Communications Officer - Beirut

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. We deliver lasting impact by providing health care, helping children learn, and empowering individuals and communities to become self-reliant, always with a focus on the unique needs of women and girls. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, we now work in over 40 countries as well as communities throughout Europe and the Americas.

The IRC established multi-sectorial relief programs in Lebanon in 2012. Today, the IRC Lebanon provides emergency aid and long-term services for people affected by, and recovering from, crisis across multiple sectors: child protection, protection, women's protection and empowerment, education, health, and livelihoods. The IRC operates in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, North, Akkar, Bekaa and Baalbeck.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Communications Officer will support the IRC Lebanon’s visibility and communication activities. The role holder will ensure regular, timely, and high-quality communications to showcase the project’s/programs’ successes on the IRC’s communications and social media channels through a range of products including success stories, information and fact sheets, social media management and monitoring, and other communications products. The incumbent will be supervising content collection and the development of proactive and reactive communications elements.

The role reports to the Advocacy and Communications Manager as a member of the Policy, Advocacy, and Communications (PAC) unit, and will liaise with the Lebanon program’s grants, partnerships, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning teams, as wells the Middle East Regional Communications team and global content and creative teams. This role will help to elevate the visibility of the IRC Lebanon country program while aligning with the country office’s strategic action plan.

Major Responsibilities:

Managing visibility and branding requirements:

• Work in collaboration with IRC grants team to ensure adherence to branding and visibility requirements across IRC Lebanon programs and in partner locations.
• Maintain a calendar of donor deliverables and support in the collation and submission of products to the donor accordingly.
• Coordinate sign off on important branded items and products, in coordination with the line manager.

Planning, collecting, and developing communications content:

• Work in close coordination with the line manager, program teams, and Regional Communication Specialist to develop a communications work plan that includes the collection and production of high-quality communication materials such as annual reports, human-interest stories, photos, blogs, and videos in English and Arabic languages.
• Conduct field visits to collect content – including stories, photos, and video – that communicates the impact and value of IRC programs and initiatives for internal and external audiences.
• Contribute to production and update of information materials for the country office, including fact sheets, newsletters, and infographics, and contribute to the creation of social media posts in Arabic and English.
• Collaborate with IRC programs to capture information and data for annual reports. Compile and coordinate content in alignment with the organization's strategic objectives.
• Monitor, Observe, and archive all communications content and consent forms to IRC’s internal content management systems and digital storage platforms.
• Coordinate with line manager to stay updated on all ongoing and upcoming project/program activities to anticipate and plan comms opportunities for IRC programs.
• Develop a social media content calendar for the IRC X (Twitter) account and other platforms in coordination with the line manager.

Monitoring and information management:

• Coordinate with program and MEAL teams to collect program information, updates on the impact of our work, and updated quantitative data to use in communications products and posts.
• Support PAC Department in response to information and briefing requests.
• Work Closely with the Advocacy and Communications Manager to monitor and archive media appearances of IRC Lebanon.

Internal communications and visibility:

• Lead in the production and issuance of the Country Program internal newsletter, highlighting activities, success stories, and partnership goals.
• Provide English-Arabic and Arabic-English translation as needed.

Media:

• Support the PAC unit and regional management for emergency response and media-related opportunities as needed.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Advocacy and Communications Manager (Lebanon);
• Position provides technical support to: IRC Lebanon program staff and partners;
• Other Internal and/or external contacts:
• Internal: Technical coordinators, grants staff, MEAL staff, Regional Senior Communications and Media Manager; Regional Content and Digital Specialist
• External: IRC Lebanon partners

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree, in journalism, media, communications, or relevant experience with 2 years of relevant job experience.
• Excellent writing and storytelling skills, and ability to adapt communication styles to different audiences.
• Ability to take high quality, professional photos in various settings, and basic photo editing skills.
• Basic knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (esp. Final Cut, Illustrator, Photoshop and In Design) is highly desirable.
• Proficient (spoken and written) English and Arabic is required.
• Ability to build strong professional relationships across diverse departments.
• High proficiency in handling varied, demanding and sophisticated tasks.
• Previous experience working in an NGO in a similar role is a plus.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.