Media Officer - 9 month's contract

BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian relief and development organisations. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive, recover and rebuild their lives. The IRC delivers emergency aid, protects children, provides health care, prevents and responds to violence against women and girls, safeguards human rights and helps to kick-start economic recovery. Working in more than 40 countries, the IRC has restored hope and opportunity to many millions of people.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

The IRC’s global headquarters are in New York. Our European headquarters were established in London in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities, to diversify its donor base and to advocate more effectively with European policy-makers on behalf of the people we serve. The IRC also has offices in Belgium and Geneva.

IRC-UK comprises approximately 60 staff across five departments: Policy and Advocacy; External Relations; International Programmes (statutory donor funding); Finance and Administration; and International Programmes Technical Units (Women’s Protection & Empowerment; Children & Youth Protection & Development; Governance & Rights; Economic Recovery & Development; Emergency Preparedness & Response, and Research, Evaluation & Learning).

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

External Relations is a dynamic team of eight covering: Trusts and Foundations, Individual Giving, Major Donors, Corporate engagement, Press and Communications. The core purpose of the team is to raise and manage the organisation’s profile in the UK and increase private income to support our humanitarian work around the world.   

IRC-UK is the Financial Times Seasonal Appeal Charity for 2014 and as such, we anticipate a busy period ahead in relation to press and PR. 

With high profile global leadership, this is an incredibly exciting time to join IRC-UK.

SCOPE OF WORK

Reporting to the Press and PR Manager, the Media Officer will support the organisation during a time of greater activity to increase the profile of IRC in Europe through press and PR work including being a contact and liaison person for press contacts, and generating effective media coverage as part of the global media team.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AND KEY CONTACTS

• Reports to the Press and PR Manager
• Key contacts: 
  • Director of External Relations
  • Wider IRC external relations
  • Press and PR staff in NY
  • Regionally based colleagues

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• To pro-actively explore opportunities to promote the IRC work and liaise with the global media team supporting international press work.
• To respond to journalist enquiries and requests in a timely manner to meet external deadlines.
• To write, edit and disseminate press-releases, op-eds, statements and other content for sign off and work with advocacy and country office staff to develop appropriate messaging and respond to media approaches and queries, providing background information, arranging interviews and facilitating media visits.
• To identify and build relationships with key journalists IRC works with and media covering issues relevant to IRC and establish a range of outlets for IRC materials, messages and spokespeople including: print, broadcast, online and social media.
• To expand and develop IRC social media presence and work closely with the team to ensure coordinated and topical content and to develop engaging messages and information about the IRC’s work around the world.
• To support, prepare and coach staff, spokespeople and board members for media interviews and visits across the organisation to dealing with media.
• To ensure that colleagues across UK departments are alerted to important news items and opportunities.
• To work with the global media and communications team and relevant IRC staff and follow IRC system for managing media enquiries.
• To support the Press and PR Manager in building press lists, and recording and sharing coverage.
• To develop and maintain a good level of knowledge of current and potential issues in the humanitarian NGO sector via research and monitoring of national media and competitors and in liaison with global colleagues.
• To liaise proactively with press office counterparts within statutory donor organisations.  
• To provide support to the External Relations team as required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Some existing contacts with the key national UK media, and knowledge and ability to build up and develop media relationships quickly.
• Excellent writing, editing, interviewing and proofreading skills: adept at writing clean, engaging copy under deadline pressure for a range of channels.
• At least two years experience of working in a busy press role, providing news responses both reactively and proactively.
• Experience/knowledge of online and other tools for monitoring media coverage.
• Experience of proactively using social media channels as a PR tool and to engage with the media and secure press coverage.
• Good understanding of international affairs, particularly of conflict and complex humanitarian crises and issues.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to establish good working relationships with colleagues in the UK and overseas.
• Good organisational and time management skills and the ability to work to deadlines, prioritise and multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexibility as regards working hours and a proactive approach to problem solving.

Desirable

• Knowledge of key debates in the UK around international development and aid.
• Experience of dealing with media enquiries into crisis and sensitive issues.
• Experience of organising international media visits to visit projects and report on key issues.
• Fluency in French.

To Apply

Please send a CV (two pages maximum) and cover letter (two pages maximum) to: applications@rescue-uk.org 

Please state clearly in your cover letter:

• Your reasons for applying
• How you meet the person specification for this position
• Where you saw the job advertised
• Current salary

The closing date for this position is the 10am 15 September 2014.

In order to minimise administrative costs, IRC-UK will only contact short-listed candidates. 

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

IRC-UK strives to be an equal opportunities employer. IRC-UK is committed to equality of opportunity and to non-discrimination for all job applicants and employees, and we seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.