Senior Communications and Outreach Officer at Mercy Corps

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

 Learning, Communications and Event Management Support:

• In coordination with the Technical Director, lead the development and implementation of the organization’s external and internal communication strategies, including media/public relations, marketing, general communications, and employee-focused communications, in line with the organization’s vision, strategy and values. This includes working closely with the technical team on donor/prospect fundraising communications, materials, and support.
• Lead the development of communications materials, including blogs, case studies, summary overviews, and others, through deep collaboration with the AgriFin technical team.
• Coordinate the publishing of content on social media and the AgriFin website, maintaining continuity of themes, designing layout, streamlining navigation, and increasing online presence to potential partners.
• Working with the Technical director, in liaison with the technical team, coordinate and plan the Annual Learning Event (ALE), including the formation of schedules, agendas, promotions, and other event coordination in collaboration with the AgriFin and external communications teams.
• Support MCA and partner initiatives to implement their communication and social media strategy, draft and publish bi-weekly newsletters, document, socialize, and share major achievements, milestones, and updates.
• Help AgriFin achieve a strong, visible global presence by developing concepts with viral potential and act as an advocate for the company in social media spaces, engaging in dialogues and answering questions where appropriate.
• Managing the technical upkeep of the AgriFin website, including ensuring its products are mobile-friendly and multi-platform ready. Where required, collaborate with development teams to discuss, analyze, or resolve usability issues.
• Maintain continuous insight on engagement rates with AgriFin’s social media channels and website, sharing performance regularly with the team.
• Manage AgriFin mailing lists and internal file storage system, ensuring its upkeep and organization. 
• Serve as lead focal point with HQ communications teams to ensure efficient coordination and collaboration and information sharing on program work, evaluation results and communications flows.
• Build and maintain relationships internally, and with external stakeholders to ensure, fulfilling funding requirements and agreements. Help identify, develop, and maintain key communication channels, adapting and improving them in line with external trends and business needs.

Research Engagements and Program Support: 

• Providing research, analysis, drafting, and other support for thought leadership pieces (e.g., journal articles, op-eds, white papers) produced by MCA team and partners.
• Facilitate support to consultants and related firms in accessing program data and learnings.
• Support the Technical Director towards knowledge management activities, organize and enable the launch and successful management of impact assessment work, including coordination of projects, the development and maintenance of project summaries, progress reports and status updates.
• Support the consolidated project tracking using relevant tools such as dashboards and pipelines of learning engagements based on project plans, milestones, and roadmaps agreed to with engagement leads. 
• Provide technical guidance during the development of digital and print-communications, such as annual reports, research studies, case studies and promotional publications like informational brochures, factsheets, talking points, news releases, and others.
• Lead and support in preparing terms of reference and scopes of work, memos, justifications, quality assurance, contracting, service completion and payment requests documents while providing support and oversight for consultants as required. 
• Support the program in liaising with partners, specifically towards preparation of desk reviews and field reports. This will include scheduling and planning of field visits, note taking, logistical and planning support, organizing meetings and sourcing of vendors. 
• Identify and document the core information needs of central project, management, the advisory committee, donors, and partners.
• Other duties as assigned to by technical director in support of MCA communications and outreach efforts.

Supervisory Responsibility

There is no supervisory responsibility associated with this role, but oversight of short-term consultants and vendors may be required.

Accountability

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO:  MCA Technical Director, Strategic Learning.

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program Director, Technical Director Programs, Technical Managers, Communications & Learning Consultants, Finance, and operations staff.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 6-8 years’ related experience in Public Relations, Media Relations, Marketing Communications, Corporate Communications, Employee Communications, or related fields required. Both nonprofit and corporate experience is desired, as is having progressive responsibilities in managing these functions.
• Bachelor’s degree in communication, marketing, public relations, Social Sciences, Development Studies. Master’s Degree in any of the above is an advantage.
• Exceptional writing, grammar and editing skills with strong written and oral communication skills in English, including report development.
• Experience in managing graphic communications and/or directly using graphic design tools (e.g. Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, etc.) preferred.
• Experience managing websites and email-distribution platforms, and/or working with website and other technology vendors and consultants, including WordPress and Salsa Labs.
• Experience managing other related communications vendors, such as news-distribution services, media-monitoring services, printing services or brokers, photographers/videographers, or suppliers.
• Demonstrates strong verbal interpersonal skills.
• Strong time management, supervisory and organizational skills.
• Experience creating/managing project budgets.
• Demonstrated knowledge of various software packages such as Microsoft Office.
• Work experience in marketing/communication agencies is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work constructively in teams.
• Experience working in the region preferred.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Highly pro-active and self-disciplined.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation a plus.
• Willingness to travel.