Communications Manager, Europe Region (Parental cover)

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Agenda for Renewal provides a vision for how the IFRC sees its role in the implementation of Strategy 2030. The Agenda for Renewal ensures that the IFRC provides strategic and operational membership coordination, National Society Development services and represents the collective with humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy.

The IFRC Secretariat work is guided by its Plan & Budget 2021-2025, articulated around five strategic priorities: Climate and Environmental Crises, Evolving Crises and Disasters, Growing gaps in health and wellbeing, Migration and Identity, Values Power and Inclusion. The Plan &; Budget 2021-2025 also defines three enablers: Engaged, Accountable, Trusted.

This position is based in the Europe Regional Office in Budapest and will be leading a team of communication staff in the Europe region including surge staff when deployed. The Communication Manager will ensure quality internal and external communication and support national societies’ on communication.

Job Purpose

IFRC’s Communications Manager for the Europe region has two main functions:

• Working as part of global communications team to profile IFRC and National Society achievements and leadership in humanitarian diplomacy, humanitarian operations and organizational excellence globally, regionally and locally
• Provide strategic guidance to regional senior management on regional communications priorities and products.

Reporting to the Europe Regional Head, Humanitarian Diplomacy, Communications, and External Liaison with technical reporting to the global Director of Communications based in Geneva, this role Communications Manager is covering a parental cover for six months to champion the strategic humanitarian diplomacy and communications plan for Europe and Central Asia Region and support global communication priorities working closely with an existing extended communications team of 12 people across the region. The position will be based in Budapest, Hungary.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Lead and produce global IFRC communications:

• Produce and curate compelling, creative and sharable cross media content for IFRC communication channels and platforms and external media that profiles and positions the IFRC’s work in Europe.
• Expand IFRC’s digital footprint through a strategic and coordinated approach across corporate, leadership, private and National Society online platforms and foster a ‘digital communications culture’ amongst National Societies in the region.
• Act as IFRC’s regional media spokesperson and lead on media relations in the region, shaping the mainstream news and current affairs agenda through proactive and timely engagement with media outlets and journalists.
• Build and sustain a network of key contacts from the international media, professional communications networks and other key influencers to ensure that the IFRC is profiled and recognised as a leading reference on humanitarian issues in the region.
• Lead IFRC’s crisis communications management in the region.
• Scan for communications opportunities and risks and provide advice about responding and positioning.
• Support global advocacy and reputational risk management through coordinating media relations and engaging regional National Societies in planning and activities.
• Lead regional contributions to global campaigns, ensuring their implementation in the region and dissemintation among National Societies.
• Coordinate leadership communications in support of missions undertaken by the IFRC Secretary-General and IFRC President to the Europe region.

Lead and support global emergency communications system:

• Coordinate recruitment for regional emergency communications deployments.
• Develop and implement editorial strategy for emergency communications assignments.

Lead and support global communications capacity strengthening strategy:

• Implement the global communications capacity strengthening strategy at regional level.
• Develop and maintain a network of National Society communications staff to create a community of practice, and encourage the transfer of knowledge, skills, expertise and resources.
• Shape and contribute to global IFRC communications priorities through active participation in the global communications team, content creation for global channels and sustained and coordinated engagement on shared priorities. 

Internal communication:

• Proactively contribute to the build up of effective internal communication approach within IFRC and to member national societies in line with the global IFRC approach under development.  

Contribute to an effective, high performing IFRC team 

• Be flexible in your work definition according to needs and priorities and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources;
• Be a pro-active team member by anticipating needs and fostering a workplace culture that models  proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and value for money;
• Foster a co-creative environment with colleagues in Geneva, other regions and the International Red Cross and  Red Crescent Movement and an open and cooperative relationship with external actors;
•  Ensure business continuity over irregular hours where needed.  
• And be prepared to ensure business continuity over irregular hours where needed.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Duties applicable to all staff
1.    Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals. 
2.    Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
3.    Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Education

Required:

• University Degree in journalism, communications or international relations.

Preferred:

• Red Cross Red Crescent, humanitarian, development and management training or equivalent experience.

Experience

Required:

• Experience of working in complex disasters and in regions, including a track record of coordinating, inspiring and leading.
• Minimum of ten years as a communications specialist with at least three years in an international humanitarian context, public health, international development or related field.
• Five years of management and policy experience in communications, advocacy and/or media relations.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Strong knowledge of current affairs as they relate to humanitarian developments and opportunities for humanitarian diplomacy in Europe and Central Asia.
• Strong professional and management skills and ability to both be proactive and ready to respond rapidly to changing needs from senior management.
• Ability to lead and manage in a diverse cultural and social context.
• Analytical and strategic thinking.
• Strong relationship management skills including ability to rapidly build and extend professional networks.
• Excellent writing and public presentation / media relations skills. Experience as a spokesperson.
• Proven track record of management of specialized communications teams.
• Presentations, public speaking and speech writing.
• English editing skills.
• Fluently spoken and written English.

Preferred: 

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic) or Russian.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability
Core Competencies: Communication, Collaboration and Teamwork, Judgement and Decision Making, National Society and Customer Relations, Creativity and Innovation, Building Trust
Managerial Competencies: Managing Staff Performance, Managing Staff Development

Please note that the position is open to staff from National Societies too. Upon successful selection and hire, staff from National Societies will be contracted as Seconded Staff.