Associate Director, Communications UK (Internal Only)

The Associate Director of Communications for the UK will lead a diverse communications team to lead IRC UK's core communications strategy with the objectives of growing our profile, influencing policy, driving income, and protecting our reputation. This is done by taking a strategic approach to generating effective messaging for cross-team use, creatively collaborating to produce cut-through external products, and generating top tier media coverage in collaboration with communications, advocacy and fundraising colleagues globally. In this role you will be expected to use expert judgment to manage IRC UK's reputation, as well as ensure media outputs protect beneficiaries, staff and programming from harm. The Associate Director will report to the UK Executive Director and Director of Global Public Affairs. The Associate Director will collaborate closely with the Senior Manager for Digital Engagement, UK Advocacy Director, and the Director of UK Mass Markets to meet the organization's strategic objectives surrounding profile, income and influence Scope and Authority Authority:

• The role holders sets strategic direction for UK communications, with a focus on earned media, partnering closely with Digital leads and other External Relations teams
• The role oversees the UK comms operational budget, with access to the Global External Relations budget. Has the authority to brief journalists with agreed messaging, act as spokesperson for the organisation where appropriate, as well as actively pursue media opportunities.
• The Associate Director will line manage Communications Officers, and other positions when required.
• The role is a key member of the UK Senior Management Team, with collective responsibility for the leadership, culture and efficacy of IRC UK.
Key Working Relationships
• Reports to the UK Executive Director and Director of Global Public Affairs & Executive Director UK
• Works closely with communications colleagues in the UK, US and in the IRC's Europe offices, including counterparts in partner organisations.
• Works closely with Advocacy and Influence, Mass Markets, Fundraising, Awards Management, Digital Engagement, Entertainment Relations, Creative Studio, and Experiential Marketing.
• Works closely with counterparts in NGOs and donors particularly FCDO and the DEC., Generate and maintain strategic IRC UK messaging and planning
• Lead the development and execution of the UK communications strategy and ensure plans and tactics contribute to its goals
• As a member of the UK Senior Management Team support the UK Executive Director in the creation and delivery of IRC UK strategies and priorities, foster cohesion and collaboration among UK based departments, representing the needs and objectives of the team in the UK Senior Management Team and UK office.
• Work alongside global communications colleagues, Policy & Advocacy colleagues and UK Fundraisers to develop appropriate messaging on key proactive and reactive issue areas across the scope of IRC's work.
• Plan and identify key moments of opportunity for IRC UK Communications according to internal and external landscape and timetables
• Collaborate with Digital colleagues to ensure pro/reactive message accuracy and cut through calls to action that engage audiences for proactive campaigns and news cycle opportunities.
• Ensure that the UK Communications Team contributes to other team's business objectives, leading to the inclusion of UK advocacy, policy, AMU and fundraising asks in the strategic comms plan and in the UK media material produced.
• Work with digital and UK entertainment relations colleagues for coordination of communications activities
• Use expert judgment to ensure the IRC is protected across communications channels and to develop and enact strategies to protect IRC's reputation.
• Lead on supporting and preparing spokespeople, board members, luminaries and other representatives for media interviews and programme visits across the organisation.
• Be flexible as to working hours, in particular when unforeseen circumstances arise which require speedy responsiveness to media enquiries.
• Provide surge support to global media team in emergencies.
• Willingness to travel, often at short notice.
Team Management / Stakeholder engagement
• Ensure colleagues across departments are successfully alerted to important news coverage, news alerts and opportunities.
• Manage Communications Officers
• Responsible for reporting to the IRC UK's board, subcommittees and Executive Director on communications activity, trends and upcoming opportunities.
External Relationship development
• Identify and build relationships with key journalists and media outlets in the UK covering issues relevant to the IRC, across print, broadcast, online and social media.
• Represent IRC externally and build close relationships with press counterparts within partner organisations, other NGOs and statutory donors that lead to opportunities to promote IRC in the media and among target audiences.
• Manage the Communications component of IRC UK's relationship with the DEC and lead communications on DEC appeals
• Explore opportunities for media partnerships that can raise the profile of the IRC in target the UK.
  
  Demonstrable experience as a journalist or media professional.
• Track record in creating, driving and delivering earned media opportunities
• Experience leading and managing a team
• Experience of using tools for monitoring media coverage
• Experience of working with digital communications teams across digital campaigns
• Experience of dealing with media enquiries into crisis and senstive issues
• Experience of acting as a spokesperson for an organisation\
• Strong professional experience in communications, international affairs or related field
• Experience developing and implementing comprehensive communications strategies, particularly in PR / Media with an international, ideally humanitarian, or development focus.
• Experience of organising international media visits to projects in order to facilitate reporting on key issues.
• Experience of conducting media relations and communications opportunities in developing countries and sensitive contexts.
Skills and knowledge
• Creative thinker who can identify opportunities and collaborate internally to produce external products that cut through into media and meet strategic IRC UK objectives.
• Good contacts with key UK journalists and media outlets, and knowledge and ability to develop relationships quickly.
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills; adept at writing clean, engaging, jargon-free copy for a range of channels.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to establish positive working relationships with colleagues in the EU and overseas.
• Strong organisational and time management skills and the ability to work to deadlines, prioritise and multi-task in a fast paced environment.
• Proactive approach to problem solving to meet journalist and organisational demands.
• Knowledge of key debates in the UK and Europe around international development, aid and refugee issues.
Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

Over the past 90 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable. IRC-UK IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in England, a programme that is rapidly growing. In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm., The External Relations (ER) unit is comprised of four complementary functions: Private fundraising, Mobilization & Marketing, Policy & Advocacy and Operations & Analytics. To enable IRC to deliver our Strategy100 commitments, the ER unit established a bold new approach that enhances our ability to raise diverse and flexible funding aligned with IRC's top priorities, while raising our profile and influence. The ER unit is international, with colleagues in more than 10 offices globally.