Advocacy and Communications Manager

With over 70 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 34,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Key Responsibilities:

JOB PURPOSE:

This position will lead on advocacy and communications for WV’s Syria Response, including advocacy and communications strategy design and implementation. The manager will consider key influencers, field level realities and WV’s strengths to determine advocacy objectives for and with children in camps and host communities and leverage WV’s presence, evidence, brand and opportunities. To accomplish this purpose, the manager will develop policy analysis, positions, messaging and reports on an ongoing basis and advocate externally. This position will also manage internal and external communications for World Vision’s Syria Response, overseeing strategic direction and management to provide support and resources to enable the organization to appropriately engage with its various audiences in order to raise awareness on WV’s program and advocacy priorities and help generate funds and raise the profile of the organization as a leading responder to the wider Syria crisis . The position oversees a team of 6 staff located in Amman, Gazientep and Syria.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITES

Communications & Advocacy Strategy

• Oversee the Syria Response’s strategic direction for external engagement, influencing and communications
• Set the strategic direction for an annual targeted communications and advocacy plan, including a targeted social media plan
• Lead on the design and implementation of WVI’s global campaigns as well as other key publications and other key reports
• In collaboration with the Resource Development & Donor Engagement Department oversee the design of funding proposals for advocacy and communications, making sure they align with strategy and with program objectives and donor requirements.
• Ensure all staff understand the importance of advocacy and communications
• Engage on operating context issues and provide input as relevant on issues pertaining to the organizations and programs
• Engage as relevant in field office, regional and Partnership level issues, including pro-active and reactive communications as well as established groups and structures (ARG, IMT, etc)
• Work with the Risk & Compliance department, sr staff and others as needed in assessing and managing organizational and reputational risk

Advocacy and Influence

• Manage and monitor the implementation of the Syria Response advocacy strategy which bridges issues of field programs, humanitarian protection, coordination, funding and access with issues connected to WV’s sector-based programming
• Work with Syria Response and WV sector leads to develop relevant policy and positioning messaging on sector-specific issues that are critical to WV’s programming response
• Actively participate in meetings and humanitarian advocacy initiatives of the Syria INGO Response Forum, Jordan INGO Forum, Initiative and Regional Durable Solutions Working Group, leading activities where appropriate to WV strategy and expertise.
• Provide strategic guidance / support and assist with preparing senior leaders (Response Director, Response Managers, visiting CEOs/Regional Leads) for high-level external engagement and representation meetings.
• Build the capacity and support advocacy initiatives of local partners
• Facilitate opportunities for Syrian children and youth and Syrian humanitarians to be represented or have their voices heard in relevant local, regional and global meetings and events.

Communication

• Act as Reputation Risk Manager for the Syria Response: actively respond to risks as they arise using established protocols and brief Response leadership as needed
• Oversee requests on ContentFlow and TripFlow
• Oversee management, analysis and leveraging of Meltwater platform for the Syria Response
• Work with the Resource Development & Donor Engagement and Programs team to ensure coordination of SO and donor visits
• Oversee the implementation and adaption of the Syria Crisis Response Communications strategy.
• Advise the Syria Response Director and other relevant senior staff on communications issues.
• Develop and maintain professional contacts with key international media in the Middle East, in collaboration with the relevant Support Offices.
• Act as a spokesperson and identify and train other media spokespeople.
• Lead on drafting press releases and reactive media lines, with the support of the Communications team, regional and global communications colleagues.
• Sign off key communications products to ensure quality control and risk management and ensure they are uploaded to StoryHub in the correct format and in a timely manner.
• Manage all social media accounts.
• Provide communications trainings for partners according to the needs.

Team Management

• Direct management of team and direct reports
• Facilitate or provide technical capacity building to communications staff and where relevant, programmes staff.
• Guide, coach and motivate the team to strengthen high performance within the team
• Be responsible for care of the team

Required Professional Experience

• Minimum of 4-5 years of experience in NGO Communications, Advocacy and Partnering and with a thorough understanding of all areas of project management cycles in a complex, international organization
• Experience in managing a department and a team
• Proven ability to engage at a strategic level with senior government, UN, INGO and NGO officials.
• Strong networking and negotiations skills
• Demonstrated ability in financial management and budget management skills

Required Education, training, license, registration, and certification

• Bachelor’s degree in International Development, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Communications or a related field applicable to developing country context
• Demonstrated contribution to the development of country-level strategy, directions and key priorities of an organization’s operations.
• Proven experience in advocacy initiatives and networks to take positions on specific policy issues.
• Proven ability to lead a campaign and successfully achieve organisational objectives.
• Substantial knowledge of country legislative framework at all levels.
• Ability to form and maintain solid relationships with wide range of different stakeholders, partners, co-workers.
• Evidence of high level written and spoken English language abilities.
• Computer literate in Microsoft Office applications, Lotus Notes or similar database, email and internet programs. Experience using computers for a variety of tasks.

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

• Good interpersonal, organizational and time management skills. Able to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain performance expectations in a continues changing environments
• Excellent written and verbal communication and relational skills, especially in a cross-cultural environment, and ability to analyze and solve problems, persuade, network and negotiate.
• Ability to solve complex problems and to exercise independent judgment.
• Active listening
• Demonstrated track record in advocacy, external engagement and partnering initiatives.
• Track record of trying new ideas and innovation
• Demonstrable experience in child development and issues affecting most vulnerable children

Travel and/or Work Environment Requirement

The position requires ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 10-20% of the time.

Language Requirements

Evidence of high level written and spoken English language abilities. Knowledge of the Arabic language is preferred

Applicant Types Accepted:

Local Applicants Only

Apply now

Added 2 days ago - Updated 1 hour ago - Source: wvi.org