Senior Communications Officer, Mercy Corps (New York,NY)

Senior Communications Officer
Publication or Company Mercy Corps
Industry Non-profit, Public Relations
Benefits 401K/403B, Dental, Health
Job Duration Full Time
Job Location New York, NY USA
Job Requirements PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The Communications team is a small but dynamic group of professionals dedicated to getting the word out about Mercy Corps’ outstanding work to help people around the world overcome poverty and oppression. The team strives to raise Mercy Corps’ public profile and support the agency’s fundraising and advocacy efforts. The team primarily engages with US and UK national and regional media, but also works with community groups and influentials in key markets where our donors are concentrated. The Communications team is led by a Director of Communications based in Seattle, WA.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

As an integral member of the Mercy Corps Communications team, the Senior Communications Officer (CO) will focus on relations with U.S. national media based on the East Coast and New York City-area media outlets, and provide support and insight for colleagues throughout the US and UK. S/he will conceptualize and implement media strategies, reaching out to the press around newsworthy Mercy Corps initiatives and managing inbound media inquiries. S/he will also work closely with the Global Engagement team and the Action Center to End World Hunger to raise the profile of those initiatives, as well as with New York City-based fundraisers to maximize the public relations value of community and donor events.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Work closely with the Director of Communications to develop a national media strategy and reach out to national media based on the East Coast.

Design, manage and implement media relations strategy for New York-area media, focusing on efforts to raise the profile of Global Engagement initiatives including the Action Center to End World Hunger in Battery Park City.

Seek and build relationships with journalists who could tell Mercy Corps’ stories.

Research and generate story ideas and troubleshoot potentially difficult topics.

Write and edit press releases, fact sheets and other media relations materials.

Serve as on-the-record spokesperson for Mercy Corps programs.

Organize press briefings for Mercy Corps staff and other high-profile spokespeople.

Travel to Mercy Corps’ programs in developing countries to work with media, includes identifying story ideas and working with journalists to facilitate press coverage.

Work with New York-area fundraisers to build Mercy Corps’ profile through community outreach.

Other duties as assigned.

Organizational Learning
As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Communications Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Communications Team; Managing Director, Marketing and Communications; Vice President of Global Engagement; Executive Director of the Action Center to End World Hunger; NYC-based fundraising team; other departments including Program Operations, Technical Support Unit, etc.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
BA/S or equivalent in journalism, marketing or public relations required; MA/S in related field preferred.

8-10 years’ professional experience in media relations, marketing or journalism required.

Established track record of generating positive media coverage in New York and U.S. national outlets; relationships with media in NYC and beyond.

Superior written and verbal communications skills a must; ability to “translate” technical language into compelling stories needed.

Experience in international development or knowledge of development issues preferred.

SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful Senior Communications Officer will be a proactive PR professional with a rolodex of established media contacts in New York City and beyond. S/he will be an excellent storyteller and writer with a nose for news, as well as a self-starter who can work independently or in a team setting. S/he must be willing and able to travel to developing countries places – sometimes with little notice – to identify and tell Mercy Corps’ stories. S/he must have a deep interest in Mercy Corps programs and a commitment to the goals of the organization. S/he needs to be able to multi-task, organize and prioritize many urgent tasks. 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:
This position is based in New York City and requires quarterly travel to Portland, OR, as well as occasional travel to Mercy Corps’ programs around the world. Locations are sometimes insecure and amenities are often basic.
About Our Company Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1.3 billion in assistance to people in 100 nations. Supported by headquarters offices in North America, Europe and Asia, the agency's unified global programs employ 3,400 staff worldwide and reach nearly 14.4 million people in more than 35 countries.