CO Communications Manager At Save the Children

***Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position might be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged.***

The Opportunity – CO Communications Manager

Post location: oPt Country Office – Ramallah

Contract Duration and Level of Effort: 1 year

ROLE PURPOSE:

The role of the Communications Manager is to lead communications, amplifying Save the Children’s voice and speaking out on behalf of affected children in the oPt, including the West Bank and Gaza.

The post-holder will be responsible for supporting implementation of an integrated advocacy, campaigns, communications and media (ACCM) strategy, supporting fundraising priorities, and ensuring the country office’s core advocacy and policy priorities are streamlined and reflected across all external communications channels and through internal communications as appropriate. This will include identifying strategic communications priorities and moments, assessing and managing risks associated with public communications, ensuring a regular flow of content and information, translating complex legal and policy information and analysis into core messaging for a variety of audiences, and drafting messaging,- communications guidance and internal Q&As, while also supporting the drafting of reactive media Q&As, briefings, press releases, media statements, social media posts, and other products as needed to ensure coherence with the ACCM strategy and fundraising objectives.

The Communications Manager will work closely with colleagues across Save the Children to ensure external messaging is accurate and consistent, and that guidance is provided to establish a singular ‘voice’ for Save the Children in support of the oPt Country Office’s Country Strategic Plan and ACCM strategy. Working closely with child safeguarding and child protection colleagues, the post-holder will ensure that all children involved in our communications work are protected from potential repercussions, including potential mental and physical harm. The postholder will also support strong relationships and ways of working with colleagues across country office departments to ensure effective communication of data from our programmes in external and internal messaging and products.

This is a high-level role, aimed at coordinating a diverse communications portfolio, contributing to strategy development, leading special projects including impact reports and anniversaries, and liaising with other NGOs and partners where necessary.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reports to: Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications and Media Director

Staff reporting to this post: CO Communication & Media Officer

Role Dimensions: oPt CO is a high complexity country, multi-member interest, with an annual budget of around $40+m, and 100+ staff. Currently the program is experiencing a growth in funding and complexity due to the war in Gaza.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

Media and Communications

• Lead implementation of the communications strategy for the oPt Country Office, in collaboration with the ACCM team and programme and fundraising teams.
• Maintain and develop Save the Children’s internal and external profile for the oPt country office through the production of high quality, well-researched, and well written products, reflective of the country office portfolio and priorities, responding quickly and appropriately to requests for information.
• Oversee and produce content to meet ACCM objectives and produce communications outputs for the humanitarian response, coordinating closely with senior management.
• Support the Country Office to communicate Save the Children’s work and achievements in close collaboration with MEAL and programme teams, recognising the need to balance strategic and reputational risks, advocacy and policy priorities, and fundraising and donor engagement aims.
• Be an active member of relevant internal forums such as the Gaza crisis communications group, including the identification and monitoring of key communications risks and mitigation measures.
• Ensure that the branding and communication guidelines of Save the Children are uniformly and consistently followed across the oPt Country Office.
• • Develop and maintain relationships with Save the Children Regional and Global teams to ensure oPt Country Office’s work is well represented.

Advocacy

• Support implementation of the advocacy strategy through effective internal and external communication.
• Identify key opportunities and events for Save the Children oPt to position itself as the leading organisation for children’s issues in the oPt, from both an operational and advocacy standpoint.
• Keep abreast of contextual changes in the oPt especially those that affect the rights of children, to ensure Save the Children amplifies the voice of children at appropriate moments.
• Translate complex legal and policy information and analysis into digestible communications products and/or messaging for a variety of audiences.
• Participate in external forums as required.

Staff Management

• Directly line manage the Country Office Communications and Media Officer, and provide technical support to the Gaza Communications and Media Officer (line managed by the Media Manager). Define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed and evaluate direct reports regularly and in line with Save the Children performance management standards and approaches.
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process.

General

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child safeguarding, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

In order to be successful you will bring/have:

QUALIFICATIONS

• MA degree in, Media, Communication, Advocacy and Policy or any other related field /or equivalent years of experience in the field.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Minimum of 4+ years of relevant work experience in an NGO environment, with experience in successfully leading the development and implementation of communications and/or advocacy strategies.
• Previous experience delivering communications, ideally in a similar strategic role.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Evidence of excellent verbal and written communication skills for a wide range of different audiences including senior leadership, donors, policymakers, media, and the ‘general public’.
• Experience managing teams and working under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• An initiative-taking, proactive, inspiring attitude with the ability to manage and prioritise an unpredictable workload and solve problems quickly with limited support.
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner.
• Familiarity with child protection and safeguarding issues, including experience with vulnerable populations.
• Creativity and good eye for a story.
• The capacity and willingness to be extremely flexible and accommodating in difficult and sometimes insecure working circumstances.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including influencing, negotiation and coaching.
• Politically and culturally sensitive with qualities of patience, tact and diplomacy.
• Commitment to the aims and principles of Save the Children. In particular, a good understanding of Save the Children’s mandate and child focus.

Desirable

• Policy, legal, or advocacy experience with a focus on child rights.
• Language skills in Arabic.
• Experience or knowledge of the oPt context.

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This role is offered on the basis of national terms and conditions.

Save the Children promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, women and people with different abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Organisation

Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.