Job title: Communications Officer

Job purpose: to contribute to delivering MapAction’s external communications and to planning and strategising our comms activities.

Hours: ideally 22.5/week although there is some flexibility on this, above a minimum of 19 hrs/wk. Work times/days are flexible

Location: Due to Covid-19 MapAction’s team is currently home working and this post would need to be too. In the future there may be an expectation for ad hoc travel to meetings at MapAction’s office, currently Chinnor, Oxfordshire

Contract: this is a part-time, substantive position.

Responsible to: Fundraising & Marketing Director 

Task managed by: Head of Communications 

Salary: £26,989 - £29,148 pro rata

About MapAction

In the chaotic fall-out of a humanitarian emergency such as an earthquake, conflict or epidemic, data and maps are crucial to make rapid sense of the situation and plan the best response to save lives and minimise suffering.

MapAction is an international charity working globally to ensure humanitarian teams have the information and data they need, in the most useful formats, to enable them to respond as effectively as possible when crises occur, as well as helping them to plan and prepare ahead of time. We are actively working to apply technology and geospatial expertise to tackle some of today’s biggest humanitarian challenges, in collaboration with our partners around the world.

We are a technical partner of several United Nations bodies and regional disaster management agencies and receive funding from a number of governments, trusts and foundations.

MapAction has an inspirational and well-respected team of highly skilled and trained volunteers, backed up by specialised staff, who are ready to deploy anywhere in the world at very short notice to respond to humanitarian emergencies. They also help our partners with preparedness, early anticipation and training. 

With a cohort of creative, compassionate and committed people and a strong team spirit, we remain small enough that you will quickly come to know and respect what everyone contributes, as they will you. We pull together to do what is needed.

What will you do?

Working with the Communications Lead and situated within the wider Fundraising & Marketing Team, you will help to plan and implement a wide variety of targeted and effective communications activities that raise our profile with key audiences, publicise the services we offer and communicate their impact.

Working with people across and beyond the organisation, you will be coordinating, creating and publishing high quality, engaging and targeted content for different on- and offline channels. These include our website, email newsletters, social media platforms, printed materials, events and press and media. You will help to ensure that all our external comms are aligned with our values of humanity, impartiality, innovation and voluntary service and support our organisational objectives, which include providing insight, promoting learning, influencing technical standards, facilitating collaboration and developing new funding streams to expand our work.

Main Responsibilities:

·   Guided by the Head of Communications and comms protocols, coordinating, creating, editing, scheduling and publishing on-and offline content including website news stories and blogs, social media posts, contributed articles, email newsletters, videos, podcasts, presentation materials, etc.

·   Building relationships across the organisation and with key partners to gather interesting stories and proof points and collaborate to disseminate them.

·   Assisting with media relations activities including strengthening relationships with key media contacts, drafting and issuing press releases, pitching stories and commentary, arranging interviews, briefing spokespeople, etc. under the guidance of the Head of Communications.

·   Monitoring social media channels and responding to comments and mentions. Helping to proactively engage with relevant and influential organisations and individuals on social media.

·   Helping to generate and promote live broadcasts and webinars.

·   Liaising with fundraising team colleagues to generate communications outputs and materials in accordance with funder requirements.

·     Maintaining calendar(s) for social media, blogs, speaking platforms, awards, media opportunities etc.

·     Helping to update the MapAction website and assisting in the development of a new website during 2021.

·     Helping to create printed materials such as brochures, leaflets and display materials, working with designers and other external suppliers as needed.

·     Drafting occasional award entries.

·     Researching and securing speaking opportunities and supporting speakers with preparations and materials.

·     Participating in planning communications activities.

·     Reporting activities as needed both internally to MapAction’s Management Team and externally to funders.

Key competencies and requirements

·     At least three years of experience in a communications role in a humanitarian, technology and/or business to business (B2B) context.

·     A sound understanding gleaned through work experience and/or training of different communications disciplines and channels and/or a degree of expertise in several areas such as social media, media relations, email marketing, etc.

·     An understanding of the fundamentals of focused B2B communications.

·     An ability to communicate complex information in an engaging way.

·     A great team player with excellent interpersonal skills and a can-do attitude.

·     An ability to work autonomously but also collaboratively, with input and oversight/approvals from internal and/or external stakeholders as needed.

·     Excellent writing skills.

·     Creative flair - a head full of ideas for interesting content and an eye for good visual presentation.

·     Strong attention to detail.

·      Desirable: an awareness of humanitarian issues and factors to be mindful of when communicating in this context.

  ·   Desirable: familiarity with various tools and platforms such as Canva, HitFilm, HootSuite, Powerpoint, Biteable, Facebook & Instagram Live, Eventbrite, Zoom, etc., or similar tools/platforms.

 Equal Opportunities Policy:

MapAction is an Equal Opportunities employer. All employees have a personal responsibility to promote and support measures designed to create a working environment which is free from harassment or discrimination on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, membership of the Travellers community or HIV&AIDS status.

How to apply:

Please complete your application by submitting a CV and covering letter on Go Hire. The closing date for applications is 6th March 2021. For further discussion regarding the content of this role, please reach out to Ian Davis, Fundraising and Marketing Director via the website. MapAction reserves the right to close the application date early. NO AGENCIES.