The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.
BACKGROUND
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.
In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm.
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
The External Relations (ER) unit comprises four complementary functions: Private Fundraising, Marketing & Mobilization, 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.
The Purpose of the Role
As Director of Communications, UK, you lead IRC UK’s core communications strategy with the objectives of growing our profile, influencing policy, driving income, and building 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 across media and digital channels, 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 and digital outputs protect clients, staff and programming from harm.
The Director will report to the UK Executive Director and the Acting Senior Director of Global Public Affairs. The Director will collaborate closely with the Director 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 holder sets strategic direction for UK communications, with a focus on earned media, public advocacy and organic digital.
●The role oversees the UK comms operational budget, with access to the Global External Relations budget.
●The role has the authority to brief journalists with agreed messaging and act as spokesperson for the organisation.
●The Director will line manage the communications team 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 Acting Senior Director Global Public Affairs & Communications.
●Close collaboration with External Relations staff in the UK, US and globally, including Policy and Advocacy, Mass Markets, Fundraising, Awards Management, Digital Engagement, Entertainment Relations, Creative Studio, and Experiential Marketing.
●Works closely with key country directors, country programme staff and technical unit colleagues.
●Supports policy staff in the IRC President’s Office on key UK messages and policy initiatives involving the IRC President.
●Works closely with counterparts in NGOs and donors particularly FCDO and the DEC.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Strategic Direction
●Raise IRC UK's profile, income, influence and brand in the UK market by developing and delivering a 360 comprehensive communications & marketing strategy that reaches target audiences, attracts new supporters, and connects supporters with IRC clients.
●Partner with global external relations leadership to set Key Performance Indicators for achieving the strategy, and drive and monitor progress towards them with the support of your team.
●Contribute to the development and delivery of the UK Strategic Plan.
Team Management & Stakeholder engagement
●Manage a team of communications professionals, setting objectives, portfolio scope, and partnering on professional development opportunities
●Drive creative insights and strategic thinking within the UK comms team and influence / maximize policy, advocacy and fundraising outputs and results
●Lead strategic communications planning to maximize opportunities of partnering with income and influence objectives and outputs
●Ensure the UK Communications Team are clear on systems, processes and organization to drive efficiency and team productivity
●Review team performance quarterly and present on results to global stakeholders
●As a member of the UK Senior Management Team (UK SMT) 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 SMT and UK office.
Execution: Driving IRC profile, influence and income; and protecting the reputation of the IRC
●Work alongside global communications colleagues, Policy & Advocacy colleagues, Digital Engagement 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.
●Ensure pro/reactive message accuracy and cut through calls to action that engage audiences for proactive campaigns and news cycle opportunities.
●Develop, commission and drive creative cut-through tactics and products, from revealing IRC research and analysis to emergency media briefings.
●Secure top tier media coverage of IRC’s work, solutions and innovation, balancing mentions with long-form/features and profiles.
●Influence and shape key media and digital narratives around IRC UK priority issues.
●Oversee strategic media opportunities by commissioning, writing, editing and disseminating messaging for multi-channel use includingpress-releases, op-eds, statements, web and social content to secure coverage of the IRC in the UK across print, broadcast and online media.
●Work with global communications colleagues and country office staff to create strong, persuasive and impactful outputs, and to arrange interviews and media visits to frontline work.
●Act as a spokesperson for the organization in the media as needed.
●Liaise closely with Fundraising teams to collaborate on timely messaging, client-centered storytelling, digital outputs, and media coverage to bring in donations to the IRC during emergencies and other fundraising appeals.
●Manage the communications component of IRC UK’s relationship with the DEC and lead communications on DEC appeals.
●Use expert judgment to ensure the IRC’s brand is protected and to develop and enact strategies to enhance IRC’s reputation, as well as ensure media outputs protect clients, staff and programming from harm.
●Ensure coordinated and topical messaging across media outreach and digital channels.
●Establish close relationships with press counterparts within statutory donor organizations that lead to opportunities to promote IRC in the media.
●Leverage IRC’s President and CEO, and UK Executive Director to grow our profile in the UK, through proposing and implementing op-eds, interviews and other media activities.
●Support, prepare and coach staff, spokespeople and board members for media interviews and visits; and provide guidance across the organisation to dealing with media.
●Build expertise on current and potential issues in the humanitarian NGO arena via research and monitoring of national media and competitors and in liaison with global colleagues.
●Work with the global media colleagues to ensure that IRC has a system for managing media enquiries at all times, as needed.
●Responsible for reporting to the IRCUK board, subcommittees and Executive Director on press activity, trends and upcoming opportunities.
●Responsibility for the budget oversight, tracking & administration as well as ensuring adherence to financial processes
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Experience
●**Track record in creating, driving and evaluating a 360-degree communications and marketing strategy that focuses on media, digital and enabling income.**
●**Experience leading and managing media and digital teams.**
●Experience navigating and influencing within large matrixed organizations.
●Extensive experience of developing key messages and implementing media strategies with an international, and ideally humanitarian or development focus.
●**Experience of conducting media relations and communications opportunities in developing countries and sensitive contexts.
●Experience of organising international media visits to projects in order to facilitate reporting on key issues.**
●**Experience responding to reputational threats.**
●**Experience leading a digital communications team that delivers breakthrough digital content
●Experience/knowledge of tools for monitoring media coverage and digital results.**
●Experience of dealing with media enquiries into crisis and sensitive issues.
●Experience of acting as a spokesperson for an organisation.
●Experience managing a budget, ensuring timely payment and adherence to finance protocol
Skills and Knowledge
●Creative thinker who can identify opportunities and collaborate internally to produce external products that cut through media and digital and meet strategic IRC UK objectives.
●Strong communication and interpersonal skills: ability to communicate effectively with colleagues both in the UK and overseas and manage working relationships diplomatically.
●Excellent eye to detail and commitment to high speed and high quality writing and editing
●Strong understanding of marketing and how communications intersect with income generation, and influencing
●Strong organisational and time management skills: ability to prioritise team’s work, and multi-task in a fast-paced work setting.
●Good knowledge of UK and international media landscape and news cycle
●Good instinct for digital marketing and digital environment
●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.
●Ability to represent IRC-UK and the wider IRC professionally and appropriately at all times.
●Knowledge/interest in international affairs, particularly of conflict and humanitarian crises and issues.
●Knowledge of key political debates in the UK around international development and aid.
●Flexibility as regards working hours, as the need arises.
●Willingness to travel occasionally to conflict areas.
●Fluency in English, spoken and written.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Carers First is a charity that works directly with, and for unpaid carers, providing personalised information, advice and tailored support making it easier for those caring for someone else to continue living their lives to the fullest.
We have a committed, dedicated staff team and you could be just the person we are looking for to join us to make that valuable difference in carer’s lives. We live and work through our values in all that we achieve by being positive, collaborative and ambitious and we have clear plans to scale our reach, support and impact for carers.
About this role
As a Director of Income and Engagement your responsibilities would include: -
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Lead, inspire and manage an integrated Income, Data and Communications Team to diversify and increase income to reach and engage more carers.
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Drive a substantial increase in voluntary income and the charity’s supporter base.
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Lead on communications and campaigns to support delivery of the charity’s strategy.
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Take an active role as a member of Carers First Leadership Team to shape and implement the charity’s strategy and unlock the whole organisation’s potential.
About you
To be successful in this role you will need -
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Experience in strategic planning with an ability to produce and deliver creative and impactful income generation and communications plans with targets and measures.
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Demonstrable achievements in planning and delivering significant income growth within a charity, from a diverse range of sources, including trusts and foundations, community fundraising, individual giving, major donors, legacies and corporate partnerships.
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Demonstrable experience in writing compelling, robust and evidence-based proposals and cases for support for funders.
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Extensive experience of planning and delivering national and local communications/marketing tailored to key audiences, across multiple channels, to increase reach and engagement with key audiences.
We are looking for passionate people who are committed to the overall aims and objectives of the Charity. Carers First is committed to providing a supportive, vibrant, diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.
Carers First can offer you
In return for your contribution, we have an amazing package of staff benefits including 26 days annual leave entitlement which increases with length of service, flexible working options, paid carers leave, access to our work-place pension, staff discount scheme, employee assistance programme and a Benenden Healthcare package. Whatever you are aiming to achieve in your career, we are here to encourage, help and support you grow, through our excellent training and development programmes.
How to apply
To apply for our exciting opportunity and make a real difference to the lives of carers, click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application. Appointments are subject to Carers First receiving an appropriate disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service that we consider acceptable.
Interview process
The closing date for applications is 5pm on 8 August 2025. There will be a two-stage process.
Candidates who have fully evidenced they meet the requirements of the Personal Specification to a satisfactory standard will be long-listed and invited to Stage 1.
Stage 1: Informal online meeting with the Chief Executive to discuss their application. Please note that applications will be assessed on an ongoing basis and therefore it would be helpful to make an early application.
Following the informal meeting, candidates will be short-listed and successful candidates will be invited to Stage 2:
Stage 2: Week commencing 18 August 2025 - formal face-to-face interview in London. As part of the formal interview, candidates will be asked to give a presentation, and details will be provided in advance.
Carers First is an Equal Opportunities Employer
Positive Collaborative Ambitious
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Our new three-year strategy will enable us to grow our work to reach and support significantly more carers delivering innovative programmes of support
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
The Education Access Coordinator will equip young asylum seekers and refugees to access further (FE) and higher education (HE) through advice and guidance, 1:1 casework and training for other professionals.
This role sits within the Education Access team: everything we do is focussed on supporting young refugees and asylum seekers into an appropriate form of education from primary school right the way up to university.
The team is separated into three work streams: access to schools, access to FE and access to HE. We also run a national email and telephone advice service through which young people, their families and the professionals who support them, can receive timely and accurate advice and support about any aspect of accessing education in the UK.
This role straddles the access to FE and HE streams of work and, although it would be helpful to have some experience of working in these sectors, our experience is that this knowledge can be taught and is not as important to us as other qualities and experience.
The successful candidate will, however, need to be able to understand and retain a great deal of complex information and then clearly articulate this to others both verbally and in writing. The ideal candidate would be someone who would relish becoming an expert in refugee access to FE and HE and would enjoy the problem solving element of navigating complex regulations to find the right solution for an individual struggling to access education.
The successful candidate will also need to have experience of and enjoy working with vulnerable young people both individually and in groups. A key element of this role is ongoing casework with individuals - where you will need to build a supportive and trusting relationship over the long term - alongside running one-off workshops for large groups where the priority is to quickly gain young people’s confidence and attention.
Finally, the successful candidate will be responsible for representing REUK’s access pillar externally. You will co-deliver training to a high standard as well as maintaining relationships with key stakeholders including local authorities, FE colleges, universities and other NGOs - it is therefore imperative that you have excellent people skills.
This role can be done 4 or 5 days per week, depending on preference (salary would be pro rata for 4 days).
Shortlisted applicants will be required to complete a task in advance of final shortlisting for interviews (which will be held in London on Friday 22nd August 2025) and references will be taken up prior to appointment. Please note that you must have the right to work in the UK and/or a visa that allows you to work in the UK for the duration of this contract. We cannot sponsor a visa for this role.
Please ensure you have read the applicant pack in advance of applying.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Education for a hopeful future: we enable refugee youth to access, remain and progress in education.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.