****This position will be based in Lebanon and open for nationals only.

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps implements programs throughout the Middle East with the aim to address the most important challenges of the region. Mercy Corps’ areas of intervention are humanitarian crises, market system development, social cohesion and climate change and are located in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine.

Mercy Corps’ Communications team is a small but dynamic group of professionals dedicated to getting the word out about Mercy Corps’ outstanding work to help people around the world survive through crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. The team strives to raise Mercy Corps’ public profile by working with international media and supports the agency’s fundraising and advocacy efforts.

General Position Summary

The Senior Communication and Media Officer supports the Middle East regional leadership team and the Global Communications team in articulating programmatic impact in our communities to advance profile-raising, advocacy and internal communication. The Senior Officer will actively enhance and grow Mercy Corps media network in the Middle East and elevate our reputation as a reference point for an informed and meaningful voice on key issues in the region. They will work on improving internal communications within the region to further accent achievements of the greater team. The Senior Communication and Media Officer reports to the Regional Director and works closely with the Managing Director of Communications. They also work in close partnership with the Regional Team and Country Directors.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION

  • In coordination with the Regional Team, Country Directors and the global Communications team, develop and implement a Middle East communications plan that reflects and delivers to Mercy Corps’ global and regional priorities.

  • Act as the primary lead for both internal and external communications for the Middle East region, working in close collaboration with global counterparts.

  • Provide support to Mercy Corps offices in the region to develop country specific communication strategic plans.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT

  • Serve as a point person for media queries for Mercy Corps Middle East in coordination with the global communications team on various issues and serve as a spokesperson when required.

  • Develop and implement media outreach plans, strengthening and expanding Mercy Corps’ network of Middle East media contacts, in coordination with global efforts.

  • Work with Country Directors and teams on content gathering based on data analysis and learning generated from programs. Support the global team in content and information gathering for internal communications, media engagement, advocacy and fundraising.

  • Deploy to countries across the region when needed to research stories, conduct media outreach, and gather/produce stories. Partner with Mercy Corps’ Senior Global Photographer (based in Amman, Jordan), to identify and produce stories, taking primary responsibility for copy.

  • Initiate and/or support the production of communication and media materials for the Middle East, including talking points, news releases, social media content, contributed articles and fact sheets.

  • Work with countries across the region to support and facilitate intra-regional communication.

  • Elevate the profile of the Middle East region within the broader organization through the development and use of dedicated communication products such as a regional newsletter.

  • Work closely with the regional team to support and address specific communication needs.

  • Provide feedback and input to global marketing and communications initiatives as required.

  • Support Country Directors and teams in content review for public outreach material.

  • Serve as an active member of any regional crisis and response planning and action.

  • Act as member of the global communications team, providing peer review, support and input as needed.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

  • Provide coaching and mentoring for country-level communications members, assisting with information, tools and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Regional Director for the Middle East

Works Directly With: Managing Director of Communications, Middle East Country Directors, Regional Team, Internal and External Communications teams, Brand Marketing and Digital Marketing Teams, Policy and Advocacy team

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

  • BA/S in a relevant field required.

  • 5-7 years of professional experience in media relations or journalism required.

  • Demonstrated ability to work within a geographically dispersed team.

  • Established track record of generating positive media coverage in top tier international media outlets.

  • Superior written and verbal communications skills a must; ability to “translate” technical language into compelling stories needed.

  • Proven experience in international relief and development communications.

  • Knowledge of print, web, graphics and email dissemination.

  • Ability to work independently and take initiative.

  • Willingness to learn and collaborate with others, strong team player.

  • Commitment to capacity building required.

  • Fluency in spoken and written English and Arabic.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will be a proactive PR professional and excellent storyteller and writer with a nose for news. They will be a self-starter who can work independently or in a team setting, can take on a leadership and mentoring role for staff, and is able to forge productive relationships with colleagues throughout the agency. They will have a deep interest in Mercy Corps’ programs and a commitment to the goals of the organization.They will be able to prioritize, multi-task and organize many urgent tasks, often under intense deadline pressure. This successful candidate will demonstrate creativity and flexibility, as well as a proven ability to learn quickly and be accountable for results. Even temperament and a good sense of humor is appreciated.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Lebanon and open to nationals only. The position requires up to 25% travel, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

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.**

This vacancy is archived.

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