Strategic Communication Advisor

Field-based position with visits to the headquarters in Amman

Context & Mission

As part of the communications and fundraising department, the Strategic Communication Advisor (SCA) position is one of the five public positioning referent to provide strategic advice, coordination and execution from a public positioning perspective including visibility and local communications.

The strategic communications advisor is the referent and the first responder for a portfolio of countries and/or topics for all public positioning and communications matter (internal/external).

Main Responsibilities

• Initiates, develops and drives validation on PR strategies for OCG countries and topics, developing compelling messaging for public audiences as well as media plan and partnerships in line with Telling It as It is vision.
• Under the leadership of the relevant Operational Programm Managers and in collaboration with the relevant Advocacy Advisor, initiates, takes part in and contributes with strategic advice to positioning discussions on context and issues by providing his/her analysis, relevant inputs, guidance on tactics…
• Is expected to propose and drive implementation of plans for public position and communications, engagement strategies, messaging and tools in order to communicate MSF mission and activities in consultation with the Program Managers, Heads of Mission and field communications staff.
• Gathers, develops, and checks the accuracy of information with thorough research into accessible narratives.
• Has “a nose for news” seeking to find ways to tell the story and impact through engaging articles, video scripts/narration, social media posts/plans and make decisions regarding content and offering solutions.

Your Profile

Education

• Tertiary degree in a relevant discipline such as political science, international relations, journalism, communication management or public relations

Experience

• 5-8 years’ work experience journalism and/or communications, and/or content generation (inside or outside of MSF) in the humanitarian sector, and/or MSF ops experience
• Excellent public communications skills and sound knowledge of the media environment
• Proven capacity to work in stressful environment and to tight deadlines
• A year of MSF and/or field experience a strong asset.
• An understanding of humanitarian interventions, their principles and ethics.
• Track record of developing successful communications

Languages

• Highly effective oral and written communication skills in English
• Ability to understand oral and spoken French is a strong asset
• Other languages: An asset, such as languages used in countries of OCG operations.

Skills / technical competencies

• Solid understanding of dilemmas associated with humanitarian assistance
• Strong knowledge of crisis communications and public relations skills
• Available to travel to the field with very short notice
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills including ability to accurately synthesize complex and sensitive material to produce content for publication
• Demonstrated understanding of how media works at national, local and international level
• Ability to deliver multiple simultaneous projects

Personal qualities

• Aligns with the core values of MSF
• A sense of humour
• Demonstrates behaviours in ways of working: Articulate, creative, strive for impact, listen deeply, collaborate openly, innovate fearlessly, tenacious.

Terms of Employment

• Fixed-term contract, 3 months
• Full-time, 100%
• Working place : Field-based position (flying position) with visits to the headquarters in Amman
• Practical working conditions in the field are in accordance with the MSF OCG volunteer manual.
• Ideal start date: November 1st, 2022
• Gross monthly salary: CHF 5’500.- based on 100%
• Benefits: Health insurance and living expenses in the countries of intervention and at headquarters, paid according to internal regulations.