Communications Manager

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 191-member National Societies. The Organization acts before, during, and after disasters, crises and health emergencies in order to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. Our work is guided by seven fundamental principles (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality), policies and by Strategy 2030, which voices our collective vision and determination to move forward in tackling the major challenges that confront humanity in the coming decade. The IFRC Secretariat has a decentralized structure: five regional delegations (each with several country cluster delegations and country delegations reporting to it) covering the globe and responsible for frontline delivery through National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, backed by the Secretariat HQ based in Geneva.

The IFRC is currently present in Nepal through a Country Delegation (CD) - first established in 1965 with a presence through regional representation at times), providing support to Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) programmes and capacity building. The longer-term mission of the Nepal Delegation is to facilitate organisational growth, technical capacities, partnerships, and resource mobilization that enable Nepal Red Cross Society to deliver on its humanitarian mandate in the country through the provision of technical support, advocacy, representation and coordination functions, in accordance with Strategy 2030 and Unified Plans. The Country Delegation also provides integration services to seven IFRC members with presence in Nepal, leveraging its Status Agreement with the Nepali authorities to engage with the Government of Nepal, the diplomatic community, development partners as well as other key stakeholders. 

The Communication Manager will lead the IFRC Country Delegation on internal and external Communications in country in coordination with all Red Cross Red Crescent members and alignment with IFRC Regional Communications to ensure that the overall communication is functional across the IFRC Network in Nepal (NRCS, IFRC and its membership) while meeting global standards of the IFRC Principles with visibility, branding, innovation and alignment to the highest quality.  This position is based in Kathmandu with regular field visits to programme/operation implementation districts. 

This role requires an energetic, highly experienced, dedicated and detail-oriented person who can manage multiple tasks with pro-activeness and coordination. He/She should be a team player with willingness to learn and ability of manage multiple tasks while adapting to shifting priorities.  

The Communications Manager as a part of the IFRC team leads all internal and external communications efforts of the Country Delegation. This is done under the overall strategic guidance of the Head of Delegation in Nepal. The role will also ensure the collective footprint of the IFRC Network is well-represented through constant engagement with NRCS and the IFRC membership in the country.  Principle-centred, qualitative and timely outputs are expected.

The Communications Manager will ensure alignment with global best practices in communication as well as donor requirements, and partner priorities. The Communications Manager will work closely with counterparts in NRCS as well as IFRC members present in Nepal together with other key stakeholders to ensure that high-level and leading-edge communication materials (both audio and visual) related to the operations and programme that the IFRC network is supporting NRCS to implement are prepared and disseminated.

Depending on skillset, he/she will be responsible for qualitative and timely communication content with communication tasks including but not limited to: writing and editing, photo and video production and editing, generating social media content, graphic design, media relation, event coordination and other communication support tasks as assigned by the line manager. 

1/ Strategic Communications

• Under the overall direction of the HOD, work as part of the Country Team to design and support the annual strategy and work plan of the IFRC Country Delegation Communications as well as the IFRC Global Communications strategy.
• Coordinate with the Country Delegation team, NRCS team, IFRC members/network in Nepal as well as the IFRC Asia Pacific regional team to ensure that the consistency of IFRC image is maintained.
• Ensure a high-value strategic approach to Communications in the country.
• Collaborate with the Humanitarian Diplomacy unit in APRO and keep abreast of the relevant issues that may have an impact on the operations in Nepal.
• Ensure that the content produced for Nepal has an in-depth lens and tackles larger issues targeted for specific audiences such as embassies, donor societies, and government.

2/ Production of high-level internal and external communication products to depict IFRC-wide engagement in Nepal 

• Coordinate with and provide technical support to the PMER in finalizing external reports such as annual reports and others and disseminate key reports among the identified audiences.
• Coordinate with communication team members in Nepal Red Cross and IFRC network on a harmonized manner.
• Lead the development of media communications materials, op-eds, press releases, exposure stories, key messages, briefings, and talking points in support of the IFRC-wide visibility and advocacy.
• Coordinate the mobilization of photo/video consultants to field activities across the IFRC membership to increase the visibility of NRCS/IFRC programming including post-production and dissemination on social media and other relevant platforms
• Support line manager in preparing for and organizing public speaking engagements with the preparation of background materials and speaking points.

3/ Media (incl. social media) engagement

• Work together with the IFRC CD team, NRCS communication and the regional team in developing press release/media advisory writing, editing, distribution, and media outreach.
• Together with NRCS, identify media opportunities in print media features, radio and television programs, and keeping the pool of contacts for further collaboration
• Prepare and disseminate press releases and media advisories including reactive lines in timely manner. 
• Actively promote the work of NRCS/IFRC through social media platforms in close coordination with NRCS Communications Department as well as the IFRC regional communications team. High quality with experienced and creative copy writing skills in line with Red Cross and Red Crescent Principles will be needed.

4/ NRCS capacity enhancement in the field of communications

• As applicable, mentor the NRCS communication team in relevant field of communication (social media, website, exposure stories, media engagement, etc.). 
• Ensure all IFRC communications activities including the IFRC members in Nepal are well-coordinated with NRCS while also contributing to the enhancement of their capacities. 
• Together with NRCS, help compiling and updating the national media contact lists (including international media based in Nepal).

5/ Other

• Undertake field missions to support local communications as relevant.
• Support Unified Planning process as required.
• Other relevant tasks that can be assigned by the line manager.