Communications Officer

Essential Job Responsibilities

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work ·
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members ·
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options

Technical Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning

• Support DREAMS management to develop a communications strategy & influence strategy that aligns with the country’s overall strategy.
• Collect content for communication products targeting a wide and diverse audience, including staff, partners, government, and donors.
• Support DREAMS programs to develop quality programmatic communications materials, including the design of posters, manuals, and IEC materials
• Post content on internal communications channels to foster a positive team culture, including Mercy Corps collaborative platform, Workplace, internal newsletter and bulletins.
• Draft content in line with the communications strategy, including press releases, website content, newsletters, and other communications material such as annual reports, social media, speeches and editorials
• Working together with the regional and global media teams, s/he will identify promotional opportunities and draft supporting materials, such as press releases, to secure optimal coverage for the DREAMS program.

Project Products’ Dissemination

• Create dissemination lists for project products, to be validated by the Grants Management Coordinator.
• Coordinate dissemination of communication products to ensure consistent and wide- reaching dissemination.

Team Engagement

• Work with the DREAMS and other MCU leadership teams to develop internal communications messages and materials to enhance program visibility.
• Sensitize staff and partner team members on the DREAMS story and communications strategy to ensure consistent and impactful messaging.
• Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps media and communication protocols, including branding and media engagements.
• Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps and donor communication protocols.

Event Management

• Support the MEL team to deliver a series of learning events that effectively communicate the DREAMS story to diverse stakeholders.
• Support coordination with the media before, during, and after events to ensure comprehensive coverage and engagement.
• Assist in organizing events to support program activities, including drafting invitations, documenting events, and generating materials such as banners, promotional materials, and press releases.

Other

• Support Mercy Corps Uganda communications team with country-level communication planning and activities from time-to-time as may be required.

Supervisory Responsibility

N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly to Advocacy and Influence Manager

Works Directly with DREAMS Team Leader, program officers, DREAMS partner staff, senior management, MC Uganda senior leadership, and Regional Communications team.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. All Mercy Corps staff are expected to behave ethically and demonstrate highest level of integrity in their professional and personal life. Mercy Corps has zero tolerance to any form of fraud, corruption, abuse, harassment or exploitation. Any breach of our policies or misconduct will lead to disciplinary action or may lead to termination.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• At least 3 years’ experience in Communications and/or Media Engagement for INGOs.
• A bachelor’s degree in Communications, Media, Marketing, Public Relations or equivalent.
• Advanced computer skills and administrative experience (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, design applications).
• Excellent writing and editing skills in English.
• Strong ability to efficiently prioritize competing demands with attention to detail.
• Creativity and influencing skills.
• Video production and events management skills are desirable.
• Ability to speak local languages of the areas of operation is desirable.

Success Factors

The successful candidate will be a self-starter with the ability to work both independently and in collaboration with a team, be able to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously and manage a variety of diverse details. He/she must have the ability to occasionally work evenings or weekend hours.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Yumbe, West Nile region with over 80% travel to program sites. Travel to other locations for regional representation may be required. At times evening and weekend work may be required to meet deadlines and at times of shocks and stresses.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/STA to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal-opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we meet through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants, or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to the Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

To Apply

Interested applicants must submit their Cover Letter & CV saved in 1 PDF document of no more than 5 pages by 31st July 2024.

Please note that any application submitted that does not follow the above instructions will be automatically discarded.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Mercy Corps does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY