Communications Manager At Médecins Sans Frontières

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

The Communications manager leads and manages MSF UAE’s communication strategy in view of raising awareness of MSF’s medical and humanitarian activities and issues primarily within the GCC region and more broadly across Arab speaking audiences.

Through a wide range of communication tools and platforms (media, digital, publications & community outreach), the Commination manger will support and contribute to MSF UAE office’s fundraising, recruitment and policy/advocacy agenda.

The Communications Manager will manage the communications team. He/she will work closely with other colleagues and technical platforms at regional and global level.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES & TASKS:

Strategy planning & execution

• Develop, implement and manage MSF UAE’s communications strategy and ensure objectives are fully integrated with the overall strategy for MSF UAE, and compliment fundraising, recruitment, advocacy and operational initiatives.
• Develop, implement and review yearly action plan with clearly defined outcomes.
• Provide strategic advice and support to MSF UAE senior management colleagues on MSF communication initiatives and external environment.
• Provides regular reporting to the management team on the above.
• Responsible for MSF’s brand reputation management including crisis communications and its implementation, when necessary, in close collaboration with the Executive Director, fundraising team, field HR and management team.

Communications

• Develop a media relation, digital and community outreach plan and initiatives that improve the impact and effectiveness of MSF’s visibility and coverage of its project and issues.
• Monitor the external media (traditional and digital) environment in the Gulf region and provide context analysis and suggest editorial approaches.
• Monitor, analyze and provide advice on traditional and digital coverage related to MSF.
• Work with the communication team members to identify and pursue proactively new audiences across various channels that would support fundraising, field HR recruitment and operational needs.
• Oversee production and dissemination of all content for external public as well as lead and sign off on original content and messaging initiated by MSF UAE communication team.
• Organize community outreach (with his team) and public events to raise awareness of MSF in the GCC region amongst different targeted groups and audiences.
• Manage communication campaigns that have significant potential in terms of raising visibility and funds.
• Ensure proper knowledge management and sharing of communication initiatives’ related information and best practices within the MSF UAE office and wider movement.
• Work closely with communications hubs in MENA, OCs and IO
• Monitor the media, social media including traditional media and report accordingly.

International coordination, support & representation

• Support dissemination of movement wide institutional and operational priorities as well as management of crisis when needed.
• Ensure participation and contribution to the regional MENA hub communication collaboration as well as the international movement projects and initiatives.
• Ensure that MSF UAE work, issues and requirements are clearly understood with the MSF movement.
• Ensure participation of UAE communication team in regional and international meetings and working groups when needed (Directors of Comms meeting, Digital and AV officers meeting, MENA regional hub meeting)
• Act as a spokesperson for MSF UAE office (secondary to the Executive Director)

Digital fundraising.

• Develop the strategy of digital fundraising campaigns with the support of the Fund-Raising lead (Partnership Development Manager) and Paris digital fundraising unit.
• Quality assures all social media content is included in scheduling tools ensuring it is timely, engaging and coherent with content released on other digital and offline channels.
• Collaborate with influencers on content planning.

Budget management

• Manage effectively the communications budget.
• Provide regular reviews of budget requirements to the Executive Director, Resource manager and management team.

Position Requirements:

Qualifications & experience

• Degree in Communications, Journalism or related Field.
• English as a working language, and additionally fluency in Arabic (both written and verbal).
• 5 years working experience as a minimum within the same scope of work.
• Knowledge and understanding of latest trends in communication across all channels (including digital and social media).

Other Skills, competencies and Experience

• MSF experience as a strong asset, whether at HQ, regional or field level.
• Living and/or working Experience in the GCC region and asset.
• Hands-on experience of media relations work including substantial understanding of Gulf media.
• Strong organizational skills with experience of managing multiple tasks.
• Ability to cope with stress, retain good humor and make sound ethical and personal judgements to deal with ambiguities and conflict.
• Flexibility, can-do attitude and good team player – this role involves working very closely and collaboratively with colleagues in the UAE and other MSF staff in the region.
• Experience in developing and implementing (communication) strategies and budgets.
• Experience in building and managing an effective team of (communication) professionals.
• Proven ability to communicate complex information in accessible, simple language (both verbal and written) to a variety of audiences.
• Experience and ability to operate in a complex international structure with a high collaborative style of interaction.
• Good knowledge of world affairs and a demonstrable understanding of and commitment to humanitarian issues

Special Notes:

This Job Description is only a summary of the typical functions of this position and not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities and duties. Accordingly, the responsibilities and duties of the job holder might differ from those outlined in this Job Description and the other duties, as assigned, might be part of the job due to the organizational and operational needs.