โ outstanding work to help people around the world survive through crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. The team strives to raise Mercy Corpsโ public profile and support the agencyโs fundraising and advocacy efforts. The team primarily engages with international, American, and European media, but also works with community groups and influencers in key markets.
The Position
As an integral member of the Mercy Corps media relations team, the Manager - Communications and Media will focus on relations with news media, messaging and storytelling for defined issues and topics. They will conduct media outreach, reaching out to national, international, and sector press around newsworthy Mercy Corps initiatives, fielding inbound media inquiries, and promoting Mercy Corps senior executives.
Essential Responsibilities
COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA RELATIONS
- On-time development and delivery of an annual regional media workplan that articulates priority storylines aligned to Mercy Corpsโ global strategy and regional influence/visibility priorities
- Write, edit and distribute press releases, talking points, fact sheets and other media relations materials.
- Identify and pitch longer-lead storylines, with accompanying trips where appropriate, to reporters we are prioritizing for deeper engagement and relationship building.
- In partnership with Mercy Corps subject-matter experts, identify opportunities and support the production and placement of contributed content.
- Build relationships with local, regional, national and international journalists who can help tell the Mercy Corps story, particularly around agency priorities.
- Serve as on-the-record spokesperson for Mercy Corps.
- Organize and run press briefings, including drafting talking points and providing media training, for staff/executives returning from program visits, leading programs or otherwise in the media spotlight.
- Generate story ideas; liaise with program staff, policy team, researchers, fundraisers and others to keep up to date on potential stories and opportunities to raise Mercy Corpsโ profile aligned with the organizational strategy.
- Develop and implement media outreach plans and strategies for internally or externally driven news moments and events; coordinate with policy experts, social media and web content experts to maximize the value of outreach.
- Liaise with Policy and Advocacy and Research teams and other staff based in Europe to develop messaging and plan potential media outreach around Mercy Corps stories, research and advocacy topics relevant to European development and assistance policy.
- Liaise with the Head of Media for Europe to conceive and execute a strategy around the promotion of senior Mercy Corps leaders, thematic expertise, and reach into new media markets for Mercy Corps.
- Evaluate and recommend opportunities for raising the profile of the Executive Director, with a focus on growing profile and influence in Europe, in partnership with the Head of Media for Europe, and Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy.
- Conduct program site visits when needed to research stories, conduct media outreach, and gather stories and visual assets; in particular with West Africa country offices and targeting European French-language press.
- Act as a resource for French-speaking country-level communicators on communications and media best practices, materials, key lines, strategy, and media relations advice.
- Identifies country leaders for media training and refreshers and conducts annual media training sessions/refreshers for all spokespeople in portfolio.
- Supports team-wide reporting and analytics with accurate and on-time recording of interviews and other journalist interactions.
- Regular refreshes/updates to relevant reporter contact lists on covering region or thematic beats.
- General support for Mercy Corps media relations and communications team.
- Other duties as necessary.
Supervisory Responsibility
None.
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Head of Media for Europe
Works Directly With: Other members of the communications team, including Mercy Corps Europe press officers; digital marketing and fundraising teams; VP of Marketing and Communications; Chief Development and Marketing Officer; office of the Executive Director; corporate and foundation team; policy and advocacy team; other departments including Program Operations, Humanitarian Leadership and Response and Technical Support Unit.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills
- BA or equivalent in journalism, public relations or international relations required.
- 7+ years of professional experience in media relations, journalism or marketing required.
- Established track record of generating positive media coverage in national outlets in Europe; relationships with media in or reporting for these markets.
- Proven experience as an effective on-the-record spokesperson with print, broadcast and online media.
- Superior written and verbal communications skills a must; ability to โtranslateโ technical language into compelling stories needed.
- Experience in international development and/or humanitarian response issues preferred.
Success Factors
The successful candidate will be a proactive PR professional with a rolodex of established media contacts, and an excellent storyteller and writer with a nose for news. They need to be able to prioritize, multi-task and organize many urgent tasks. They should be a self-starter who can strategize and implement fully baked media outreach plans, as well be a good team player. They must have a deep knowledge of Mercy Corps programs and a commitment to the goals of the organization. This person will demonstrate creativity and flexibility, as well as a proven ability to learn quickly and be accountable for results. Even temperament and a good sense of humor appreciated.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The position is based in Brussels, Paris, or Geneva and may require up to (20%) travel to London, U.S., and program site locations.
Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a country program or on a visit/TDY to a program site. 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 worldโs 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 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 on the basis of 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 come into contact with 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 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 in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to 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.
As a safeguarding measure, Mercy Corps screens all potential US-Based employees. This is done following the conclusion of recruitment and prior to assuming full employment.
Our screening process is designed to be transparent and completed in partnership with new Team Members. You will have the opportunity to disclose any prior convictions at the conclusion of the recruitment process before the check is initiated. We ask that you do not disclose any prior convictions in your application materials or during the recruitment process.