Senior Communications and Advocacy Officer - Beirut, Lebanon

Job Title

Communications and Advocacy Officer -Lebanon

Reports to

Programmes Manager Lebanon

Job location

Based in Beirut, with travel to Lebanons.

Contract Duration

Until 31 December 2022 with likely extension

Grade

3.2

Duties and Responsibilities

Devise and manage communications activities for new and on-going projects in Lebanon. Act as the Lebanon team’s focal point and quality control focal point for communications activities. Specific duties will include the following:

• Support Country Director and Project Managers to develop, manage and implement communications strategies, frameworks, and to include communications in project design, budgets and M&E.
• Ensure country-specific communications strategies contribute to Alert’s overall communications strategy, and vice-versa and are in line with Alert’s mission, values, ethics and policies (safeguarding, data protection etc.)
• Write engaging copy for communications materials, including newsletters, reports, promotional materials, video scripts, photo captions, social media and website content.
• Ensure the website Lebanon country and project pages are updated regularly, and take a lead in producing multimedia content (infographics, illustrations, videos, photos, animations.) to illustrate our work in Lebanon.

Manage the production of print and visibility materials for the Lebanon team, in close collaboration with the Senior Communications Officer (London), including managing and 

• liaising with graphic designers, suppliers and printers in the production stages of all materials.
• Work with the London-based Communications Team to ensure compliance with Alert’s brand identity and quality standards.
• Work with the Senior Media Relations Officer on drafting, distributing and selling in press releases/stories/letters/comment pieces related to the Lebanon region, and contribute to developing and implementing media strategies.
• Provide support (including training) to staff and project partners on communications.
• Oversee Alert’s Arabic language communications, including reviewing translations, ensuring the website is updated, creating social media content.
• Organise and manage events, including press briefings, awareness raising events, and panel debates.

Devise, manage, and act as focal point for the coordination of communications activities to support advocacy plan development for the country programme and projects in Lebanon:

• Support Country Director and Project Managers to develop and manage communications activities and develop advocacy strategies and plans for their project.
• In coordination with the Country Director and Programmes Manager develop a communications and advocacy plan for the Country Strategy.
• Work with project teams to package project outputs, key findings, and messages into communications content that will influence and promote change in policy and practice amongst target audiences.
• Drive and enhance the Lebanon Country Programmes visibility, particularly on social media in coordination with the Alert London Communications team develop a plan for enhance the Lebanon country level visibility of communications on social media.

M&E - Support the Alert Lebanon team to monitor and communicate evidence of impact to a variety of audiences

• Regularly monitor, evaluate and communicate the results and impact of communications initiatives and content. Collaborate with the London-based Communications Team to inform future communications planning, and with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer to advise and support colleagues on evaluating impact.
• Support the process of monitoring and evaluation around advocacy and communications targets at project and programme level.
• Ensure the strategic, timely and targeted dissemination of all communications outputs, using a variety of tools and channels.
• Responsible for the production, collection and dissemination (including through media) of case studies, infographics, quotes and messages that show the work done in Lebanon and the need for/impact of our work, to be able to represent the work done in Lebanon in an accessible way.

Build and maintain networks and relationships that support communications and advocacy objectives

• Establish and maintain a strong network of public and private sector and civil society contacts, as well as key members of the international community based in the Lebanon region
• Develop, maintain and proactively use contacts with Lebanon print, digital and broadcast media to build International Alert’s visibility, and to identify opportunities for and secure media coverage.
• Build and maintain a network of translators, editors, proof-readers and graphic designers who can support high quality communications outputs

• Contribute to wider organisational goals of International Alert

• Participate actively as a member of the Syria and Lebanon teams, and wider Lebanon team, including team meetings, sharing of information, context analysis, and strategy development.
• Participate and contribute to other Lebanon programme activities and events including regional meetings and regional communications and outreach.
• Contribute to strong linkages between the country programme and relevant Alert headquarter teams (Peacebuilding Advisory Unit, Advocacy and Communications teams).
• Collaborate with the Alert Director of Advocacy and Communications to ensure sharing of information, coordination and effective delivery of communications to support regional advocacy messages.

• Participate actively as a member of the global Communications Team, take part in the Communications Working Group monthly meetings, and contribute to the design, planning and implementation of global communications campaigns and initiatives, including around International Peace Day.

Travel requirements

This post is based in Beirut, Lebanon with travel to regions.

REQUIREMENTS

Talents

At Alert, we have introduced Talent Management to our business model as we believe talented people are crucial to the success of our work. We believe all individuals are talented and success comes in matching the right talents to the right roles. For this role, the skills, qualifications and experience listed below are important, but we believe that to be great in this job you are likely, first and foremost, to have a talent for analysing and understanding how to engage and influence people at all levels and a flair for presenting complex ideas in a clear, engaging and accessible ways.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

A post graduate degree in a relevant field (International Relations, Political Science, Journalism, Communications or other)

3 to 5 years of relevant working experience in the field of advocacy or diplomacy, and communications

Experience of networking, communications and advocacy on peacebuilding, gender and/or development issues in the Lebanon region

Experience in government relations and/or donor engagement

Proven experience producing and disseminating high-quality advocacy and communications outputs

Excellent written and verbal communications skills (English and Arabic) and the ability to adapt styles to meet the needs of different audiences

Knowledge and experience of using social media, writing for the web and updating/editing web content

Good knowledge and experience of working with local and international media

Knowledge and experience of wide range of communications tools, including digital, online,

visual and print communications

Ability to work independently, and with teams based in remote locations

Maturity, collaborative approach and emotional intelligence

Excellent time management and prioritisation skills with an ability to work to tight deadlines

An eye for detail and accuracy and an ability to grasp complex issues and present them clearly

Ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships

Strong commitment to International Alert’s mission and values

Excellent computer literacy and use of software packages (Word, Excel)

Excellent inter-personal, communication and presentation skills (oral and written)

Demonstrable commitment to safeguarding and understanding of safeguarding policies in communications

Proven understanding of data security and data protection issues.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS

Experience working with civil society organisations

Experience delivering training

Experience organising, managing and promoting events

Knowledge of gender and conflict sensitive approaches

Knowledge of software design (InDesign, Photoshop) and CSS/HTML

Good understanding of branding and experience using visual communications and photography

Experience conducting political and/or conflict analysis

SUMMARY TERMS AND CONDITIONS

A

nnual Salary

Competitive annual salary based on our salary scale for Lebanese nationals

Benefits

Private insurance and NSSF

Leave entitlement

25 days per year plus Lebanese statutory holidays

Notice period

One month on either side

Working hours

Full time staff are expected to work a standard 35 hours/week, with some flexibility around start and finish times to be agreed with the line manager. All staff are required to work core hours 10am – 4pm.