Communications Director - Syria Response

Strategy and Management:

• Adapt the Syria Crisis Response Communications strategy in response to changing circumstances on the ground and/or World Vision partnership expectations.
• Provide line management for Communications staff in response offices to develop and implement Communications strategies in Turkey/Northern Syria, Jordan, the Kurdish Region of Iraq (and support to Lebanon).
• Build the Humanitarian Emergency Affairs (HEA) communications capacity of communications staff throughout the response.
• Ensure the sensitisation of all non-Communications staff in the response to communications processes, protocols and responsibilities. Support response communications staff to train non-communications staff in basic communications skills (story gathering, photography, videography).
• Oversee the design and implementation of communicating with Communities and mass communications activities in the response where appropriate.
• Oversee the implementation of the Madad Fund visibility strategy (including producing media materials, overseeing the production of stories, newsletters, videos etc..) and related visibility activities by coordinating with the country level project managers in each field office to generate media and promotional materials to provide visibility for the EUs contribution, including ensuring EU branding and standards are applied.

Regional Response Senior Leadership Team:

• Advise Syria Response Director on issues of importance regarding humanitarian communications, programs, operations and policies via the Senior Leadership Team.
• Contribute to Senior Leadership Team (SLT) strategy process and decisions.
• Contribute to the regional crisis management team as required.
• Advise the Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs (HEA) response team, regional and national emergency response communications staff and relevant World Vision partnership stakeholders (media, social media, marketing, advocacy, leadership, etc.) on key communications and risk issues, initiatives and messaging globally, regionally and nationally.

Positioning and Coordination:

• Build productive working relationships with key UN and NGO partners, as well as donors, in Amman for positioning and coordination.
• Work with UN and INGO colleagues on strategic regional management/direction of the No Lost Generation Campaign and other regional interagency initiatives.

Staff Management and Development:

• Provide technical, managerial and personal development support to Communication staff in Jordan, KRI, Turkey (and when required to Lebanon) and ensure that project activities are implemented as per the developed country action plans.
• Provide support to the WV Lebanon Communications manager in their execution of Syria response-related communications initiatives.
• Oversee the provision of communications training for staff and provide on-going technical assistance in the implementation of communications work.

Resource/Report Production Management:

• Coordinate with programme information officers or their equivalent in each office to ensure the delivery of key World Vision partnership and Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs leadership information needs.
• Manage the production of unedited and finished multimedia resources, both through field level and partnership level support.
• Manage the production of written materials including stories and reports.
• Ensure materials produced contribute to the One Syria Response positioning across the region.
• Ensure materials produced have meaningful child participation, wherever possible.
• Oversee the recruitment and use of freelance and consultant capacity to produce the resources above where needed.
• Manage the Syria Crisis Response webpage (www.wvi.org/syria-crisis). Regularly update the page with new information, stories, photo galleries, videos, press releases etc.
• Ensure the timely production of external reports, external and external accountability materials and situation reports.

Media and Social Media Relations:

• Produce and disseminate all external messaging for the Syria response including Q&As, key messages, statements etc.
• Act as spokesperson for the regional response.
• Identify and train other spokespeople across the region.
• Clarify, prioritise and service key World Vision partnership and Support Office media and social media objectives and expectations in coordination with Partnership communications colleagues.
• Develop and maintain professional contacts with key international media in collaboration with their home country Support Offices.
• Oversee the development of local media response strategies and media sensitisation projects at country-level, for positioning, humanitarian outcomes and risk mitigation.
• Manage the World Vision Partnership Skype media room to ensure coordination and servicing of stakeholders via timely information, interviews and media materials linked to ongoing response operations, plans, media and VIP visits in response countries.
• Coordinate and screen journalist / vlogger and blogger field visit requests regarding timing, approvals, logistics, issues, security, etc.. together with corresponding response office communications teams. Ensure the strategic positioning of the regional response via VIP, government and media visits.
• Co-ordinate visits by WV leaders and delegations, including required approvals, scheduling, photo opportunities, media interviews, coordination with Support Office media teams, video production and messaging etc.
• Capacity build communications and other staff in each office to be able to successfully and strategically host VIPs, journalists, celebrities and SO delegations.
• Ensure the delivery of social media content for use on Support Office and World Vision partnership platforms, including Twitter, YouTube and Facebook; contribute to partnership social media coordination to ensure strategic positioning of the response.
• Support communications staff to produce visitor welcome packs and other relevant materials.

Advocacy Communications:

• Work in tandem with Advocacy to produce and implement a public engagement strategy for the response.
• Support advocacy in refining and distributing advocacy messaging.
• Support the production of advocacy reports with resources and review, with particular emphasis on giving children a voice.
• Perform other tasks assigned by the Response Director.