Senior Officer, Internal Communications and Staff Engagement

Job content

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Communications Department, which is based in the GRHDD, is headed by a Director, who has direct line management responsibilities over the managers of the following units: (i) Media and Advocacy; (ii) X-Media; (iii) Strategy and Global Network; and (iv) Community Engagement and Accountability. The Director also had technical management responsibilities over the Communication Managers in each of the five regions. This position reports to the Communications Manager, Strategy and Global Network Unit.

Job Purpose

The Senior Officer, Internal Communications and Staff Engagement will ensure key organizational messages are conveyed to staff in a way which is easy to understand, which helps to embed our values and mission, and which uses appropriate channels. The role will design, drive and deliver internal communications initiatives and staff engagement strategies and activities to inform, inspire, drive positive engagement and collaboration and to support a cultural change within the organization.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Based on the approved approach and roadmap, define and deliver an internal communications and engagement plan to improve internal communication, collaboration and staff engagement.
• Ensure the full integration of the internal communications plan with the Communications and Collaboration Project (C2) while ensuring that any technical solution is complementary to existing tools and platforms.
• Measure the impact and relevance of internal communications messages through direct feedback, analytics, and engagement.
• Build relationship with key stakeholders and focal points across the organisation and provide best practice as well as strategic internal communications advice at all levels globally, ensuring messaging is aligned with the organisation’s values and culture.
• Identify, develop, and implement suitable communication channels, initiatives, creative solutions, and activities to ensure that all personnel are engaged and understand the organisation’s goals, vision, culture, values, and behaviours.
• Plan, source, develop, and share relevant content (visual, written, audio) for multiple internal communications channels.
• Establish and maintain IFRC internal communications planning, tracking, measurement, and reporting tools to measure and monitor results and ensure implementation of improvement plan accordingly.
• Liaise with the Digital Transformation Department, coordinate the technical improvement of IFRC online platform “OurIFRC” to meet the objectives of the strategy.
• Advise staff on internal communications, provide oversight on editorial content, and ensure information for “OurIFRC” is aligned with the internal communication strategy at all times.
• Manage internal communication efforts during crisis situations to ensure the organization’s public perception and reputation is always protected.
  
  

Education

Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in communications, journalism or another relevant field.
  
  

Preferred

• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in any relevant area.
  
  

Experience

Required

• 7 to 10 years working experience preferably in the humanitarian or development sector.
• Demonstrated professional experience in an international or cross-cultural environment with a focus on strategic and corporate communication.
• Experience in supporting and delivering internal communications initiatives across a range of channels, including face to face and digital media.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent writer and communicator with track record of creating engaging content for different of target audiences.
• Excellent verbal and written skills and the ability to write in different styles for different audiences - including in the voice of a senior leadership.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Outstanding networking, representational and communication skills, an ability to be proactive and persuasive.
• Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation.
• Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality.
• High degree of discretion, tact and sensitivity in dealing with internal and external clients and stakeholders in politically and culturally sensitive issues.
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural, multilingual, multidisciplinary environment.
• Digitally savvy, and familiarity with technology solutions for the delivery of internal communications, especially in digital platforms/ content and video production.
  
  

Languages

Required

• Fluent spoken and written English.
  
  

Preferred

• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic).
  
  

Competencies, Values and Comments

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