Signpost Manager -Readvertised

Job Description

Organization Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The International Rescue Committee, hereinafter referred to as “the IRC”, is a non-profit, humanitarian agency that provides relief, rehabilitation, protection, resettlement services, and advocacy for refugees, displaced persons and victims of oppression and violent conflict. The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 in response to mass displacement and devastation wrought by the rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Since then, in partnership with various donors, the IRC in Uganda has expanded to meet the needs of the conflict-affected regions of Karamoja, Acholi, West Nile region, and in Southwestern Uganda as well as amongst urban refugees in Kampala.

About Signpost

Signpost is an innovative digital initiative providing the humanitarian community with a platform to reach refugees, asylum seekers and crisis-affected communities around the world with accessible information. Signpost programming will take a holistic approach to address information needs in Kyaka II Refugee settlement in Kyegegwa District and in Kampala. Signpost is a useful information resource for people in need fosters more in-depth community, more trust, and, most importantly, more utility for its users.

Signpost will enable refugees and asylum-seekers and vulnerable host community members to put across their questions and concerns and to receive the information they need to make informed choices about their lives in multiple languages.

The Signpost Manager will report to the Deputy Technical Coordinator (Protection and Rule of law) at Country level, IRC protection team, IT/Helpdesk team and the Global signpost support team at Global level. The signpost manager will provide direct supervision to the Editorial officers in Kampala and Kyegegwa Districts, including coaching them to produce content that meets high editorial standards.

Job Overview

The Signpost Manager’s main responsibilities is to help develop and implement content strategy and assigning, line and copy editing, and approving content for Signpost’s site/app, blog and Facebook page. S/he is tasked with ensuring content is accurate, complete, easy to understand, and engaging.

The Signpost Manager is also responsible for using our content management system (Contentful) and other tools to work with Field Editors to usher content from the first draft through editing and translation and ultimately to its final, published form.

Additionally, the Signpost Manager will ensure our photo database, style guide and editorial calendar are up to date. S/he will also use other project management tools to keep the project organized and on track. S/he will write or co-write reports on Signpost content.

The Signpost Manager may also pitch and create content for Signpost.

Duties and Responsibilities

●Ensure Signpost content is accurate, complete, easy to understand and engaging.

●Edit written and multimedia content created by Signpost staff, including Editorial Officers, moderators and the service mapping officer.

●Use the Content management software and other tools to prepare content for publication.

●Publish content.

●Organize, update and manage the Signpost style guide.

●Ensure the Signpost photo database is up to date.

●Ensure the Signpost editorial calendar is up to date.

●Work with ICT team to resolve technical issues across platforms.

●Help monitor traffic and other feedback.

●Assist social media team with Facebook and Instagram posts.

●Draft reports on Signpost content as assigned.

●Represent Signpost at conferences, workshops and other events

Team Collaboration

●Collaborate with the editorial team (Moderators, Service Mapping Officer, Editorial officers to manage and edit content across all Signpost platforms.

●Coordinate with ICT focal point to ensure smooth operation of the Signpost website and other tools.

●Work with editorial team to ensure content is aligned with the content strategy and appropriate for publication.

●Use online tools and other modes of communication to consistently share information with other members of the editorial team.

●Participate in all team meetings, workshops, strategy sessions, regular communications, etc.

Qualifications

●BA/BS in English, Journalism, Communications or a field in the humanities desired but not required.

●Minimum 5 years editing experience required; sub-editing/copy editing experience strongly desired.

●Expert-level knowledge of English grammar and usage.

●Experience using a CMS.

●Knowledge of online content best practices.

●Knowledge of social media strategy and content best practices.

●Experience in a newsroom desired.

●Experience in a humanitarian organization is a plus.

●Knowledge of refugee issues in East Africa desired.

●Very strong content editing skills required.

●Native-level oral and written English skills required.

●Ability to work effectively with a diverse team in a sensitive environment.

●Ability to work independently with remote management.

●Strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence.

●Ability to handle pressure and ambiguity with grace and humor.

●Proven organizational skills.

●Strong interest in refugee/humanitarian issues.

●Good news judgment.

●Photo and video skills a plus.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed on rolling basis.

Success Factors

The successful Signpost Manager will be extremely proactive, detail-oriented and organized. S/he values accurate and error-free reporting above all. S/he is self-directed and reliably completes tasks. S/he is diplomatic and able to work with a range of peers. S/he is computer-savvy and quick to learn new tools. S/he has a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability and regularly seeks opportunities for collaboration. S/he thrives in evolving and changing environments. S/he has a Facebook account.

Professional Standards

IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request reasonable accommodation.