Senior Communications & Media Coordinator (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the link provided)

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been present in the Middle East since the 1980s and currently works in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq. Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps is committed to generating positive opportunities for women, men, boys and girls from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities, with a strong focus on engaging youth.  Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping build secure, productive and just communities. Our programs focus on four sectors:  Economic Opportunities, Governance and Social Stability, Youth and Humanitarian interventions. The Mercy Corps Lebanon team consists of over 150 staff working across four offices throughout Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, Tripoli and the Bekaa.

General Position Summary

Under the management of the Director of Programs, the Senior Communications and Media Coordinator will work across programs to ensure that Mercy Corps Lebanon produces strong, well-designed communications products that represent the organization in an honest and self-reflective manner both internally and externally. The Senior Communications and Media Coordinator will support Mercy Corps Lebanon’s ongoing programming through strategy development, coordination, design, and content production for internal and external communication. They will provide support to plan and implement key communications components of ongoing programming, liaise with local, national, and global media, and ensure that Mercy Corps’ branding and communication guidelines are uniformly and consistently adhered to.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY, REPRESENTATION, AND ENGAGEMENT

• Collaborate with Mercy Corps Lebanon staff, including Program Managers and global communications team, to identify and define communication strategies to engage key target audiences;
• Ensure accurate and engaging representation of Mercy Corps Lebanon in local, national, and, in coordination with HQ, global media;
• Represent Mercy Corps Lebanon at media events where requested by DoP;
• Represent Mercy Corps Lebanon externally using ‘human’ language, translating technical jargon into a more approachable language;
• Support Mercy Corps’ program visibility within the Lebanese community through material development and social media;
• Create and maintain connections between Mercy Corps Lebanon and media outlets and influencers;
• Develop strategy for applying and maintaining Mercy Corps’ brand identity and parameters in all written and audio visual materials;
• Develop and implement strategies together with programs’ communications focal points and Program Managers to increase Mercy Corps’ communication within local communities and local institutions in Lebanon to promote activities and increase awareness, and acceptance;
• Draft guidelines that highlight key communication strategies to improve program media relations and social outreach;
• Contribute to the identification, and documentation of best practices and lessons learned and share this knowledge within and outside the organization;
• Contribute to annual planning process to inform programmatic and communication-related components;
• Work closely with the PaQ team in producing compelling reports, infographics, and other material for donors;
• Train Mercy Corps and local partner staff on effective communication strategies, including photography and storytelling, ensuring each program has a champion to capture and share relevant information;
• Motivate programs on communications by organizing cross-team communications events and competitions;

PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

• Lead on the design and production of communications and visibility materials (whether in house or outsourced) including: Print such as leaflets, booklets, banners, brochures, t-shirts, folders, certificates and etc.; Photography, video and sound; Infographics; and Web and mobile development;
• Review all communications products produced by program teams;
• Develop materials for specific program campaigns or identities, to help advance programmatic goals;
• Ensure that Mercy Corps Lebanon produces photographs and visual products that are compelling;
• Build up and maintain a database of all visual materials produced by Mercy Corps Lebanon such as photos, videos, infographics, logos and etc.;
• Ensure all visual materials produced follow Mercy Corps’ global brand identity and standards;
• Support local partners working with Mercy Corps to follow communications and media guidelines;
• Conduct media scans and monitor, document and disseminate Mercy Corps Lebanon media coverage as appropriate;
• Write press releases;
• Help staff, partners and beneficiaries where appropriate to prepare for media interviews ensuring that all agreed guidelines and protocol are observed;
• Conduct regular field visits to create effective communications products;
• Maintain categorized mailing lists of relevant stakeholders;
• Write and/or support the writing of strong, compelling success stories;
• Produce blog spots, op-eds and other relevant media pieces;
• Collaborate with other international organizations on mass advocacy campaigns, including those under the Lebanese Humanitarian International Forum

OTHER

• Ensure all activities are gender sensitive and follow Mercy Corps’ Gender Equity Policy;
• Apply Do No Harm standards to ensure activities do not have detrimental effects on vulnerable communities;
• Participate in internal office coordination and planning meetings and workshops.

Organizational Learning 

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Supervisory Responsibility

None

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Director of Programs

Works Directly With: PaQ unit, programs, HQ and regional communications teams, Country Director, Operations unit

Knowledge and Experience

• • Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field preferred with strong background in communication and public relations
  • At least five years of experience in communications and media work, preferably with a development or humanitarian international or local NGO
  • Experience from working with social or political-related work, with good understanding of Lebanon’s current refugee and host community context
  • Excellent written and verbal English and Arabic skills, including the ability to craft documentation for different key audiences
  • Ability to translate “NGO lingo” into a more “human language”
  • Demonstrable excellent skills in multimedia production, including audiovisual work and graphic design and proven ability to design effective communication products, lead formulation of communication messages and strategies; strong photography skills an advantage
  • Proven ability to develop relationships with the media, other civil society organizations, and networks
  • Strong organizational skills, and ability to work independently and take initiative under pressure in a rapidly changing, multi-cultural context, whilst adhering to strict deadlines
  • Ability and willingness to travel regularly to the field

Success Factors

The successful Senior Communications and Media Coordinator will be bright, energetic, hard-working and eager to learn.  They will take a deep personal interest in humanitarian and development assistance.  They will be attentive to detail and able to carry out assigned tasks in a timely manner and according to a very high standard of quality.  They will be creative and flexible, contributing to developing and encouraging new and innovative solutions, but at the same time will not have any difficulty in adhering to systems and procedures.  They will strictly follow all protocols related to safety and security, and holds self accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Mercy Corps’ values

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.