Post:Emergency Communications Officer 13-470
Organization; International Medical Corps
Location:New Delhi,India
International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and
relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs.
Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
Cyclone Phailin, a catastrophic storm roughly the size of Hurricane Katrina, struck the country’s eastern coast on Saturday October 12, 2013. The team will be assessing the needs of residents, as well as families and children who were displaced in the hardest-hit areas of Odisha state.
Authorities on Saturday put the death toll at 23, far fewer than had been feared, but said more than 8 million people were affected by the storm. Approximately one million people in Odisha (formerly Orissa) state and adjacent Andhra Pradesh took shelter after authorities issued warnings, as early as five days before the storm, and conducted mass evacuations - often by force – which minimized the loss of life.
In the wake of the storm, the destruction of standing crops has been massive - an estimated 2,000 square miles were washed away. In addition, electricity and communication lines are still down across large parts of Odisha. India’s disaster teams have begun relief operations, with authorities especially concerned about the health and sanitation needs of close to a million people and the impact of the storm on people's homes and livelihoods.
JOB SUMMARY
The Emergency Communications Officer (ECO) will deploy as “essential staff” with the emergency response team to the affected area, serving as the liaison and spokesperson to the media, collector of documentary content about the mission, and in-house resource for information. The ECO will be responsible for collecting, packaging and conveying information about International Medical Corps’ work and impact during the emergency response to a variety of stakeholders and audiences, including international and local media, existing and potential donors, and the general public. The ECO will serve as the primary coordinator of the media, as well as to VIPs/donors visiting the program. The ECO is responsible for gathering and disseminating content - including photos, video, and stories – to be used for promotional purposes and fundraising via printed materials, as well as online and broadcast mediums. The ECO is also responsible for generating awareness locally by increasing and managing International Medical Corps’ visibility and local branding and liaising with international and local communications counterparts.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSABILITIES:
1. During the initial stages of the emergency the ECO will
• proactively network with journalists in the field to benefit from high media interest in the early stages of a disaster, including coordinating interviews, prepping spokespeople, and when appropriate serving as spokesperson
• Regularly pitch International Medical Corps staff, stories, and notable developments or achievements to the news media
• manage messaging to external parties, including talking points, media kits, and media training for staff
• Plan, coordinate, and host field visits made by international and local media, partners, donors, VIPs, and other interested parties
• establish a reputation of International Medical Corps as a go-to organization with the media
• prepare and schedule field staff for interviews
• document International Medical Corps activities and program achievements through photography, video, and written stories for use on the website, in fundraising appeals, by external news outlets and content partners, in press releases, marketing materials, and other items that share our work with stakeholders
• help prepare talking points for field and HQ use
• provide regular information updates to HQ, ERT, and other field staff
• Work closely with the security officer and exchange sensitive and security relevant information
• manage International Medical Corps program and staff visibility and branding
• Network with local and international communications groups and infrastructures on the ground
• serve as International Medical Corps spokesperson both on and off the record
• contribute to the successful operation of International Medical Corps programs through participation in policy discussions and implementation of decisions of the ERT and HQ staff
• develop public relations, communications strategies, and budgets for public relations, marketing and communications strategies and budgets for their programs
• advise ERT and HQ on best media, communications and marketing strategies
• coordinate closely with Communications Director and the ERT team leader on these activities
When media/donor interest transitions/wanes from the emergency phase
• transform messaging from emergency ‘hard fact’ reporting on emergency response to general background information on International Medical Corps, the organization’s flagship initiatives, advocacy positions, and other developments and stories that could generate media interest
• network and collaborate with local and international communications groups and infrastructures on the ground
• help to transition above-mentioned responsibilities to international or local field staff
• train and prepare field staff for tasks through manuals, story templates, field staff templates, etc. on essential skills for communications work including photography, video, writing, etc.
• develop local marketing materials, PowerPoint decks, and other marketing materials relevant to local stakeholders, including development and translation of International Medical Corps logo
• provide content for reports and other outreach material to partner organizations, donors, local authorities, beneficiaries, etc.
• assist field staff with editing reports and making them visually more attractive
• advise and assist field staff on future media and visibility strategies
• continue to liaise with and pitch media
• develop preparation materials around the one-month, six-month, and one-year anniversaries of the event, when media and donor interest spikes of international and local media on the ground and a database of marketing materials and pieces that can be used locally
• advise on communications strategies and initiatives specific to programs, such as radio shows, press conferences, grassroots marketing and community education, etc.
SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS:
A. Organizational relationships The Communications Officer operates as part of the ERT, reporting to the Team Leader or his/her designee. The position requires frequent contact with other ERT staff and collaboration across IMC HQ. B. Supervisory responsibilities This position is assisted from time to time by temporary staff in the production and distribution of materials, etc. C. Skill requirements The essential requirement of this position is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing. The ECO will take stills pictures and video footage that can be used for media purposes, the website, newsletter, brochures, etc. This position requires strong communication and organization skills and the flexibility to balance multiple tasks and changing program priorities. Familiarity with photography, video, word processing and layout is essential. Knowledge of electronic mail and list processor routines is required. D. Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Most problems relate to increasing International Medical Corps’ visibility when competition with other organization for media coverage is high. The ECO must be able to gather and disseminate mission-related information under pressure, tight deadlines, and under difficult and demanding circumstances. The position offers considerable opportunity to be creative through continually seeking the most effective ways to represent and promote International Medical Corps and its programs to others, influencing how issues are addressed. The ECO must have excellent judgment in terms of telling the story of International Medical Corps’ work and impact to stakeholders, as well as selecting those who represent the organization before the media and donors. E. Authority/Independence The ECO is a professional with wide ranging responsibilities. The position is relatively autonomous and requires working both closely with the ERT and independently. The incumbent may represent International Medical Corps and speak on behalf of the organization to the media and public at-large.
LANGUAGES
• Ability to speak Oriya a plus
How to apply:
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
To officially begin the application process, qualified candidates please go to our career page http://careers.internationalmedicalcorps.org/careers.aspx , noting where you noticed the position you are applying for and complete the online employment application form.
- See more at: http://reliefweb.int/job/610748/emergency-communications-officer-13-470#sthash.CBUGP0uV.dpuf
Closing date: 22 Nov 2013
How to Apply
http://reliefweb.int/job/610748/emergency-communications-officer-13-470
No comments:
Post a Comment