Communications Manager

Females are highly encouraged to Apply. 

What we are looking for:

The Communications Manager will be responsible for the development, coordination, and effective delivery of communications in line with NRC South Sudan priorities. We are looking for an excellent storyteller with an exceptional attention to detail, and an all-rounder who is confident gathering content, editing and writing as much as working with international media and briefing journalists on South Sudan’s humanitarian crises, preparing talking points and draft headline-grabbing press releases for global media.

The Manager will work closely with the programme and operations staff in the country, area, and field offices, and with the Regional Media and Communications Adviser. 

What you will do:

Key objectives for this role include:
 

1. Develop and implement a media and communications strategy and workplan in line with NRC South Sudan country strategy.
2. Build relevant external and internal networks (including journalists, media organisations, other media points of contact); develop and maintain the country office media contacts database; pitch and coordinate interviews with local media. 
3. Draft, distribute, and follow-up media products, including press releases, Op-Eds, and visibility and communications products including reports and newsletters. 
4. Identify and develop case studies and stories that showcase NRC’s work, in collaboration with programme and operations teams. 
5. Develop and produce high-quality communications and media products in line with NRC’s programming goals.
6. Ensure NRC and donor branding and visibility is in line with global NRC identity guidelines. 

Specific Responsibilities:

• Develop a one-year communications strategy for NRC in South Sudan.
• Gather and produce high-quality photo, video, and written communications products to profile programmatic and operational success and challenges. This includes highlighting the different emergency responses undertaken by NRC, consortium members, and implementing partners during crisis; and activities across sectors contributing to durable solutions and self-reliance.
• Improve the quality of NRC South Sudan’s donor visibility and communications content to secure and maintain funding. This includes the sharing of human-interest stories and interviews on different media platforms on how donor funding and NRC’s efforts has helped individuals and families in South Sudan recover from crisis shocks.
• Engage strategically with national and international media to build NRC South Sudan’s profile as a go-to source on emergency response, durable solutions, and self-reliance in South Sudan.
• Improve staff awareness/understanding to uphold principles and professionalism of public communications.
• Mentor and coach focal points for content gathering in NRC area and field offices.
• Mentor, coach staff to give interviews and prepare talking points for NRC spokespeople.
• Identify a pool of in-country freelance comms content gatherers we can rely on in times of emergency.
• Work with Regional Media and Communications Adviser to pitch and manage interviews, press releases, and field visits to international and local media outlets to draw attention to humanitarian needs.
• Produce engaging stories and content on a weekly basis for social media posts.
• Provide regular updates, news angles and trends that can be pitched to international media to bring attention to South Sudan.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position.

What you will bring:

Generic professional competencies for this position: 

• Minimum 3 years of experience in journalism and/or media management, including experience in social media.
• Degree in journalism or communications is highly regarded but experience, motivation and/or demonstrated ability is more important.
• Experience working in communications for a humanitarian organisation will also be highly appreciated. Demonstrated ability to write and review draft documents in English language.
• Understanding and respect for humanitarian work, particularly relating to displacement issues.
• High level of computer literacy, including use of Word, Powerpoint, Photoshop, high level photography and videography skills.

Context related skills, knowledge, and experience: 

• Top notch photography, filming and editing skills.
• Top notch writing skills in English.
• News and feature writing.
• Teaching, mentoring and coaching non-communications professionals.
• Good existing media network connections in South Sudan, and the ability to develop new media contacts.
• A passion for working with media and communications.
• The ability to travel regularly to the field independently is essential.
• Flexibility to work outside standard working hours.

What we offer

• Duty station: Juba with field missions
• Travel: 40-60%
• Contract: 6 months with possible extension
• Salary/benefits: grade 8 on NRC’s salary scale. NRC pays Hardship & COLA Allowances for international capacities. 
• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• Internal candidates only: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity MarketPlace.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We receive many applicants for each vacant position.
• All nationalities are encouraged to apply.
• If you have any questions about this role, please email ESA Recruitment esa.recruitment@nrc.no with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

South Sudan is dealing with multiple shocks including acute food insecurity and one of the world’s largest displacement crises. An estimated 9 million people will experience critical needs in 2024. An estimated 7.1 million people will require food assistance during the lean season from April to July 2024, as projected through the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Over 600,000 people have crossed the border from Sudan to South Sudan since April 2023 and while donors are introducing significant funding cuts, humanitarian needs are growing overstretching humanitarian agencies.

NRC works in South Sudan to protect the rights of displaced and vulnerable people during crisis and meet immediate humanitarian needs, prevent further displacement, and contribute to durable solutions. The people we serve attain durable solutions and attain self-reliance because NRC advocates for conditions conducive for return and local integration. Also, NRC’s programme activities convene other actors to invest in basic services in return and settlement areas.

Through our mobile emergency response capacity, we deliver lifesaving frontline emergency response to crisis affected populations in hard-to-reach areas across the country. In areas where we have established field operations, we ensure that displacement affected people are safe, can exercise their rights, access quality services and protection and secure durable solutions. We specialise in six sectors: youth and education; livelihoods and food security; information counselling and legal assistance; protection from violence; shelter; and water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion.

For NRC South Sudan to be able to improve on effective delivery of communications in line with our strategic priorities, a strong Communications Manager to lead this work is needed.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• Do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• Join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• Be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

Learn more about NRC