Communications Officer for The Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR)

We are seeking a full-time Communications Officer passionate about social justice who can continue strengthening our communications, manage our website, and support our campaigns and presence on social media to support our and our partners’ advocacy.

The ideal candidate will have a degree in journalism, communications, public relations social, or a related field; three to five years’ experience in strategic communications in a human rights or social justice environment; knowledge of current and emerging trends in communications strategy, tools, and channels; ability to synthesize ideas and communicate complex or technical concepts clearly and accessibly. We seek somebody with creativity, initiative, attention to detail, ability to work remotely and independently and as part of a larger team.

The Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Gl-ESCR) is a non- governmental organisation that believes transformative change to end endemic problems of social and economic injustice is possible through a human rights lens. Our vision is of a world where the human rights framework reflects the real-world experiences of all of us, effectively furthering social and economic justice and human dignity, and catalysing change from the local to the global, back to the local.

Our Mission is to:

· Strengthen the international human rights framework through creative standard-setting, so that the framework reflects the experiences, needs and aspirations of marginalised individuals, groups and communities, with a focus on creating beneficial jurisprudence aimed at transformative change.

· Mobilise and partner with advocates, social movements and grassroots communities at national and local levels to more effectively claim and enforce economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights, including by engaging regional and international mechanisms for local impact.

· Contribute to the effective promotion and realisation of ESC rights so that everyone can fully enjoy their ESC rights in practice, without discrimination and on the basis of equality.

· Provide innovative tools and resources to ESC rights advocates and civil society actors, policy makers, development actors, and others on the practical implementation and realisation of ESC rights.

· Identify, respond to, and provide thought leadership on emerging trends and threats to ESC rights.

· Monitor and strengthen the international human rights mechanisms to ensure that they are accessible to ESC rights advocates and rights holders and effective mechanisms for ESC rights monitoring and accountability and facilitate and support civil society engagement with those bodies.

For further information about GI-ESCR work, mission, and values you may visit our website at www.gi-escr.org/

General Position Information

Job Title: Communications Officer.

Location: Remote work.

Commitment: full time, 40 hours a week.

Salary Range: 2,500 USD to 3,000 USD gross per month, taking into account level of experience and costs of living in the person’s location (consultancy contract). Benefits: Health insurance contribution; 25 days of annual leave and to 10 days of public holidays.

Deadline for applications: 06 August 2021, 23.59 hrs. (Mexico City: UTC/GMT -5 hrs.)

Start Date: As soon as possible.

Duration: One-year contract with possibility of extension, depending on funding.

Probation period: 3 months.

Job Profile

GI-ESCR is seeking to recruit a committed and creative Communications Officer who, under the broad guidance of the Executive Director, will assume primary responsibility for planning, developing, and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy to promote GI-ESCR’s mission and goals. The Communications Officer will be responsible for managing GI-ESCR’s social media, measuring the impact of our communications strategies and campaigns, and editing and proof-reading GI-ESCR’s written materials. S/he will additionally be in charge of internal communication and reporting to donors.

Required Skills and Qualifications

· Advanced university degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related fields (or an undergraduate degree plus at least 5 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, foreign relations, public affairs, public relations or corporate communications).

· Native level of English is required. Knowledge of French is an asset, and Spanish is desirable.

· Exceptional writing and editing skills.

· Able to work under pressure. Being able to read and edit quickly without sacrificing quality.

· Ability to multitask and work independently, as well as part of a team.

· Advanced proficiency in computer programs including MS Office applications is required.

· Ability to create visual materials including videos, infographics and data analysis Proficiency using softwares such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Mailchimp, Canva, Premiere Pro and Audition.

· Experience working remotely and with staff from diverse backgrounds and located in various time zones.

· Experience engaging with the press and a range of media

· Professional knowledge of the use of social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & Youtube) as part of an effective campaigning and communication strategy is required.

· Adept at contributing to campaigns and advocacy strategy development from conceptualisation to completion, balancing long-term strategic thinking with short-term tactical actions and analysis. Experience in using communication for campaigning, and contributing to campaigning strategy an asset.

· Ability, experience, and interest in constantly innovating and research new ways to conduct communication, including by exploring new tools and ideas.

· Experience in working with and sound knowledge of the international human rights framework and campaigning activities.

· Capacity to turn complex and technical language into appropriate messaging for a range of audiences and have experience delivering communications using a variety of channels aiming at ‘hard to reach’ target groups.

· Experience in communications and advocacy reporting, measurement and analysis.

· Detail oriented and strong organizational skills are required.

Work Experience

· Three to five years of relevant and progressively responsible professional experience in the field of communications, print, broadcast and/or new media. International and national work experience.

· Previous experience in communications for human rights organisations, international organisations or in social justice fields is an asset.

Main Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Communications strategy

· Provide strategic leadership and vision of communications approaches that advance GI-ESCR’s mission and objectives, including by exploring and keeping up to date with a range of communication approaches and strategies.

· Develop, maintain and update GI-ESCR’s communications strategy and associated work plan with short- and long-term targets and objectives. Monitor its implementation with concrete and realistic indicators that align with GI-ESCR’s mission and values.

· Work with GI-ESCR staff to determine communications needs and establish a culture in which communications work is fully integrated into all GI-ESCR programs and activities.

· Promote and disseminate, targeting strategic audiences, GI-ESCR’s reports and products, editing and proof-reading internal and external materials.

Organisational Communication

· Manage GI-ESCR’s public identity to ensure mission, brand, and message continuity, coherence, integrity, and effectiveness.

· Ensure communications activities and materials are aligned with GI-ESCR’s visual identity, as well as with its mission, vision, core values, and strategies.

· Occasionally commission and manage external providers to undertake design, audio-visual, or other work necessary to improve communications.

Campaigning, social media and publications

· Manage GI-ESCR’s presence on social media and GI-ESCR’s social media accounts.

· Produce strategic social media content, in liaison with the respective program officers.

· Update webpages and social media platforms.

· Coordinate the logistics and organisation of media and campaigning events such as press briefings.

· Develop and maintain a network of press contacts, in a range of medias around the world.

· Support the design, development and implementation of campaigns, including social media strategies.

· Develop or support the development of campaigning materials, including visuals, videos, press releases, or other communication formats.

· Proof-read, format, and distribute materials; assist with editing content in English (news releases, op-eds, briefs, web and social media content), and if possible, in French and/or Spanish.

· Assist with the preparation of external publications and reports.

Networking and partnerships

· Maintain, update and further develop GI-ESC’s partners’ contact lists, databases and mailing lists.

· Help establish, document, review, and refine working processes for collaborative work with partners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing, etc.

· Ensure and further enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of communication materials, activities, processes, strategies and messages shared with partners.

Internal communication and impact tracking

· Facilitate internal communication, ensuring a smooth flow of information, and the use of various tools, such as Monday.com

· Collaborate with team members, to internally collect the impact of GI-ESCR’s work and develop materials for their internal and external dissemination.

Donor reports and materials

· Support preparation of background materials, grant applications, briefs and information kits for donors and funding entities.

· Assist with drafting of narrative reports to donors, in liaison with the relevant program officers.

Events

· Assist in organising and generating public support for special projects, events, and campaigns.

· Support the organisation of workshops, seminars, campaigns, events and project review meetings, including agendas and meeting minutes, and logistical support.

· Perform any other related duties and tasks as assigned.