BACKGROUND
Over the past 90 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC UK
IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its headquarters in New York and London. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in England, a programme that is rapidly growing.

In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm.

The Purpose of the Role

The Communications & Partnerships Manager will help to increase IRC’s profile with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and potential partners. The post holder will lead the development and execution of a communications strategy that delivers global visibility around our FCDO funding/track record and IRC’s programmatic and technical expertise.

The Communications & Partnerships Manager will be responsible for developing content that showcases our FCDO programmes and communicates the impact of UK Aid. The role will be part of the UK Communications Team, and managed in partnership with the global Awards Management Unit (AMU), which leads on IRC’s government and institutional funding and relationships, to ensure strong connection to our funding goals and programmes.

We are looking for a multi-disciplined communications professional, with experience of marketing and media activities focused on government/institutional donors, who possesses a strong understanding of the donor landscape, and is familiar with digital channels and how to utilise these for donor audiences.

Key Working Relationships

Reports to Communications Director UK and managed in partnership with Senior Advisor, Strategic Partnerships – FCDO in the AMU. Collaborates with members of the Communications and Policy and Advocacy Teams in External Relations, the AMU and other colleagues involved in IRC’s overall relationship with FCDO.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategy and Planning

•     Develop and implement a donor communications strategy focusing on FCDO and IRC’s partnership and demonstrating IRC’s programmatic and technical expertise.
•    Contribute to the delivery of the UK Communications Strategy and provide expertise on FCDO as a key audience within the strategy.
•     Identify, plan and manage communications opportunities to promote the IRC and our work funded by FCDO.
•    Develop contacts and relationships with FCDO’s Communications Team to promote and strengthen our partnership.
•      Advise IRC teams on FCDO branding strategy.

 Developing and delivering communications content

•  Supervise/lead the development of marketing materials such as case studies, pitch presentations, brochures, etc. and digital content, which showcase IRC’s FCDO projects and demonstrate IRC’s credentials as a reliable and impactful FCDO partner.
• Work with the AMU and UK Communications team to identify and deliver relevant content such as press releases, announcements, updated website presence and use of social media channels to raise IRC’s profile with FCDO and potential partners.
• Work with colleagues across the IRC on integrated campaigns around key moments such as IRC Watchlist launch.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:

•     Good understanding of UK politics, particularly FCDO, cultural institutions, governance, national governments and NGO frameworks, with knowledge of key debates in the UK around international development and aid.
•      Excellent creative abilities, with a track record of having creative communications ideas and seeing them through to completion.
•      Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills; adept at writing clean, engaging, jargon-free copy for a range of channels
•      Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to establish positive working relationships with colleagues in different teams
•      Strong organisational and time management skills and the ability to work to deadlines, prioritise and multi-task in a fast-paced environment
•      Proactive approach to problem solving to meet organisational demands

Experience:

•      Strong professional experience in communications, international affairs or related field
•      Breadth of experience across many aspects of communications, including strategy development, media relations, social media, website content, marketing and events.
•      Experience of developing and implementing marketing and media or broader communications strategies with an international focus (ideally with a focus on institutional donor such as FCDO, or equivalent).
•     Experience of strategy, planning and doing (i.e., a consistent track record of developing creative ideas and campaigns and drive implementation)
•     Experience of leading projects and collaborating with multiple teams/individuals.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

The application deadline is 19^th February 2023 23:59 GMT.

IRC UK strives to be an equal opportunities employer. IRC UK is committed to equality of opportunity and to non-discrimination for all job  applicants  and  employees,  and  we  seek  to ensure  we  achieve diversity  in  our  workforce  regardless  of  gender,  race,  religious  beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC UK welcomes applications from all candidates, including underrepresented groups and refugees who have the right to work in the UK.

A gap history in your CV is not detrimental. IRC is willing to invest in transferrable skills.

IRC UK will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application and/or interview process, and for essential job functions if appointed to a role. Please contact us if you may need such adjustments. 

If you have any questions or need assistance with the online recruitment process, please contact the IRC UK HR team at applications@rescue-uk.org

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