  • Work with Syria Response and WV sector leads to develop relevant policy and positioning messaging on sector-specific issues that are critical to WV’s programming response.
  • Actively participate in meetings and humanitarian advocacy initiatives of the Syria INGO Response Forum, Jordan INGO Forum, Initiative and Regional Durable Solutions Working Group, leading activities where appropriate to WV strategy and expertise.
  • Provide strategic guidance / support and assist with preparing senior leaders (Response Director, Response Managers, visiting CEOs/Regional Leads) for high-level external engagement and representation meetings.
  • Build the capacity and support advocacy initiatives of local partners.
  • Facilitate opportunities for Syrian children and youth and Syrian humanitarians to be represented or have their voices heard in relevant local, regional and global meetings and events.

Communications

  • Manage the planning and production of on-brand, compelling evidence-based and issues-oriented fundraising, advocacy and publicity materials (web-based, digital, print and video) for effective donor and public engagement – both in-country and internationally, and in collaboration with other World Vision Offices, as appropriate.
  • Oversee the consistent and timely offering and development of social media content, maximising engagement within an agreed risk appetite; overview Content Flow/Story Hub requests.
  • Managing the quality of content, commensurate with the audience requirements, and appropriate for informing, educating and engaging donors and publics via partnership websites, magazines, adverts, donor appeals, media releases and other communications channels and outlets.
  • Support Partnership resource gathering visits and media visits.
  • Coordinate public events to best share WV’s messages and branding.
  • Establish good practice for the emergency communications readiness, in response to both slow- and rapid-onset emergencies and ensuring that the WV Partnership is quickly provided with quality stories, photos and media interviews from the field response.
  • Ensure that the communications team is equipped for rapid deployments to, and communications from, the field.
  • Act as a spokesperson; ensure Syria Response designated spokespeople and technical experts are identified, trained and offered to media for proactive, positive public engagement.
  • Ensure World Vision staff are aware of, and adhere to, media relations protocols.
  • Support the monitoring of national media and establish the overall capacity of NO to initiate and respond to media contacts with required speed and skill.
  • Effectively utilise Meltwater/Cision analytics.
  • Serve as media advisor to relevant staff members.
  • Develop and maintain professional contacts with key international media in the Middle East, in collaboration with the relevant Support Offices, pitching on a quarterly basis new story angles.
  • Sign off key communications products to ensure quality control and risk management and ensure they are uploaded to Story Hub in the correct format and in a timely manner.
  • Manage reputation and risk issues.
  • Manage internal communications; establish systems and safeguards for the appropriate and effective flow of relevant information to and from WV staff when required.
  • Support Syria Response leadership in communicating areas of their work that create unified identity across the programme, contribute to a shared understanding of strategy and goals, and facilitate change management.
  • Ensure information about all aspects the NO ministry and operations are accessible to the WV Partnership.
  • Ensure the external communication resources use correct WV identity and branding.
  • Provide communications trainings for partners according to the needs.

Team Management

  • Led and supervised a high-performing team, overseeing all direct reports and professional development.
  • Spearheaded technical capacity-building initiatives for communications and program staff to enhance organizational expertise.
  • Cultivated a culture of excellence through active coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
  • Prioritized team well-being and psychological safety, ensuring a supportive and sustainable work environment.

Knowledge/Qualifications for the Role.

Required Professional Experience

  • Minimum of 4-5 years of experience in NGO Communications, Advocacy and Partnering and with a thorough understanding of all areas of project management cycles in a complex, international organization
  • Experience in managing a department and a team
  • Proven ability to engage at a strategic level with senior government, UN, INGO and NGO officials
  • Strong networking and negotiations skills
  • Demonstrated ability in financial management and budget management skills

Preferred Knowledge/Degree and Skills:

  • Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Communications, Journalism or a related field applicable to developing country context
  • Demonstrated contribution to the development of country-level strategy, directions and key priorities of an organization’s operations
  • Proven experience in advocacy initiatives and networks to take positions on specific policy issues
  • Proven ability to lead a campaign and successfully achieve organisational objectives
  • Substantial knowledge of country legislative framework at all levels
  • Ability to form and maintain solid relationships with wide range of different stakeholders, partners, co-workers.
  • Evidence of high level written and spoken English language abilities
  • Computer literate in Microsoft Office applications, Lotus Notes or similar database, email and internet programs.

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

  • Good interpersonal, organizational and time management skills. Able to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
  • Ability to maintain performance expectations in a continues changing environments
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and relational skills, especially in a cross-cultural environment, and ability to analyze and solve problems, persuade, network and negotiate.
  • Ability to solve complex problems and to exercise independent judgment.
  • Active listening
  • Demonstrated track record in advocacy, external engagement and partnering initiatives.
  • Track record of trying new ideas and innovation
  • Demonstrable experience in child development and issues affecting most vulnerable children

Travel and/or Work Environment Requirement

  • The position requires ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 20-30% of the time.

Physical Requirements

Must be based in Syria

Language Requirements

Evidence of high level written and spoken English language abilities. Knowledge of the Arabic language is preferred

How to apply

https://sy-koboviews.lmms.org/x/9hZ0Egj9