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.
The Purpose of the Role
Marketing & Mobilization (M&M), a part of External Relations (ER), is a dynamic team, tasked with overseeing and creating communications and marketing, building the IRC’s global profile and brand, increasing private revenue from deeper donor engagement and partnerships, and influencing our target audiences. In alignment with our Strategy100 commitments, M&M has launched ambitious multi-year campaigns that raise funding, profile and influence and will improve our share of voice and resonance in key geographies and globally.
The Content and Creative team, a part of M&M, consists of award-winning creative specialists and idea partners, developing powerful communications and experiences to really engage audiences and ultimately to deliver on ER ambitions and objectives. Using creative mediums such as storytelling, visual design, and video, they tap into the expertise of colleagues across the organization.
The Officer, Private Fundraising Communications is responsible for developing content that inspires private sector funding towards the IRC’s innovative and impactful programs in 40+ countries. This person will collaborate extensively with program teams and External Relations to create communications that engage prospective donors, demonstrate their unique philanthropic impact, and inspire ongoing support through tailored content across Trust & Foundations, Global High Net Worth Individuals, Global New Business, and Corporations.
This person will be a strong grant writer, dynamic storyteller, communicating the story of IRC’s work on behalf of people impacted by crisis for over 90 years through concept notes, proposals, pitch decks, reports, and other fundraising content. The ideal candidate will be familiar with humanitarian program design concepts and complex proposal development processes.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Business Development Writing (40%):
● Responsible for producing persuasive and well-structured proposals for 6+ figure grants, positioning IRC as a best-in-class humanitarian and development organization. (They will support a portfolio with a special focus on Trust & Foundations, with projects for Corporate, HNWI, etc. as assigned.)
● Conduct programmatic research, collaborate with various teams (fundraising, program, etc.), and articulate the organization's goals, strategies, and impact to secure funding for humanitarian and development projects.
● Transform technical, programmatic content into sophisticated, compelling, donor-friendly materials. These materials will showcase the impact and sustainability of our programs while communicating our shared values with private sector partners.
Impact Reporting (40%):
● Create comprehensive and compelling reports and other written materials that highlight innovation, evidence, and outcomes the IRC delivers for our clients in some of the world’s toughest places, while building trust and transparency with private sector donors.
● Use data, human-interest stories, and other storytelling to create compelling, effective reports. These reports will fulfill donor-set requirements and communicate what sets our program approaches, evidence generation, advocacy, and expertise apart.
● Present program results clearly, workshopping reports with technical experts across the IRC.
Project Management (20%):
● Serve as a primary focal point for account managers to navigate communications resources and grant writing services.
● Lead the end-to-end process of proposal development across a diverse portfolio of grants - including curating content, workshopping information with program and communications colleagues, and building editorial timelines to finalize written assets across IRC teams.
● Document timelines and follow up with relevant responsible parties to help ensure core proposal/reporting milestones are met
● Coordinate with IRC teams (Program, Finance, Design and UX, Communications, etc.) to shape custom grant communications and set priorities.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications:
● Experience in crafting compelling proposals for high-net-worth donors, foundations, and corporations.
● Exceptional writing and editing skills, with exposure to strong program design backed by logframes, theories of change, and work plans.**
● Strong storytelling skills, with the ability to transform technical concepts and program design ideas into easy-to-understand communications that are brand-aligned, creative, and inspiring.
● Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines.
● Strong ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders.**
Experience:
● Demonstrated experience in grant writing, proposal development or reporting, preferably in an international organization and/or for the Corporate sector.**
Are you a skilled communicator with a passion for powerful storytelling and social impact? I’m delighted to be partnering with a leading women’s health charity to recruit a Senior Media and Campaigns Officer who will play a key role in driving awareness, and shaping the national conversation around women’s health.
You will be responsible for generating regular, high-quality national and regional media coverage and working on the implementation of impactful campaigns that raise awareness and support the charity’s wider objectives. You will think creatively about how to promote their work through both media engagement and wider campaigning activity across digital and offline channels.
This is an exciting time to join an organisation delivering ground-breaking research and high-profile advocacy campaigns that are changing lives across the UK.
In this dynamic role, you’ll:
- Lead proactive media outreach—crafting press releases, pitching stories, and managing media opportunities.
- Support the delivery of strategic campaigns across digital and offline channels.
- Develop compelling case studies and campaign assets that elevate real voices and experiences.
We’re looking for someone with excellent writing skills, strong media relations experience, and a strategic mindset when it comes to audience engagement and campaign delivery. Experience in the charity sector highly desirable.
- £32,500, plus great benefits
- Hybrid (2 days in London Bridge office + 3 days Remote)
- Full-time, permanent
If you’re excited by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the field of women’s health, we’d love to hear from you.
Closing date- ASAP, the charity is reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Apply now!
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.
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!
Role Title: Media Specialist
Salary: £42,205 - £43,417
Location: London-Hybrid (1 day per week in Office)
Tenure: 18 Months' Fixed Term - Full Time
ActionAid UK is a member of the ActionAid Federation, an international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty. We work with our partners and dedicated staff in 43 countries to end violence and fight poverty so that all women, everywhere, can create the future they want
Are you a keen advocate of women and girls’ rights in emergencies?
Are you a passionate communicator and media professional who believes in the power of storytelling to drive change?
Do you want to help shape a fairer world by amplifying the voices of feminist movements and communities experiencing injustice?
Then we'd love to hear from you!
At ActionAid UK, we’re looking for a Media Specialist to join our dynamic Media team. In this pivotal role, you’ll respond to media enquiries, pitch impactful stories to journalists, and craft bold narratives that reflect the lived realities of women and girls around the world. Working closely with partners, activists, and spokespeople, you’ll write compelling talking points, prepare media materials, and contribute to the development of strategic messaging that supports our campaigns and organisational goals.
You’ll also help ensure that our storytelling remains rooted in our anti-racist and feminist values, presenting people’s experiences with depth, dignity, and respect. This role involves working on confidential and sensitive issues, and you’ll need good judgement, diplomacy, and resilience. What we're looking for:
- A confident media professional with a strong background in media relations, ideally in an advocacy or campaigning context.
- A natural storyteller and sharp writer with excellent attention to detail.
- An understanding of the UK media landscape and how to build trusted journalist relationships would be desirable.
This role is not just about coverage—it’s about impact. You’ll need to be a confident writer with sharp editorial instincts and a passion for progressive, rights-based storytelling. You’ll handle media enquiries, pitch powerful stories to journalists, and craft compelling narratives that centre the voices and lived experiences of women and girls from marginalised communities and respond swiftly to breaking news and humanitarian emergencies. You’ll also be part of a team that centres anti-racist storytelling storytelling, supporting communities to lead in how their stories are told. At ActionAid UK we work at the intersection of gender justice and international development, offering a supportive hybrid working environment, opportunities for learning and development, and a culture that values bold thinking, collaboration, and systemic change.
If you’re ready to use your skills to elevate unheard voices, challenge injustice, and help shape the media narrative around women’s rights and global equity—then we want to hear from you.
Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate will be asked to participate in criminal records checks at the point of offer.
Additional information
Diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging:
Diversity, inclusion and belonging are key to our organisational culture. We are on a journey to become not only an anti-racist organisation but one that proudly celebrates the diversity of all applicants and employees. We look forward to you bringing your full self to work, proudly sharing your unique perspective and helping us to shape our combined future. We especially welcome applications from those from under-represented/marginalised communities.
AAUK is a Disability Confident Committed organisation and as such any candidate that declares a disability will be shortlisted for interview if they meet the essential criteria for the role.
Referencing and safeguarding:
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include safeguarding, criminal records and terrorism finance checks. By submitting an application the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
ActionAid UK is committed to preventing any form of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse (including child abuse and adult at-risk abuse) and responding robustly when these harms take place. We expect all ActionAid UK staff and ActionAid UK representatives to share this commitment. We will not tolerate our staff or other representatives carrying out any form of sexual harassment, exploitation or abuse towards anyone we come into contact with through our work.
Working practices:
ActionAid is committed to supporting flexible working. If you would like to discuss flexible working options, including the possibility of a job share for this role, there will be space to do so during the interview process.
ActionAid UK has a hybrid working policy for many of our roles. The requirement will vary from team to team and the responsibilities of individual roles. As a minimum, all colleagues are expected to attend the office 12 days per year, plus additional time for induction, training, and company connection days. Some roles may require in-office attendance on all days and if so, these will clearly be marked as in-office roles.
Please note that ActionAid UK does not offer fully remote working options. We encourage you to discuss hybrid working expectations at interview.
Recruitment processes:
Please note that ActionAid UK may review, shortlist and interview candidates prior to the closing date so we encourage all candidates to apply as soon as possible. If we receive a very high response, we may close the vacancy early and will not accept further submissions.