Communications Specialist

1. Purpose

CARE established its presence in Lebanon in 2006 and has been responding to the Syrian Crisis since late 2012. Among CARE’s key imperatives is putting people it serves first through implementing cutting edge programming in areas it operates. CARE currently carries out activities in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Akkar, North Lebanon, South Lebanon, and the Beqaa Valley. CARE implements both emergency and development projects contributing to livelihood, food security, protection, gender, shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. It targets the most vulnerable people and populations, both host communities and refugees. Over the course of 7 years, it has supported more than half a million beneficiaries.
 
In Lebanon, CARE’s program strategy for the upcoming years will focus on strengthening and expanding its emergency response and capacity to provide basic assistance services while pursuing development projects in areas of food security and livelihood support, gender and protection. CARE intends to maintain its presence in all areas of Lebanon.
 
The Communications Specialist provides overall leadership, coordination and strategic direction to CARE International in Lebanon’s (CIL) communications work in Lebanon. S/he is responsible for identifying priority concerns and opportunities for communications, strengthening the integration of communications into CIL’s programmes, raising CIL’s visibility and influence, ensuring these products are in line with CIL’s policy and guidelines, donor guidelines, programme priorities and are sensitive to the context in Lebanon.
Reporting directly to the Adi-PS, the Communications Specialist will engage with CIL staff, program participants, partner organizations, CARE Global teams, media and key stakeholders in communications initiatives across Lebanon’s humanitarian response.
The primary role of the Communications Specialist is: (1) to support the CO to develop media and communications materials and (2) to facilitate communication flows to ensure that CARE staff (including CARE International members) and key external stakeholders receive the information they need. This will require strengthening and streamlining existing information management systems to respond to demands from internal and external stakeholders.  

2. Reporting Lines

Assistant Country Director 

3. Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibility 1: Communications (40%) 
•    Lead on the development and implementation of CIL’s communications strategy which will broaden internal and external stakeholders’ awareness of CIL’s work in Lebanon, advance its advocacy work, further build relationships with local and international partners, media, donors.
•    This includes development of an annual communications and content plan, which specifies monthly outputs and thematic focuses.
•    Lead on the development and dissemination of relevant CIL’s programme communication and visibility materials as per CIL and donor commitments.
•    Implement the communication and visibility plans agreed with donors in line with donor and CIL’s visibility and communication policies and guidance
•    Lead on the generation of high-quality communication and visibility materials, especially stories, case studies, testimonies, photographs, graphics, short videos for the use of media, websites and others.
•    Produce effective, engaging storytelling which focusses on relaying the voices and perspectives of beneficiaries.
•    Create and manage an internal communication database (photos, stories, quotes)
•    Assist in the development of communications schedules, liaising with staff to ensure reports (annual report, etc.), publications (factsheets, etc.) and other products are produced in a timely manner.
•    Support the Program Team in producing and/or updating materials to disseminate information throughout CARE International and externally. To raise CARE’s profile as key player/expert in the areas identified in its strategic plan. Such materials may include alerts, situation reports, programme strategies, fact sheets, briefing notes, etc.
•    Support the Program Team in undertaking field visits as appropriate to collect and produce human interest stories from the field, carry out interviews with staff and beneficiaries in the field and remain up to date on the unfolding context and CARE’s response.
•    Support the Program Team in collecting photos and videos about CARE’s programming and beneficiaries from the field.
•    Lead the delivery of key messages appropriately tailored to external audiences, including through the production and dissemination of reports, the organization of events and conferences, the possibility to establish and maintain/or contribute to social media outlets
•    Implement the BASATINE communication strategy following AFD guidelines.
•    Lead the BASATINE monthly communication technical working group with BASATINE partners to discuss and keep track of activities implementation in regards to the strategy and set timelines, as well as address potential challenges and document successes.
•    Supervise and organize communication and project related events as needed along with BASATINE partners.
•    Safeguard CIL’s overall brand and identity

Responsibility 2: Internal Communications & Design (30%) 
•    Through desk and field research identify, collate and store effectively materials relevant to program activities and advocacy priorities. 
•    Daily monitor print and electronic news, trends, and events for mentions of CARE and potential humanitarian consequences and flag for attention when necessary to the Communications Manager and Senior Management Team.
•    Monitor external information sources and high-level reports (from other NGOs, UN agencies, Humanitarian Fora/Initiatives, etc.) and synthesize and share main points/outcomes with key staff in the COs, RMU, wider CI, etc.
•    Develop, design and contribute internal communications tools (such as newsletters, fact sheets, etc.) for to be used CARE websites and other electronic information sharing forums.
•    Support the Program Team in providing general information requests related to CARE’s program activities and advise on appropriate means of communications and messages.
•    Develop and support all project managers on their communications and visibility work within the respective projects ensuring plans of high quality, compliant with donor regulations and in timely manner.

Responsibility 3: Social Media (30%) 
•    Plan and manage CIL’s social media accounts in coordination with relevant departments and as per country communication strategy
•    Leads the development of a communication and social media strategy and ensures all social media messaging is in line with the country advocacy priorities.
•    Act as social media lead for all of CARE Lebanon social media channels, sharing stories, photos, and videos from CARE programming in Lebanon.
•    Maintain users accounts and manage/upload content and updates, in addition to developing culturally sensitive communication for the crisis in Lebanon, across all digital channels including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram 

4. Qualifications / special skills or knowledge

a. Skills & knowledge:

•    People Skills: Ability to work independently and as a member of a team. 
•    Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills. Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of CARE. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills.
•    Sense of initiative: Ability and willingness to take initiative, think critically and propose different ways of working. 
•    Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to CARE's core values and humanitarian principles.
•    Resilience/adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.
•    Awareness and sensitivity of self and others: Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity. Has experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner. Has a capacity to make accurate self-assessment particularly in high stress and high security contexts.
•    Work style: Is well planned and organized even within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem solving skills. 
•    Knowledge and skills: Requires general administration, information management and telecommunication skills and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills.
•    At least 3 years’ experience working in communications, information dissemination, international relations and/or social media work.
•    Arabic, English and French language skills (spoken and written).
•    Experience of media tools, including photography, video, etc. 
•    Experience in graphic design and designing external material for a wide range of audiences.
•    Proven experience of communicating information to a wide range of different audiences.
•    Ability to review and edit reports and other written documentation for dissemination and publication
•    Ability to collect information and undertake research under potentially difficult and constraining conditions.
•    Ability to develop and present information and communication products for a range of different audiences
•    Awareness of potential sensitivity of information in the context of CARE’s emergency response and development programming and ability to differentiate between information for internal versus external audiences. 
•    Prior experience working in communications department for NGOs or media, news outlets, preferably focused in a humanitarian context.
•    Strong understanding and experience in managing social media for public communication.
•    Experience in effective storytelling, which ensures that beneficiaries’ perspectives are at the forefront of external communications outputs.
•    Experience working directly with, and in, refugee and/or vulnerable communities, with extensive time spent in the field.
•    Strong understanding of the political system and context in Lebanon.
•    Experience in photography, videography, and/or journalism is an asset.
•    Experience of and strong skills in developing and implementing humanitarian communication strategies and campaigns.
•    Willingness to work and travel in difficult circumstances and adhere to agreed security procedures. 

b. Experience: 

At least  3-5  years of relevant experience working in communications, information dissemination, international relations and/or social media work.

c. Academic background:

•    Bachelor’s degree in Media, Journalism, Communications, Social, political sciences, Information Management, project management, or equivalent experience.

d. Languages: English and/ or Arabic are the working language of CARE International.

Knowledge of other languages is an asset.

5. Other contract elements

Benefits: Social security/Health Insurance & Transport allowance.
The direct supervisor reserves the right to adapt this job description at any time during employment according to needs. 
Any extension of this contract is dependent on performance review and funding availability. 

6. PSEA and Child Safeguarding Policies

CARE International in Lebanon is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

CARE International in Lebanon and its employees and stakeholders abide by the CARE International Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Child Safeguarding Policies.