Website Strategist

Marketing & Mobilization (M&M) is an international team that is tasked with building the IRC’s profile and brand, supporting the growth of private revenue from deeper donor engagement and partnerships, and influencing our target audiences. The team owns IRC's brand, communications, creative and content and digital engagement efforts.

Digital Engagement (part of Marketing & Mobilization) leads efforts to increase IRC’s access to priority online audiences, attracting new supporters, and sharing an integrated digital supporter experience. These elements are designed with the strategy of inspiring audiences to give more, do more, and stay longer with the IRC. Digital professionals include communications specialists, content creators, digital campaigners, and analysts. This department will manage a team of social media and web strategists plus existing team of channel specialists and work across all functions in the Marketing and Mobilization team. They deliver to the US, UK, Sweden, Germany, Brussels, South Korea, and other global markets.

Job Overview:

The Website Strategist will report into a US market digital lead (under Senior Director of Digital Engagement). A key leader on the team, this professional will govern the organization's HQ website strategy for Rescue.org, with a focus on growing organic traffic primarily to engage consumer audiences in the US. They will sit alongside and work closely with the Social Media Strategist and will work in an integrated fashion with Content & Creative, Mass Markets, and Policy and Advocacy teams.

This individual will be a first-class copywriter / editor and have an excellent understanding of how to use SEO to increase site traffic. They will be adept at responding quickly to emergencies and breaking news with accurate and informative content. A strategic problem solver, they will have an expert understanding of user journeys and will partner with peer functions to ensure the site is optimized for reach and income goals. They will work with colleagues across the organization to continuously improve our digital presence and expand reach by continually testing new tactics to optimize online engagement, advocacy, and fundraising.

Major Responsibilities:

● Sets vision and direction for IRC HQ website content and prioritizes ways to increase organize traffic. Ensures website adheres to journalistic standards and behaviors for success for humanitarian storytelling. Defines strategy and establishes and monitors web results.

● Serves as editor-in-chief for Rescue.org: sets a content strategy and assigns content to staff and freelancers as needed; writes and edits as needed; feeds into content trips, provides editorial consultancy with markets and channels, promotes content quality and brand consistency.

● Develops audience engagement strategy and an SEO activity growth plan for Rescue.org, with support for .org websites in priority markets.

● Invests in SEO capacity to double-down on branded and unbranded search opportunities to raise visibility, especially during emergencies.

● Shares knowledge and helps to ensure SEO is reflected in ways of working.

● Stay ahead of trends, breaking news and emergencies to produce reactive content that brings supporters to the IRC.

● Develops systems to handle and prioritize requests for Rescue.org content.

● Collaborates with Mass Markets, Advocacy and Creative & Content on important calls to action for various types of content, testing language and layout to improve conversions.

● Collaborates with collaborators across communications and marketing on articles and web projects that reach joint goals.

● Works closely with Analytics teams to continually measure results across organic web channels and adjust approaches to increase revenue and reach. Leads on monthly reporting measuring metrics, ensures digital leadership is abreast of performance, and feeds into internal reports as needed.

● Feeds into DEI content planning and sharing feedback to ensure diverse client and staff voices are at the center of their storytelling, and that content features people's stories with empathy, dignity and respect.

● Ongoing cross-team projects including content management system upgrades; website accessibility work; brand refresh planning.

● Works with colleagues on short and long term changes to the site to improve user experience and accessibility, and ensure Rescue.org is fit for purpose. Provide basic SEO and web standard process guidance to other teams.

Job Requirements:

● Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent experience in communications, journalism, writing or related field

● 7 years+ of experience in the Digital field

● Sharp editorial judgment, and outstanding language skills. Ability to see the big picture while ensuring all website copy is factually accurate, grammatically correct and engaging for a general audience

● Demonstrated expertise in increasing site traffic through search engine optimization, with a finger on the pulse of changing strategies

● Ability to establish an editorial and SEO strategy tightly tied to the news cycle, shifting quickly and incorporating up-to-the-minute search and social listening data

● Ability to balance multiple partners while consistently acting as an advocate for Rescue.org core audiences

● Experience in using Google Analytics to report and deduce content strategies

● Extensive experience with content management systems and working closely with development colleagues to improve website user experience.

● Excellent writing and editing skills. Ability to write and edit to a high standard under quick turnaround time. Experience translating complex subject matters to digest for mass audience viewers.

● Experience optimizing website content for engagement, developing and testing strategies that move audiences to act

● Knowledge of the latest developments in website accessibility approaches and strategies

● Experience leading freelancers and/or on-staff writers and editors

● Data driven, excels at problem solving and analytical thinking

● Ability to respond and adapt to the needs of a highly matrixed organization and ensure work is delivered on time and with quality.

● Highly skilled in balancing multiple, strategic projects. Multitask, with a high degree of flexibility and fluidity and have a positive approach.

Working Environment:

This role will be based in New York or Washington DC, but will need to accommodate multiple time zones given our Global IRC community and will be in a hybrid environment with the option of remote work a few days a week. Position will also require ad hoc travel for events such as retreats, workshops etc.

Gender Equality:

IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowance.

The IRC and IRC workers enforce to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. The IRC operates and implements policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Compensation:

Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:

In accordance with IRC’s duty to provide and maintain a workplace that is free of known hazards and our commitment to safeguard the health of our employees, clients, and communities, IRC requires new hires to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to be considered for any in-office or hybrid positions. All IRC US offices require full vaccination to attend any in-office functions (e.g., meetings, trainings).

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity:

IRC is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. 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 accommodation.

US Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive and highly competitive set of benefits. In the US, these include: 10 sick days, 10 US holidays, 20-25 paid time off days (depending on role and tenure), medical insurance starting at $145 per month, dental starting at $7 per month, and vision starting at $5 per month, FSA for healthcare, childcare, and commuter costs, a 403b retirement savings plans with up to 4.5% immediately vested matching contribution, plus a 3-7% base IRC contribution (3 year vesting), disability & life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program which is available to our staff and their families to support counseling and care in times of crisis and mental health struggles.

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