Head, Humanitarian Diplomacy & Communications

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

This position will lead and manage the Humanitarian Diplomacy and Communications functions for the Asia Pacific Region by ensuring sound positioning, strategic engagement, and effective external communications in support of IFRC’s priorities, and of the Regional Director’s Office in advancing IFRC’s humanitarian diplomacy agenda in the region, and communications strategies to strengthen IFRC’s positioning as leading humanitarian actor, and promote the work and achievements of national societies. The position holder will also provide strategic communications advice to senior management and serve as the regional media spokesperson, while ensuring alignment between advocacy, partnerships, and communications initiatives, contributes to global IFRC communications through collaboration with the Humanitarian Diplomacy (HD) and Communications Department and global HD and communications networks, production of impactful content, and timely communication during emergencies.

The role will oversee a regional team of specialists and provide leadership, technical guidance, and coordination across the regional office, country delegation / country cluster delegation.

Some of the specific objectives of the post include:

• To develop clear messages and influencing strategies for AP’s most complex emergencies – particularly Afghanistan, Cox’s Bazar and Myanmar.
• To develop clear messages and influencing strategies in relation to climate and other disaster risks facing the region.
• To design influencing strategies designed to encourage more donorship from AP to humanitarian causes
• To ensure IFRC is connected to media and policy making stakeholders in the region who are engaged in IFRC’s humanitarian causes.
• To support the RD to target key audiences and stakeholders and deliver well crafted messages
• To build synergy between IFRC communications and IFRC HD regionally and as part of a global team

Communications

• Provide strategic direction focusing on internal and external stakeholder engagement in support of humanitarian diplomacy goals.
• In close liaison with communication and technical leads, facilitate the production of analytical pieces, briefs, or reports to support effective advocacy.
• Collaborate with, and leverage support from, internal and external partners to support the development of innovative approaches and initiatives that build advocacy expertise and enable collective strategic positioning within the IFRC network.
• Develop, coordinate and execute a strategic communication approach and work plan for IFRC in the Asia Pacific region that supports programmatic and policy priorities and aligns with global communications priorities and initiatives, integrating effective use of a wide range of communications tools and disciplines, including media relations, corporate communications, digital media, social media and advocacy.
• Act as the strategic communications advisor to IFRC senior management in the region and lead on crisis communications in response to reputational risk issues that may adversely affect the IFRC.
• Provide leadership, technical coordination and strategic direction to IFRC communications staff in the region, while also collaborating with technical counterparts in IFRC’s global communications team.
• Develop and maintain a network amongst National Society communications staff in Asia Pacific that creates as a community of practice, encouraging the transfer of knowledge, skills, expertise and resources.
• With the support of the global team and under the guidance of the global capacity building strategy, collaborate with and leverage support from Movement partners to develop innovative approaches and initiatives that build communications capacity, skills and experience in National Societies and the IFRC network – including web based learning; training events, mentoring and peer to peer exchanges.
• Coordinate rapid emergency communications response to emerging humanitarian challenges and emergencies impacting the region. This includes; HR responsibilities - identifying and managing regional surge support needs including deployment of external service providers; collaboration with regional communications counterparts in the Movement; outreach to international media; gathering, production and distribution of high-quality communications materials and content that profiles and positions the IFRC; collaboration with colleagues in resource mobilisation to support fundraising efforts.
• Coordinate the production and curation of compelling, creative and sharable multimedia content for IFRC communication channels and platforms and external media that profiles and positions the IFRC’s work in Asia Pacific.
• Act as IFRC’s regional media spokesperson and lead on media relations in the region, shaping the mainstream news and current affairs agenda through proactive and timely engagement with media outlets and journalists.
• Build and sustain a network of key contacts from the international media, professional communications networks and other key influencers in Asia Pacific to ensure that the IFRC is recognised as a leading reference on humanitarian issues in the region.
• Shape and contribute to global IFRC communications priorities through active participation in global communications team and sustained and coordinated engagement on shared priorities.

• Manage IFRC’s regional social media platforms and online engagement and foster a ‘digital communications culture’ amongst IFRC staff in the region.
• Actively advise and support the rollout of global external and internal communications initiatives and campaigns ensuring the active engagement of National Societies in Asia Pacific.
• Coordinate leadership communications in support of missions undertaken by the IFRC Secretary-General and IFRC President to the Asia Pacific region.
• Lead efficient corporate communications and production processes and ensure compliance and coherence with IFRC’s brand identity.
• Liaise and collaborate with communications counterparts within the Movement to identify opportunities for strengthening Movement cooperation and collaboration.
• Ensure IFRC`s fundamental humanitarian principles are reflected in IFRC communications.
• Be flexible in work definition according to needs and priorities and improve team efficiencies and effectiveness within available resources.
• Be a pro-active team member by anticipating needs and fostering a workplace culture that models proactivity, continuous improvement, innovation, high performance and value for money.
• Foster a co-creative environment with colleagues in Geneva, other regions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and an open and cooperative relationship with external actors.
• Ensure business continuity over irregular hours where needed.

External Relations and Events

• Ensure thorough preparation and coordination of external relations and events.
• Coordinate the preparation and content development of supporting documentation for strategic meetings.
• Engagement with the Diplomatic Community, Governments, and International Organizations
• Ensure the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the Regional Director’s strategic outgoing correspondence by coordinating with relevant internal stakeholders, providing analysis on political and humanitarian issues and compounding contexts and stakeholders as well as finalizing supporting documentation.
• Proactively identify opportunities for engagement with the diplomatic community, governments, and International Organizations and ensures effective follow-up as appropriate.

Risk Management

• Manage the provision of strategic risk management to the Regional Director.
• Ensure the successful implementation of the IFRC’s Risk Management Policy / Framework by ensuring its’ operationalization across country and regional teams.
• Manage the successful embedment of risk management into day-to-day tools, processes and policies.
• Lead the analysis, collation and dissemination of salient information and advice pertaining to the management of risks facing IFRC in the region.
• Ensure informed decision making based on tracking, assessment, mitigation, escalation, reporting of operational risks faced by IFRC and its stakeholders in the region.
• Provide proactive solutions to existing risk management issues.

Convening of Humanitarian Diplomacy Forums and Capacity Building

• Serve as a trusted adviser in positioning IFRC appropriately in the humanitarian diplomacy space and liaises closely with key internal and external stakeholders to support the Regional Director in the advancement of the Federation´s Humanitarian Diplomacy agenda in the region.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and management of the regional conference.
• Identify key decision-makers, power centres and policy opportunities to develop engagement plans to strategically position the IFRC within the Region.
• Prepare, coordinate, and promote policy position papers and briefs on relevant topics and ensure their implementation.
• Establish a clear HD strategy for the region, taking in to account the challenges outlined in the Strategy 2030.
• Facilitate support to and engagement of National Societies in enhancing their auxiliary role and national positioning as well as in contributing to regional and global humanitarian diplomacy goals.

Coordination

• Ensure proactive and effective coordination both internally and externally with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Movement, on humanitarian diplomacy and communications issues to further the IFRC agenda.
• Manage high level PNS coordination, including mapping and alinement of regional strategies with IFRC planning.
• Proactively coordinate with technical counterparts for each portfolio covered within the teams’ responsibilities.

Regional Liaison Support

• Ensure the effective planning and management of strategic forums and relationship development with key external stakeholders.
• Ensure smooth strategic and administrative support to both the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director.
• Responsible for identifying risks within their work area, monitoring the development of the risks, and implementing risk responses or escalating to the Director when necessary. 

Effective Matrix and People Management

• Ensure a well-managed team while promoting a culture of performance and continuous learning.
• Contribute to the effective coordination with the technical units of the Regional Office, country/cluster offices and PNSs.
• Ensure effective coordination with focal points from Country Delegations, Country Cluster Delegations and Geneva.
• Play an active role as part of the Global HD and Communications teams and contribute from a regional perspective to global initiatives, briefings, analysis etc.

Education

Required

• Degree in journalism, communications, international relations or related field.
• Master´s degree or equivalent in management, public administration, business administration, international relations, law, or other relevant field of study.

Preferred

• Qualification or certification in project management or risk management qualification such as IRM.

Experience

Required

• Minimum 7 years of experience in communications, advocacy or journalism including media relations and/or social media strategy in the humanitarian sector or similar.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in Humanitarian Diplomacy in the humanitarian sector or similar.
• Strong experience working in a multicultural and cross-disciplinary environment.

Preferred

• At least 7 years of experience managing staff.
• At least 5 years of experience working on risk management in an international environment.
• A demonstrated track record in complex issues management and emergency communications.
• Experience in providing front office support.
• Experience in managing external relations with International Organizations, diplomatic missions and other key actors.
• Red Cross / Red Crescent experience.

Required

• Highly developed leadership skills.
• Professional credibility, strong analytical skills, and ability to work at various levels of complexity.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills and ability to negotiate while maintaining effective working relations, excellent communication, networking, and representation skills.
• Proven ability to motivate and manage a team, including dispersed communications teams.
• Strategic analysis, systematic planning, and implementation skills.
• Excellent collaborative and teamwork skills.
• Highly organized and results oriented.
• Risk Management.
• Ability to lead and manage in diverse cultural settings
• Strong partner engagement skills including ability to rapidly build and extend professional networks
• Outstanding written, oral and representational communication skills
• Experience as a media spokesperson
• Demonstrated core proficiency in (a) digital communication & collaboration, (b) basic digital content creation, (c) digital safety & security, (d) data literacy, and (e) problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants.
• Understanding of and commitment to IFRC’s mission and values.
• Fluent spoken and written English

Preferred

• Multimedia production, AV and design skills
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust
Managerial competencies: Managing Performance, Managing Staff Development
Functional competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others