General Position Summary

The Senior Communication Officer will work with the Programs Development and Reporting Specialist (PDRS), the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) teams to contribute to the design, planning and implementation of communication projects and activities. He/she will support the internal and external communication structure between the field offices and among team members, and where applicable, S/he supports will support in representing the Mercy Corps externally in national activities and in building the necessary understanding, acceptance, and support of the Mercy Corps among key stakeholders in Somalia.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Programs Development and Reporting Specialist (RPDS),

•  Implementation of communication strategies and plans
•  Ensure communication support is provided to key programmatic events and activities
•  Drafts brochures, fact sheets, stories from the field to inform media and general public, success stories, memos, newsletters, case studies, videos, presentations, and infographics
•  Coordinate production of communication materials for the various projects.
•  Ensure the visibility of Mercy Corps and the compliance of donor visual guidelines.
•  Supports communication related capacity building for field staff
•  Translates documents from English/Somali to Somali /English in support of programs
•  Contributes to information analysis/ scanning and landscape monitoring for key issues
•  Manage national media/press
•  Elaborate and implement media strategies to enhance the positioning of Mercy Corps with the media, partners, and clusters
•  Facilitate any press events and representation and facilitate media interviews
•  Drafting press releases, situational updates and statements showing position of Mercy Corps on various issues
•  Respond clearly, consistently, and timely to national media queries
•  Maintain and expand contacts and visibility with local media
•  Facilitate projects in organizing national campaigns and events, and media materials c86M41o Dgn9Vz
•  Online outreach, Prescence/ Liaison, and partnerships
•  Provide material for Mercy Corps website and social media accounts, as well as HQ communication channels when required.
•  Manage the Workplace account for Mercy Corps Somalia
•  Represent Mercy Corps at working groups / with partners and support Advocacy thematic groups as required.
•  Support Mercy Corps Somalia’s partnership building working closely with the program teams
•  Identify innovative opportunities and new communication tools and platforms, which can serve to highlight the work of Mercy Corps in Somalia.
•  Key support in events- taking minutes, representation events and conferences, photography of activities
•  Other duties as assigned

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Programs Development and Reporting Specialist (RPDS)

Works Directly With: MEAL Manager, Program team leads, field officers as needed.

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 Qualification & Transferable Skills

•  Bachelor`s degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as Communication, Humanitarian action, English, International relations, or Journalism
•  Minimum 3 years’ work experience in public communication and/or field operational communication at the national or international level, including experience in media relations;
•  Sound knowledge of the political, Social and media environment of Somalia
•  Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal and organizational skills
•  Excellent command of Somali and English language.
•  Outstanding oral and written communications and editing skills, with proven ability to meet tight deadlines.
•  Minimum skills in photography, graphic design, and photography desirable.
•  Experience working in the development and human rights related context desirable.
•  Good IT skills, including content-management systems, social media management and office software packages
•  Ability and willingness to travel across Somalia

Success Factors

The successful Senior Communication Officer candidate will have an ability to work independently, take initiative in tasks and self-learning, be proactive in communications and development of professional relationships. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority. Should be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment with demonstrated sensitivity to the people and issues in Somalia and the region. A sense of humor, team mentality and positive nature is highly desirable.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Mercy Corps Somalia- Mogadishu field office. The Senior Communication Officer will support activities throughout Somalia. Mobility in Somalia is restricted and must first be cleared with the Security Advisor. Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY 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 always 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 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. Strongly encourages qualified female candidates to apply

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. 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 always. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e Learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.