Fundraising Communications Manager (801186)

What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and, at the same time, promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Context

In the context of growing humanitarian needs, the ICRC launched its Resource Mobilization Strategy 2020-2030 to guide fundraising over the course of the next decade. It provides ambitious targets, including to diversify its income streams. This strategy is underpinned by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Movement-wide Principles for Resource Mobilization.
The Strategy outlines five orientations to guide the ICRC’s evolution to deliver increasing and diversified income for ICRC and other Movement components with which it actively collaborates, including developing an enabling brand and becoming a fundraising organization.  
 

Purpose of the position

The Fundraising Communications Manager will establish and lead a new team mandated to provide tailored communications expertise and services to the Resource Mobilization team for their supporter engagement. This is a key step in further developing the ICRC as a fundraising organization. 
The postholder will lead the Communications Division’s efforts to achieve the fundraising communications vision described as driving ICRC audiences to:

• Feel inspired by the positive impact their support is making.
• Think of the ICRC as their partner of choice.
• And, act to continue and strengthen their engagement for communities living with conflict.

Acting as business partner to the Resource Mobilization team, the Fundraising Communications Manager is accountable for designing and delivering a fundraising communication strategy and roadmap and ensuring a coherent plan of action is in place and implemented. 
The role reports to the Head of Cross-Media within the global communications team. It has a client reporting line to the Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Centre of Expertise, which has been identified as the initial priority area to receive support from the Fundraising Communications team. This will be expanded in the longer term to include all audiences of the ICRC. 

Main duties and responsibilities

With overall accountability for the delivery of the fundraising communications plan of action, the postholder:

• Oversees and drives execution of the fundraising communications vision, embedding a specialised fundraising communications team into the global communications network and ensuring that client needs in the fundraising team are met.
• Actively supports the mainstreaming of support for Resource Mobilization needs across the Communications Division, leading capacity building approaches and ensuring that insight is gathered and acted on and planning is aligned.
• Acts as a strategic partner to the Private Sector Engagement Centre of Expertise, developing and adapting goals year-on-year to reflect fundraising communications priorities, including for campaigns delivered with Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement partners. 
• Supports ICRC’s emergency fundraising response, ensuring ICRC is well prepared to activate its supporter base in situations of mediatised crises. Ensures the fundraising communications team produces of timely and impactful content, driving communications and fundraising pushes in an integrated manner on relevant themes and emergencies.
• Develops and implements strategies, roadmaps, guidance and policies, in line with established priorities as identified with the client, to enable the ICRC to deliver on its fundraising communications vision. 

Main duties and responsibilities

• Contributes to ensuring ICRC communication and marketing activities for fundraising purposes are efficient and effective, based on defined KPIs, in their capacity to reach the right audience and to trigger donor interest/generate income and integrating learning loops into relevant processes.
• Designs a flexible and dynamic brand inclusive of and suitable for private sector and Movement engagement, leveraging market and brand research to better understand and attract key supporter audiences, and ensuring this process ties into the wider ICRC brand refresh project.
• Ensures ICRC communication and marketing activities for fundraising purposes are consistent with the external communications policy, including in terms of representing communities affected by conflict in a dignified and inclusive manner.
• Enhances fundraising communications capacity in the organization at different levels: building a conducive culture, improving processes, overseeing training sessions with key agents for change within the ICRC network and recruiting/commissioning fundraising communicators.
• Accountable for effective monitoring and reporting on a regular basis across agreed indicators, shared goals and progress attached to the fundraising communications plan.
   

Relationships

• Is a member of the Fundraising Communications Steering Committee (the body in charge of overseeing progress on implementing the new ICRC Resource Mobilization Strategy) and is accountable to this committee on issues relating to their responsibilities. 
• Leads and manages a team of people to provide fundraising communications support and supports other relevant colleagues in their work.
• Builds and nurtures relationships with key colleagues within the Resource Mobilization Division (client).
• Acts as the Communication focal point and manager for the delivery of the Private Sector Strategic Plan.
• Works collaboratively and in a networked mode with colleagues in communication teams in Geneva, regional communication centers and delegations, mandating work for fundraising communications as needed and streamlining efforts in support of fundraising teams.
• Works collaboratively and in a networked mode with internal stakeholders outside of the communication team within ICRC including at senior level.
• Networks with key external companies and experts within the communication and fundraising space to ensure we’re continuously on trend and best-in-class in our approach.
• Works with key counterparts in Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement National Societies to ensure appropriate performance and feedback loops are in place to consistently improve content delivery.

Education and experience required

• Degree in the field of fundraising, communications or related 
• Specialized certification/diploma in fundraising communication/marketing.
• Minimum 10-12 years in a senior communication, fundraising (private fundraising a significant asset) and/or marketing role, ideally working across a range of income streams, in an international humanitarian setting.
• Successful track record of driving successful marketing and communication campaigns, products and projects for fundraising purposes.
• Strong account management/coordination experience connected to the implementation of fundraising initiatives and campaigns, with proven ability to adopt and promote a client-focused approach.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and fundraising context – experience within the Movement in a fundraising capacity an advantage.
• Experience in market research and data analytics an advantage.

Desired profiles and skills

• Dynamic, collaborative and highly organised people manager able to build, support and lead a team.
• Demonstrable awareness of main donor/supporter profiles and engagement requirements, able to articulate these in a strategy.
• Confident, strategic and inspiring communicator.
• Proven abilities to take initiative and innovate to improve current approaches and processes.
• Analytical mind with a strong team spirit and problem-solving and results driven aptitude. 
• English and French fluent. Other languages an asset particularly German, Spanish and Arabic.

Additional information

• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Type of contract: Open ended
• Duration of assignment: 72 months
• Activity rate: 100%
• Estimated start date: Asap 
• Recruiter: Diara Niang
• Application deadline: 12th of February 2023

Are you ready to explore the next chapter of your career? Apply now!

The ICRC values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity at our institution. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform crucial job functions. Please reach out to us to request accommodation.