Communications Officer

Purpose / Role

Maximize positive media coverage and fundraising opportunities and support accountability to key stakeholders by communicating the humanitarian situation and CARE's emergency operations.

 Expected Key Outputs

• Package with media and communications materials highlighting our emergency response and our focus on women and girls, including press releases, talking points, key messages, stories, video footage, photos, factsheets and others as appropriate.
• Explainer/facts on the emergency and the situation for women and girls for websites.
• Headshots of all spokespeople.
• Quotes from senior staff/spokespeople about response.
• Quotes from affected population (a range of demographics if possible – young, elderly, both genders, pregnant women).
• Video: face to camera pieces explaining the current situation. B-roll of impact and response activities.

Responsibilities and Tasks

    External Liaison and Communications

• Develop and amend as necessary an initial media strategy for national and international media.
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with key national and international journalists, other CI Communications Officers, and with representatives of other NGOs, etc. Keep media log for media contacts.
• Act as the main point of contact for media and respond to requests for information from journalists, members of CI, and donors, including arranging interviews and field visits.
• Act as spokesperson for the organization when appropriate and with approval of the CD.
• Prepare, distribute and log press releases.
• Conduct regular field visits to interview staff and beneficiaries.
• Work with national communications officer (if available), CD and Emergency Team to determine how to liaise with local media.
• Liaise with ECHO, UNHCR, OCHA and other peer Communications Officers to get latest updates and work on potential joint-messaging.
• Participate in the Communications to Disaster-affected Communities (CDAC) working group, if active.

Internal Liaison and Communications

• Work with CI Communications Officers to be aware of which journalists are travelling to the region and report contacts of international journalists to respective national CARE offices.
• Disseminate a steady flow of information (updates, human interest stories, talking points and Q&As, blogs etc) highlighting our focus on women and girls to the CI Communications Officers for internal and external dissemination. Be creative and flexible in your approach, adapt to the situation and communications needs of CARE teams.
• Monitor print and electronic media for mentions of CARE and other topics of interest to the organization, and inform the Country Director, Emergency Team Leader and CI Communications Officers of anything important.
• Identify and create talking points/Q&As for potential sensitive issues and inform the Country Director, Emergency Team Leader and CI Communications Officers.

Training

• Give media training for designated spokespeople.
• Offer immediate media coaching for those about to do a media interview.
• Provide communications and media coaching to the national communications officer if available and designated program staff where appropriate.
• Support on the recruitment of local Communications Officer where appropriate.

Media Monitoring and Evaluation

• Compile a log of media calls and contacts.
• Work with CI Communications Officers to monitor media and compile a list of national/international media coverage.
• Work with CI Communications Officers and the CI Media and Communications Coordinator to produce a ‘lessons learned’ document and make recommendations for future operations.

            Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) /Child Protection (CP)

• All staff members understand and abide by the CARE Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) / Child Protection (CP) Policy.  All staff must sign the relevant Code of Conduct. Staff are required to report any suspicions of exploitation and abuse of children and vulnerable people via established internal mechanisms. All staff must adhere to CARE’s zero tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
• The staff member must obtain informed consent from the individual or legal guardian prior to obtaining, disseminating and utilising images for publication.

Key Internal Contacts

Country Director, Emergency Team Leader, Emergency Team, CI Communications Officers, CI Humanitarian Communications Coordinator. 

Key External Contacts

Journalists, photographers, media/communications officers from other NGOs, government etc.

Reporting Lines

Reports to the Communications Specialist

Selection Criteria

          Core Competencies

• People Skills: Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership and is able to support and train local and international staff and also able to work with disaster affected communities in a sensitive and participatory manner.
• 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.
• 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. Have 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: knowledge of CARE policies and procedures, Sphere and the Red Cross/ NGO Code of Conduct. Requires general finance, administration, information management and telecommunication skills and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills.
• 3 – 5 years humanitarian aid experience.
• Multiple language skills desirable.

Required Technical Competencies

• Prior experience travelling to, or working in, a developing country for CARE or another humanitarian agency in an emergency environment. A minimum of two-three years’ experience working with an NGO or UN agency, or equivalent, is preferred.
• Fluent written and spoken English. Preference will be given to candidates who speak more than one CI Member working language.
• Experience as a spokesperson.
• Experience working in journalism, communications, media, or PR; CARE-specific media work preferred.
• Strong understanding of print, radio, television and online media.
• Intermediate photography and/or filming skills.
• Additional technical skills are desirable, including proficiency in Adobe Photoshop or photo-editing software and movie-editing software such as Adobe Premier.
• Ability to work independently and as a team player.
• Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to CARE's core values and principles.
• Ability to operate effectively in stressful situations, including working overtime.
• Gender awareness and cultural sensitivity.
• Good time management and problem solving skills.