Field Communications Manager

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international medical relief organisation, with more than 30 offices worldwide. When large-scale epidemics occur, when areas in crisis are too dangerous for many other organisations, then our medical teams are there to assist the affected population. We organise basic medical care, treat the injured, carry out vaccination campaigns, train local staff and build up medical infrastructure. In long-term aid projects our teams fight diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, sleeping sickness, and HIV/AIDS.

Join MSF’s international team on the ground as

Communications Manager

MSF uses public communications to support its medical humanitarian action, to bear witness on the crises it works in, to make its work known to the public, and to secure and sustain public support for its social mission, including through fundraising and recruitment efforts.

The purpose of the Communications Manager is to define, oversee and implement communications strategies in direct support of MSF’s medical humanitarian programmes and social mission.

The main accountability areas of this position are the following:

Operational communications and bearing witness strategies:

• Defining, reviewing and implementing the communications strategy for the country of operations, including advising on positioning, and identifying opportunities to communicate.
• Alerting on unfolding situations in MSF project areas that may require public communication by MSF.
• In emergencies, ensuring timely delivery of guidance and content for journalists, the MSF communications network and for public release

Communication dissemination and engagement strategies:

• Managing MSF in-country communications in close cooperation with MSF digital teams.
• Identifying media and/or communication training needs for operational staff and organising the necessary training.

Content production:

• Transforming operational or medical information into a communications angle relevant to the humanitarian/health situation with the appropriate communication tools.
• Applying MSF communications ethical guidelines in all materials directly collected and produced, this includes informed consent, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), and other relevant communications standards or guidelines.

Digital and media monitoring

• Using digital and media monitoring to build, update and strengthen understanding of the media landscape, of audiences, of public narratives of relevance, and to track MSF coverage, and identify misinformation or reputational challenges.

Global MSF communications network:

• Providing the MSF communications network with firsthand updates and guidance on the operational and humanitarian situations, advising on communications opportunities and messaging.
• Responding to the MSF communications network’s requests by providing content for international use, facilitating journalist visits, or contributing to specific campaigns or fundraising efforts, when possible.

Team Management, budget and reporting:

• Developing regular reporting mechanisms and documents on planned activities and achieved results.
• Hiring, managing, supporting and supervising staff under their direct responsibility.
• Production of an annual communications budget.

Depending on MSF activities and needs, your responsibilities may be adapted and evolve according to the specific projects. You will not be facing these challenges alone: other MSF team members, both international and locally hired staff, will provide technical support, including extensive guidelines and protocols

About you:

This is a diverse and exciting role in support of MSF humanitarian and medical response. Below a brief description of the main requirements for this profile

• University degree in a relevant field, such as Journalism, Communication, Political Science or International Relations.
• Previous working experience of at least 4 years in communication, journalism or public relations.
• Experience in MSF or other International NGOs working in humanitarian contexts
• Previous people management experience is a strong asset.
• Full professional knowledge in English (minimum C1 both spoken and written) and Arabic (minimum C1 both spoken and written) is required (scaling according to the CEFR)
• Other MSF working languages (French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian) are considered strong assets.
• Strong Organizational and public communications skills.
• Analytical thinking and strategic vision.
• Proven understanding of media operations and strategy implementations
• Sound knowledge of media management, media monitoring, social media and related digital communication tools and platforms.
• Ability to identify strong storylines to tell and turn them into communication products.
• Capable of managing and delivering multiple projects simultaneously maintaining high standards under pressure.
• Robust expertise in crisis and public relations
• Commitment to MSF principles.
• An availability for a minimum of 9 to 12 months.

What do we offer

• Meaningful and diversified work where you can use your skills and creativity to make a difference for people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from health care services.
• A long-term perspective and career development opportunities.
• A salary sufficient to cover expenses at home while you are in the project.
• Shared accommodation with other international team members while on assignment.
• Round-trip transportation to and from assignment.
• A comprehensive insurance package, including health and emergency evacuation insurance.

The major part of our projects are taking place in acute or chronic crisis areas and instable contexts. Learn more about security management within our organization here and about working in acute conflict here. The living conditions in the project can be challenging due to isolation, rough climate, security and set up of the living quarters. Learn more about working and living in the projects here.

This is an job opening for the international movement of MSF. The recruitment process is led by the German office of MSF. After successful recruitment you would integrate into the candidate pool of one of the MSF offices worldwide depending on your country of residence.