Communications Manager

Position Summary and Purpose

The Communications Manager is primarily responsible for the implementation of the communications strategy for IOCC. Manages content and/or creative work with support and collaboration from internal staff and external resources. Works with internal staff and external vendors to source content, secure creative assets, and manage the development of external content, while leveraging a global pool of inhouse talent and digital professionals.

Responsibilities and Essential Functions

1. Communications Strategy Development and Execution: Contributes to and supports the creation of effective and comprehensive communications strategies and annual work plans for the organization; executes the communications strategy message to target audiences in order to achieve institutional communication objectives; manages the annual editorial calendar on a day-today basis to meet organizational messaging goals; sources content for all digital and print communications, reviews and determines content’s appropriateness for use in communications materials and channels; occasionally travels to execute communication and messaging priorities.

2. Writing and Editing: Produces high-quality written content across formats including donor communications, reports, executive messaging, board correspondence, and field storytelling; writes, reviews, and oversees print and digital collateral for IOCC such as IOCC’s annual report, fact sheets and stories of IOCC’s work in the US and field, to increase engagement and awareness; partners with the Marketing Manager to determine key messages and consistent language to describe IOCC’s work and position; ensures timely delivery of content aligned with editorial calendar.

3. Brand Management: Utilizes IOCC's brand guidelines, reviews all collateral so that it meets the brand and institutional voice; conducts internal trainings on best practices and brand standards; edits collateral not adhering to brand and institutional voice; develops and oversees the use and standards for IOCC’s design work for all print and digital collateral; writes, adjusts (as needed), and rolls out messaging tools, such as boilerplate language and talking points.

4. Archiving of Media: Coordinates with global field offices to source, validate, and adapt content across diverse cultural and operational contexts; uses SharePoint as the designated viewing, organizing and storage application tool for internal staff; formats, organizes, tags, and maintains all media in the digital archive; reviews, organizes, and archives all photos, videos, audio, raw stories, and all final published material.

5. Media Monitoring and Management: Monitors all traditional media on a daily basis to ensure adherence to IOCC’s social media policy guidelines; escalates media mentions to supervisor to create standard communication plans including crisis communication plans; supports development and execution of crisis communication plans; coordinates responses to sensitive or high-risk communications; oversees IOCC’s social media presence and determines key messages; triage points for all media requests and external media opportunities, escalates high risk/high stakes media opportunities; supports the Development department (marketing) in determining key messages and consistent language to describe IOCC’s work and position.

6. Vendor Management: Manages consultants and vendors’ activities and product delivery; sets work priorities to meet institutional communication goals; ensures quality, timeliness, and alignment of vendor deliverables with organizational standards and timelines.

Minimally Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

● Marketing, Communications Principles, and Brand Strategy Skills: Mastery of knowledge of applying standards, guidelines, and best practices to marketing and communications efforts. Skilled at creating, executing, and sustaining effective enterprise-wide brand strategies; skilled at visual and design efforts. Knowledge of the design process and of video and print production.

● Editing and Writing Skills: Adapt content for various audiences and communication materials. Ability to create compelling content from raw materials; ability to proofread and edit other people’s writing and produce copy meeting brand standards and messaging for key audiences.

● Communication Skills: Proven ability to write and speak using the English language (native fluency); advanced oral and written communication skills using different forms of media; ability to translate complex concepts to individuals at all levels; mastery of knowledge of online and new media communication tools; ability to influence using diplomacy with key stakeholders; demonstrated customer service skills.

● Analysis and Sound Judgment: Advanced analytical, problem-solving, diplomacy skills. Ability to understand complex situations, emergencies, and relationships and to make sound judgments; ability to improve processes, promote excellence, and demonstrate accuracy and thoroughness; ability to maintain confidentiality on sensitive work-related issues.

● Organization, Project Planning, and Multitasking: Advanced organizational and planning skills, project planning and management skills; ability to plan and manage cross-functional initiatives; proven ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and multitask with minimal supervision; proven ability to coordinate activities.

● Self-Management and Teamwork: Ability to work independently or as a member of the team, build relationships within a global team, ability to be detailed-oriented and consistently accurate, ability to manage stress and multiple competing priorities, effectively in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision. Ability to quickly learn new systems, processes, and procedures and adapt local practices to global standards.

● Software Applications: Mastery of knowledge of software applications for web-based solutions, social media platforms, and apps; mastery of knowledge of Microsoft products, including MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, PageProof. Ability to work in Canva, or similar software programs, to help produce print, social, and video content is a plus.

Minimally Required Education, Experience, and Training

● Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, or related field

● 5-7 years’ work experience in a professional environment, in related field

● Or a combination of education and work experience that yields the minimally required knowledge, skills and abilities listed above

● Work experience with a multinational organization, NGO, faith-based or similar nonprofit preferred

Physical Requirements and Working Environment

● Travel possible; approximately 20%

● Uses cellular and desk phone, laptop or desktop computer; dexterity to operate office equipment; standard office environment; mostly sedentary position; sits talking on the phone for long periods of time

● May require bending, kneeling, crawling, standing, sitting, lifting up to 20 lbs.

● Infrequent weekend and evening work may be required

Note: Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.