Senior Officer, Communications

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The IFRC Regional Office for Europe is the focal point for 53 National Societies of the Europe Region and has mandate for policy, operational and programmatic support to the members.

The Country Cluster Delegation (CCD) for Russia and Belarus (based in Moscow and present in Minsk) has been present in-Russia since 1992 and in Belarus since 1995.

Job Purpose

The Senior Communications Officer operates in pursuit of goals identified in Strategy 2030 and advocates in the interest of vulnerable populations. The incumbent of the position serves as a member of the global IFRC communications team and is expected to collaborate and coordinate closely with IFRC global and regional teams and relevant country offices and provide communication and public relations support to Russian-speaking National Societies, IFRC delegation in Russia, and regional IFRC functions on affairs related to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The position involves travel as required to the countries where IFRC is operating and acting as a spokesperson for Russian-speaking media about the global priorities of the IFRC.

The Senior Communications Officer reports to the Head of IFRC Country Cluster Delegation for Russia and Belarus and the Communications Coordinator in the Regional Office for Europe and works closely with the Humanitarian Diplomacy and Strategic Partnership functions.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The role of the Senior Communications Officer is to support the implementation of global and regional communication strategies. These include:

Foster media relations and crisis communication in Russian-speaking countries

• Create press releases, talking points, media statements, reactive messaging and other written content in English and Russian language.
• Identify and pitch stories, spokespersons, and visuals to Russian-speaking media outlets to boost the visibility of IFRC’s humanitarian work around the world, including in emergencies.
• Build a network of journalists and act as the focal point for Russian-speaking media.
• As requested, serve as a spokesperson on specific topics on behalf of the IFRC in Russian-speaking media outlets.
• Provide media expertise beyond the delegation to position IFRC’s work and humanitarian priorities across Europe and globally ensuring visibility in both emergency and non-emergency settings.
• Serve as a deployable media lead during large-scale emergencies - stepping in to manage media, messaging, and general crisis communication as needed.
• Scan for communications opportunities and risks to stay abreast of current operating environment and provide advice about responding and positioning.
• Support crisis communication activities when needed.
• Track analytics of coverage and meet goals related to key performance indicators.

Support content creation, dissemination and localization to and from Russian language

• Collect and write compelling and relevant content for use across IFRC and National Society channels.
• Support and advise the Head of Delegation in public-facing communication, including social media presence.
• Conduct field trips to gather stories, photos and audiovisual material for IFRC’s channels.
• Support the rollout of global campaigns and provide guidance on the localization of campaigns.
• Coordinate the design and production of communications products in line with the IFRC visual identity.

Develop communications capacities of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies

• Provide broad communication support to Russian-speaking National Societies, namely in Armenia, Georgia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan as required.
• Act as information sharing service for Russian speaking National Societies, to ensure they have access to international communications products and tools.
• Assist in the development and delivery of communications capacity building and training for National Societies.
• Identify and coordinate key communication needs with National Societies and connect with others that may be able to support.
• Facilitate a peer network of National Societies communicators in the region to support the sharing of good practices, mutual mentoring, and opportunities to leverage each other’s successes.

Education

Required:

Relevant university degree or equivalent preferably in communications, journalism, new media or a related field.

Experience

Required:

• Minimum 5 years of experience of working in public relations/communications or journalism

Preferred:

• Experience working with the Red Cross and Red Crescent or other humanitarian organizations
• Experience with media relations and acting as a spokesperson for an organization
• Experience in capacity building, development and training

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

• Excellent writing skills in Russian and English
• Comfortable working with multiple stakeholders in a culturally diverse environment
• Comfortable in fast-moving, high-pressure environments, including emergency response
• Demonstrated core proficiency in (a) digital communication & collaboration, (b) basic digital content creation, (c) digital safety & security, (d) data literacy, and (e) problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants.
• Understanding of and commitment to IFRC’s mission and values.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken Russian
• Advanced knowledge of written and spoken English

Preferred:

• Knowledge of photo/video editing and production
• Demonstrated use of social media for advocacy purposes
• Good command of another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic)

Competencies, Values and Comments

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust