Media & Communications Officer (Rapid Deployment Team)

Oxfam Novib is committed to ridding the world of poverty. We have a conviction that people are well capable of building a livelihood without poverty on their own, once given the chance to do so. Which is why we support local projects in developing countries, why we lobby governments and companies to take into account the interests of the poorest people, and why we campaign to involve Dutch men and women also in our work. We work together with other Oxfam affiliates to increase our impact on development issues.

As part of its newly established Rapid Deployment Team, Oxfam Novib’s Humanitarian Unit is looking for a

Media & Communications Officer
(Rapid Deployment Team)
40 hours a week

Objective of the position
Oxfam Novib works with other members of the Oxfam Confederation and with local partner organisations to be better prepared for emergency situations and to provide an appropriate response to those situations where needed. To support Oxfam Novib country staff and partners to realise our humanitarian ambitions and duties, Oxfam Novib is establishing a Rapid Deployment Team (RDT), whose members will be deployed in countries where Oxfam Novib is working, based on need for support in their area of expertise. Apart from enhancing Oxfam’s preparedness and response work, members of the RDT will contribute to organisation-wide capacity and profile development.

The RDT reports to the Manager of the Humanitarian Unit at Oxfam Novib’s head office in The Hague, but during assignments in the field to the country-based line manager. The Media & Communication Officer will have functional reporting lines to the Oxfam Novib Media Coordinator and will work closely with Oxfam media staff in the country of assisgnment or Oxfam regional media officers.

The Media & Communication Officer will work abroad most of the year and must to be willing to travel and/or move on short (24-hour) notice, as required. This is an unaccompanied position.

Main tasks
Terms of Reference will be negotiated and agreed with relevant parties, prior to each deployment and/or revised in the early stages of each deployment. For each assignment, responsibilities are likely to include:

Response delivery in emergency contexts

• Develop and implement a comprehensive media and communications strategy, including social media, as part of the overall Oxfam response in the country or region;
• Ensure media and communication work is done within agreed Oxfam brand and media policies and develop brand risk & opportunity assessment and strategies;
• Drive media relations on behalf of the whole of Oxfam. Serve as focal point for media enquiries in the country;
• Update and instruct all Oxfam media officers with latest information and key messages;
• Collect media materials and actively engage in communication on social media;
• Identify and coach (multilingual) spokespeople, including partners, or act as a spokesperson
• Identify opportunities to gain media coverage;
• Produce regular press releases and reports to the media;
• Manage multiple internal and external sources of information and produce appropriate and timely reports to internal and external audiences;
• Depending on scale of emergency and Oxfam repsonse, lead an Oxfam/Oxfam Novib media & communications team;
• Participate in relevant working groups and task forces within Oxfam and externally (UN, government, civil society).

Enhancing Oxfam Novib’s and partners’ humanitarian capacity

• Contribute to the integration of media and communication aspects in the development and implementation of the Oxfam humanitarian preparedness strategies/contingency plans and in-country humanitarian investment plans;
• Contribute to capacity building of Oxfam Novib field offices in relation to media and communication work and planning.

Policy development and learning

• Contribute to further development of Oxfam Novib humanitarian policies;
• Document experiences and draw lessons learned;
• Participate in assessments, audits, monitoring and evaluation missions;
• Other suitable tasks as assigned.

You have

• A post-graduate degree in journalism and/or communications (undergraduate degree plus relevant overseas experience may substitute, but qualification will not substitute for experience);
• Approximately 5-10 years of practical experience in international media and communications in emergency response situations (relief and rehabilitation) in more than one country (preferably countries where Oxfam Novib works), with a mature understanding of context, dilemmas, challenges and ways of working;
• Good analytical and planning skills and ability to analyze programming risks from a brand perspective;
• Knowledge and practical experience of general humanitarian standards and principles such as Sphere Standards, HAP, the People in Aid Code and the Red Cross Code of Conduct. Understanding of main programming issues in WASH and Emergency Food Security / Vulnerable Livelihoods;
• A good understanding of gender and diversity in humanitarian crisis contexts, and proven commitment to incorporating these concepts in your work;
• Experience in or strong affinity for working with and supporting local NGO partners
• The ability to work in a variety of teams and to effectively support and empower Oxfam Novib field staff and partners in a wide variety of cultural contexts using methods such as mentoring, coaching, accompaniment, training and advice;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and team working skills, both written and spoken.
• Excellent communication skills in English, as well as a working knowledge of at least one other language (preferably French, Portuguese, or Arabic);
• The willingness to travel at short notice, often in difficult circumstances, and the availability to work abroad in complex situations and difficult locations for periods averaging between 6 weeks to 6 months;
• Knowledge and experience working with disaster risk reduction, preparedness and development issues is an asset.

Location
You will be deployed in countries where Oxfam Novib is involved in humanitarian programming or preparations. Your residence (between deployments) can be in any of the countries/cities where Oxfam Novib has an office and where an international airport is nearby. (The Hague, Nairobi, Kampala, Islamabad, Kabul, Niamey, Dakar, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Jerusalem, among others).

We offer
Oxfam Novib is committed to providing you with a competitive, fair and comprehensive pay and benefits package that is justifiable to our donors. The salary range for this position is set between € 2.896,- and € 4.456,- gross per month based on 40 hours. This is excl. 8% holiday fee, additional expat allowances will be offered.

More information and application procedure
Are you interested? Send your application including a motivation letter and curriculum vitae to jobs@oxfamnovib.nl mentioning reference number 5-6701 to the attention of Shabinah Asgarali, Recruiter, before June 14, 2012.
Further information about the job can be obtained from Nate McCray, Media Advisor (+31 6 13933517).

Due to the urgent nature of the humanitarian situation in Niger, applications will be reviewed on rolling basis as they are received, and qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.