Media Campaigns Manager

Crisis Action is excited to create a new role on its communications team based in our Beirut office. Reflecting our global ambition, we want to enhance how we work with the media to support impactful campaigning across diverse centers of power and ensure that we are ever more effective and innovative in using a range of tactics to achieve change.
We are looking for an exceptional storyteller, newshound and strategist to ensure our campaigns are as impactful as possible. You should have a passion for, and excel at, affecting change, and be an activist at heart to compel the world’s most powerful people to take action to protect civilians in situations of conflict.
Reporting to Crisis Action’s Head of Communications, you will be – alongside our Digital Campaigns Strategist – part of our small but powerful communication team. In this hands-on role, you will work closely with colleagues across the globe to provide guidance, mentorship, and editorial support to deliver world-class communications strategies that drive real change. You will also drive innovation in how we work with traditional and new media globally. You will help build our ability to capture stories and inspire the confidence to tell them. You will measure success, capture learning and help us bring light to the plight of civilians trapped in conflicts around the world.
As well as working with Crisis Action staff, you will be in regular contact with media colleagues in our partner organisations - many of the world’s largest and most high-profile humanitarian and human rights groups - meaning that the ability to work with and motivate others, as well as propelling joint initiatives with tact and tenacity, will be crucial.

You will have an excellent political mind, great contacts and significant journalism experience or experience in a role that harnesses the power of the media to drive change. You will be ready to engage with Crisis Action’s staff and partners to harness their resources and ambition as well as craft messages and storylines essential to delivering effective campaigning through the media.
Your work will span several regions and time zones and will require some overseas travel.
Your responsibilities will include:
Enhancing campaign impact by exploiting maximum potential from the media:

  Ensuring impactful media thinking is incorporated into all campaign strategies

  Drafting and editing communications materials (op-eds, press releases, engagement
strategies, etc.) for use in different markets

  Coordinating public-facing campaign drives between partners and across different regions as part of campaign roll-out

  Spotting new opportunities to get coverage or tell stories in ways that will drive change

  Comprehensively monitoring coverage and impact and ensuring lessons are learned
Driving excellence and enhancing organisational learning:

  Devising and delivering innovative public-facing campaign tactics through media, high- level advocacy and popular mobilisation ensuring excellence at all stages by inspiring innovation, quality and ambition throughout the campaign cycle

  Building the skills and confidence of colleagues by contributing to organisational media development and training plans and providing ad-hoc support for Crisis Action’s team and partners

  Contribute to continuous development of communications systems and processes that enhance better and smoother media delivery across the organisation
Building and nurturing an excellent global media network:

  Ensuring Crisis Action has rock-solid relationships with key journalists across key media markets

  Helping build a first-rate network of influential communicators across the Middle East and Africa

  Developing and expanding our media databases
PERSON SPECIFICATION Essential skills and experience:

  5+ years of experience in journalism or other hands-on media work

  Impeccable news sense and in-depth knowledge of Middle Eastern or African media
markets

  Track record of delivering first-rate media coverage

  Established relationships with key media and the confidence and skills to develop more

  Proven track-record of contributing to successful political or advocacy campaigns

  Excellent writing and editing skills with considerable experience of writing press
releases, op-eds, letters and other media materials, including for an online audience

  Excellent political mind and the ability to think and work strategically

  Ability to take a brief and rapidly master new areas of work

  Exceptional team worker; good negotiation skills

  Exceptional project management skills and the ability to see plans through to delivery
and impact

  High levels of ambition, energy, determination, and focus; a positive can-do attitude
and the drive and initiative to take ideas forward to fruition in a coalition setting

  Ability to work well under pressure, and respond to changing demands and priorities
when required

  Additional languages – especially Arabic or French

  A commitment to Crisis Action’s mission
The following would be an advantage:

  Knowledge of the NGO or campaigning sectors

  Experience of campaigning/working through coalitions 

  Experience of campaigning and advocacy across different markets, especially with 
emerging powers (e.g. Brazil, South Africa, India, China, Nigeria, etc.) 

  Experience of evaluating campaigns 

  Experience of delivering media training