Media & Communication Advisor

Syria

Journalism/Media - Humanitarian/Disasters

Finished or Exempted (For male)

Technical: Leads and implements Oxfam in Syria’s media and communications strategy and action plan for 2022 – 2024.
• Leading on proactive and reactive media work e.g. press releases, media reactions, media advisories, (drafting, sign-off and pitching) backgrounding, op-eds, etc. which showcase Oxfam in Syria’s work, raise the voices of the people we work with, mitigate risk and amplify messaging.
• Create compelling, creative, and engaging visual storytelling products to show the daily realities and raise the voices of conflict-affected people, particularly women and girls in Syria.
• Work with influencing colleagues and the country team to identify and manage risk, develop reactive lines, update key messages and advise on how to use media strategically in a sensitive environment.
• Work with and provide strategic advice to the country team (Senior Management Team, influencing and program team) to identify key moments for communication and media opportunities.
• Work with colleagues across Syria to gather newsworthy content and stories,in line with Oxfam’s content gathering guidelines.
• Manage media requests from journalists and from media colleagues in Oxfam efficiently.
• Implement and manage the Oxfam in Syria social media platforms, ensuring it is regularly updated with compelling content that can be shared across the Oxfam confederation.
• Work closely with colleagues in the confederation (the OI media team, MENA regional media advisor and media colleagues across Oxfam), to identify moments for media and communication work in their markets and advise and support on products and messaging.
• Ensure donor requirements for projects are aligned with and promote the media and communication strategies
• Build and maintain relationships with journalists covering topics aligned to Oxfam’s mandate in Syria.
• Build and maintain Oxfam in Syria’s profile internally within Oxfam.
• Train and brief Oxfam spokespeople and act as a spokesperson when required.
• Monitor and evaluate media coverage generated and to draw lessons to improve coverage and quality of messaging.
• Line-manage the Media and Communications Officer, Communication Assistant and Communication Volunteer.
• Ensure protection of Oxfam’s brand, and adherence to procedures, protocols and policies, including guidelines for interviewing vulnerable people and documenting permission for use of digital images.
• Any other task as may be assigned by the line manager.

• Demonstratable experience working in media, either for an NGO or in journalism, in crisis-affected countries.
• Experience in writing clear, compelling media products including press releases, media reactions, opinion pieces, Q&As, talking points, key messages, case studies, factsheets/briefings etc.
• Experience in collecting human interest case studies, including photos and basic filming.
• Experience in working creatively to identify and develop new ways to use media to share Oxfam’s key messages and amplify the voices of conflict-affected Syrians.
• Experience in managing risk in sensitive situations and organisational reputation/issues management
• Experience in working with journalists and pitching media stories to top-tier outlets globally.
• Experience in managing social media channels including developing the social media content (key messaging, creating attractive and creative visuals such as infographics and staying on top of social media trends.)
• Understanding of the political situation in Syria, and humanitarian policy.
• Good analytical and conceptual skills with a strategic perspective, ability to understand and synthesize complex issues and information from different sources and present it clearly and simply to a variety of audiences.
• Experience in managing staff and supporting their development through coaching, training and an empowering management style.
• Extremely strong interpersonal and negotiating skills, enjoys building and maintaining a wide range of relationships.
• Strong organisational and planning skills with an understanding of how to plan, adjust and implement a strategy and capable of working independently.
• High level of verbal and written communication skills, with an emphasis on a clear and direct, easy to read written style and keen eye for detail.
• Ability and willingness to travel for humanitarian emergencies and into conflict zones.
• A positive, confident and outgoing attitude.
• Ability to work effectively and calmly in a high-pressure environment and to prioritise and manage assignments in a timely fashion.
• Ability to work well in a collaborative team as well as remotely with global teams across different time zones and with cultural differences.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

closing date: 03.Dec.2023

Oxfam is an international confederation of 17 organizations networked together in more than 90 countries, as part of a global movement for change, to build a future free from the injustice of poverty.

In Syria :
While Oxfam has been present in the region since 1970, it began operating in Syria through its Damascus based presence in July 2013. Since then, Oxfam has been responding to both the urgent WASH needs for vulnerable people, and has been working on the rehabilitation of water systems in order to provide durable, more sustainable solutions to the affected populations. Interventions implemented under Oxfam's WASH Programme include: Provision of Acute Emergency Life-Saving WASH Services, Rehabilitation of Water Systems, Hygiene Promotion and Water Conservation, Capacity Building and Training, and Improved Emergency WASH Coordination. To date, Oxfam has been worked in 10 governorates, seeking out to over 2.5 million beneficiaries.

Nov 20, 2023

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