Communications & Public Affairs Manager ORBIS

The ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital (FEH) is a unique mobile teaching and operating facility
on board a DC-10 jet aircraft that travels to developing countries worldwide
to share the gift of sight.

JOB SUMMARY:

As an essential member of the ORBIS Flying Eye Hospital (FEH) team, the Communications and Public Affairs Manager is responsible for developing and implementing a Flying Eye Hospital communications and public affairs program that facilitates ORBIS’s access to the resources needed to bring about improvements in eye health necessary to eliminate avoidable blindness. The focus of this role centers on:

(1) heightening awareness and generating positive media coverage about the Flying Eye Hospital programs and ORBIS’s sight saving programs worldwide

(2) developing public awareness and educational campaigns that help draw attention to the issue of avoidable blindness; raise the public and policy makers’ consciousness of eye health problems and their impact; and help ORBIS partners gain access to the resources that are needed to bring about improvements in eye health

This position requires approximately 45 weeks of worldwide travel per year.

REPORTING & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

The Communications and Public Affairs Manager reports to the FEH Director on the Flying Eye Hospital and the Chief Marketing Officer at headquarters in New York. She/he works closely with colleagues on the Flying Eye Hospital and in the global Communications Team and liaises with the staff at headquarters and in the regional, country and affiliate offices, as well as with local hosts of the FEH programs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

PLANNING:

· In close partnership with the global communications team, the Chief of Program, and the FEH Director develop an FEH communications and public affairs program for the FEH that facilitates ORBIS’s access to the resources needed to bring about improvements in eye health necessary to eliminate avoidable blindness.

· Collaborate with headquarters, country and affiliate office communication teams to shape global and local strategies for proactive media outreach and publicity opportunities that leverage ORBIS’s fundraising capabilities and ensure consistent messaging.

· Work closely with the Visual Communications Consultant to integrate press material into the overall internet strategy to support FEH program initiatives.

· Participate in developing and implementing strategies focused on building support and alliances with government leaders, health officials, peer organizations and NGOs who can support ORBIS-sponsored programs and initiatives.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT:

· Develop, write and edit press releases, promotional materials, talking points and key messages to support FEH advocacy, program initiatives and corporate sponsored programs and coordinate the printing of collateral such as banners and brochures.

· Liaise with Communications and Faculty Relations colleagues, Volunteer Faculty (VF), FEH trainees, Flying Eye Hospital patients and their families to gather detailed case study materials to ensure that FEH success stories and messages are integrated into the organization’s global communications. When appropriate, participate in surgical case reviews to gather post-program materials from participants and patients.

· Coordinate and lead the visits of international media members on the ground with support from communications colleagues in ORBIS offices worldwide.

· Coordinate and lead visitors from ORBIS development offices on the ground with support of fundraising colleagues in ORBIS development offices worldwide.

· Provide media training to FEH staff and Volunteer Faculty and conduct annual communication orientations.

· Work closely with development and communications colleagues on program activities related to sponsored programs: opening ceremony, closing ceremony, dinners and events.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS:

· Prepare messaging tailored to the target audiences that defines the issue, states solutions and describes the actions that need to be taken to advance the promotion of eye health and blindness prevention.

· Determine the appropriate channels of communications to speak with and deliver targeted messages to policy makers, community leaders, health professionals and the general public.

· Participate as a member of a planning team prior to a program to assess and work with local partners in the development of a public awareness and education campaign in support of the sight-saving training program.

· Develop local sponsorship opportunities in-country and manage the relationship in coordination with fundraising colleagues at headquarters and in regional, country and affiliate offices.

· Manage the invitation and coordinate all logistics in preparation for the attendance of VIPs (heads of state, ministers of health, ambassadors, major donors and corporate partners) to a Flying Eye Hospital program.

· Ensure timely distribution of program background information and related advocacy/public affairs materials to media and ORBIS staff.

· Prepare the public affairs section of the final program report, including an in-depth analysis and reports on campaign achievements, and work with program colleagues to devise and implement a monitoring and evaluation plan for public awareness and education programs.

GENERAL:

· Represent ORBIS, on and off the plane, at fundraisers, goodwill tours and host-sponsored social events.

· Assist in the daily cleaning, set-up and packing of the aircraft.

· Participate in special projects and take on other duties as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

· Bachelors or equivalent degree in public health, government relations or advocacy related field.

· Minimum 3-5 years public affairs, communications and media relations, government relations or advocacy work experience.

· Demonstrated awareness of global health and human interest issues.

· Prior experience working in a non-profit environment or with policy-development initiatives is a plus.

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

· Outstanding presentation and written communications skills in English – working knowledge of a second language is a plus.

· Demonstrated ability to strategize, organize and articulate the mission and vision of an organization.

· Excellent interpersonal and diplomacy skills; the ability to interact effectively with people of diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

· Team oriented work style, with a pro-active, open-minded, and flexible approach.

· High level of professional integrity and discretion.

· Exceptional tolerance to stress: ability to function effectively in a demanding, fast-paced, and constantly changing work environment.

· High degree of computer literacy (Windows XP, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and the Internet).

· Ability and desire to travel to developing countries up to 10 months a year – including no significant disqualifying factors that would preclude approval of entry visas in the countries on the FEH travel schedule.

For more information about ORBIS and this employment opportunity, please visit our website: www.orbis.org and view our recruitment video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6q8OkoI0SI.

To apply, click here.

ORBIS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

As a global organization we welcome qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds and cultures.