The Role:

Oxfam {Syria} is looking for <Communications and Media Lead> 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

External (40%)                                                                                         

Support the line manager to develop and deliver the organization in Syria Influencing Strategy and Communications Plan and implementation of related action plans, in consultation with key in-country, regional and global colleagues. This is to be done, through:                                 

• Campaign management: Leading communication efforts for advocacy campaigns, including designing strategies and creating promotional and visibility materials.
• Content supervision: Supervising and supporting content collection, gathering of background information, preparation of social stories, documenting community feedback in close collaboration with the team.
• Utilizing information and programme evidence: Leveraging the organization’s achievements and programme learning to create and dissemination periodical publications and briefings for internal and external audiences.
• Tool development: Supporting the line manager in designing innovative tools to demonstrate and communicate the organization’s work in Syria.
• Research and analysis: Conducting in-depth analysis and research on the humanitarian situation in Syria and working closely with the line manager and programme staff to make use of available information for reporting and communication purposes.
• Media and communication support: Developing, coordinating and supporting communications and media content for the organization’s programmatic efforts in Syria, in close collaboration with the line manager and related teams and partners. Media relations: Developing and building relationships with relevant media outlets to promote the organization’s values, work and priorities effectively.
• Bilingual coverage: ensuring the organization’s communications and media content –are developed in both English and Arabic when relevant and necessary.
• Community feedback: Collaborating with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team to support and share community feedback mechanisms and tools across teams, including managing community feedback from the organization’s various outreach channels.

Awareness building:

• raising awareness of the organization’s global campaigns among Syrian media and communicating Oxfam’s messaging effectively, ensuring links with the organization’s efforts in country.
• Field engagement: Travelling at short notice to project locations and engaging with significant influencing opportunities for Oxfam.
• Collaborative work: working with partners on joint-communication projects to amplify collective impact.

Media tools (30%)                                                                                                   

• Design, manage and oversee the organization’s digital tools and databases.
• Lead social media engagement, by creating schedules, engagement plans and providing analytics to measure reach and engagement.  
• Produce and develop diverse communications and media content, including newsletters, press releases, articles, human interest stories, briefings, reports, case studies, blogs, photos and videos.
• Produce communications and media materials in English and Arabic, based on need.
• Keep updated on developments in digital media – particularly social media – and incorporate innovative approaches to deliver the organization’s Influencing Strategy and Communications Plan
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of communication efforts, utilizing data-driven insights to enhance strategies.

Internal (30%)                                                                                    

• Team collaboration: collaborating with line manager, influencing, programme, field teams and partners, to support of the delivery and development of communications and media strategies.
• Analysis: sharing analysis and insights on Syrian perspectives related to the organization’s priority areas with regional and global colleagues.
• Coordination: coordinating with the organization’s communications and media leads at regional and global levels, on communications and media products.
• Learning: sharing and exchanging best practices and learning among national, local, and regional colleagues.
• Focal point: serving as the focal point within the Syria team, to coordinate communications and media content for events, opportunities, tactics - under line manager's supervision. In addition to, leading on any relevant tasks, pertaining to the influencing team and the media and communications function
• Compliance: Ensuring all media and communications work comply with the organization's international guidelines and protocols
• Procurement: leading on procurement processes for relevant communications and media work.

What we are looking for:

We’re looking for a candidate who cares about Oxfam's mission to end poverty and is personally aligned to our feminist principles and values of empowerment, accountability and inclusion in all you do.

An ideal candidate for the role will also be / have:

Essential

• At least 3 years of experience working in communications, media or related field.
• Knowledge of the Syrian and international media with experience working as a journalist, press, public relations officer or other related positions
• Demonstrates excellent inter-personal skills, networking and negotiation skills as well as ability to influence others
• Demonstrable ability to think strategically, experience of managing risk and prioritising work to achieve results
• Fluent in both written and spoken English and Arabic
• Demonstrates commitment to Oxfam’s aims and policies and to ensuring that Oxfam principles, especially on gender and diversity, are consistently communicated
• Demonstrates flexibility, with proven ability to work independently and under pressure
• Proven self-management skills and experience of thinking strategically
• A degree in communications, media or related field

Desirable

• Proven ability to work in multi-national, multi-cultural teams and to develop good effective and collaborative relationships, including at a distance
• Previous experience in the humanitarian sector or with international NGOs
• Knowledge of tools like Adobe Creative Suite or Canva for designing visually engaging materials
• Proven research, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Experience of using digital camera and video, and editing video
• Knowledge of development issues and role of NGOs in development, humanitarian and advocacy work

Please support the application with any communications work, media content or writing samples suited for this role in English and in Arabic. 

We offer:

We offer a competitive salary and a range of additional benefits to staff including flexible working options, generous pension scheme, annual leave, additional leave allowances, company sick pay, life assurance and a range of other benefits. 

From the day you join Oxfam we invite you to stretch and learn in your role. Our wide range of Learning & Development opportunities includes in-house courses, e-learning modules, on-the job learning opportunities, coaching and mentoring, and much more. 

You can read more about all Oxfam has to offer here.

How to apply:

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.  

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.