The Senior Communications Officer, Media Relations promotes the IFRC’s mission and raises its profile through print, broadcast, and digital media outlets. This role supports strategic media planning and carries out day-to-day media relations efforts.
The Senior Communications Officer, Media Relations looks for opportunities to include a Red Cross Red Crescent angle into the daily news cycle and works with colleagues across departments and geographies to communicate complex humanitarian
issues.
• Develop media and advocacy strategies related to global emergencies, special projects to articulate IFRC priorities and ensure advocacy objectives are achieved.
• Identify and pitch stories, spokespersons, and visuals to global media outlets to boost the visibility of humanitarian work around the world.
• Handle incoming media inquiries, communicate information to media and manage media interviews related to IFRC’s work.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key media outlets – including print, broadcast, and digital – to ensure communication channels are open.
• Create and review press releases, talking points, pitches, media statements, reactive messaging, FAQs, op-eds, and other written content ensuring consistency of brand and voice.
• Participate in the biweekly press briefings at the United Nations Palais des Nations.
• Organise regular weekly X Spaces to provide updates from across the IFRC network.
• Serve as a spokesperson on specific topics on behalf of the IFRC in international media outlets and on global platforms.
• Advise Red Cross and Red Crescent communicators around the world on best practices and media opportunities.
• Build and maintain media pitch lists. Master relationship management database and create processes for IFRC’s communicators around the world to use the database effectively.
• Work with both the other teams in the Department to identify opportunities for digital collaborations and media partnerships and engage with member national societies.
• Scan for communications opportunities and risks to stay abreast of current operating environment and provide advice about responding and positioning.
• Support IFRC’s crisis communications management when needed.
• Identify emerging audiences and monitor external trends to inspire action and mobilize funds, volunteers, and visibility.
• Track analytics of coverage and meet goals related to key performance indicators.
• Ensure IFRC’s communications approach reflects the organization’s values and its position as the world’s largest humanitarian network.
Contribute to an effective, high performing IFRC team:
• Be flexible in your 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, regions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and an open and cooperative relationship with external actors.
Required
Preferred
Required
Preferred
Knowledge and Skills
Required
Language
Required
Preferred
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