DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS SEPTEMBER 2020
CONTENTS About BRAC International
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Experience
07
Job Overview
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Knowledge, Skills and Competencies
08
Context and Purpose
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Educational Qualifications
08
Major Responsibilities
06
How to Apply
09
Major Challenges
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About Oxford HR
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ABOUT BRAC INTERNATIONAL BRAC is an international development organisation with the vision of a world free from all forms of exploitation and discrimination where everyone has the opportunity to realise their potential. BRAC uses an integrated model to change systems of inequity through social development programmes, humanitarian response, social enterprises, socially responsible investments, and a university. BRAC is a global leader in developing and implementing cost-effective, evidence-based programs to assist the most marginalized people in extremely poor, conflict-prone, and post-disaster settings. These include initiatives in education, healthcare, microfinance, women and girls’ empowerment, agriculture, human and legal rights, and more.
BRAC is working across 11 countries in South Asia and Africa, BRAC touches the lives of more than 100 million people worldwide. BRAC International manages all of BRAC’s humanitarian and development programs outside of Bangladesh, operating in 10 countries across Asia and Africa: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Uganda. Headquartered in the Netherlands with a home office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, BRAC International is a truly global organisation.
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JOB OVERVIEW Department/Programme:
Director of Communications
Reporting to:
Executive Director - BRAC International
Location:
Preference for candidates located in London, Amsterdam/The Hague, New York City/Washington DC, or Nairobi
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CONTEXT AND PURPOSE Although BRAC is the number one NGO in the world – because of their impact, sustainability, and innovative solutions - BRAC is not known enough outside of Bangladesh. The ultimate goal of the BRAC International (BI) Director of Communications should be to position BI as a partner of choice and thought leader in the field of international development. This is a new position and requires creativity and problem-solving to establish development and execution of a BI Communications strategy which will raise the profile of BI with donors, governments, peer organisations, and the general public. The Communications Director needs to build a pipeline of BRAC’s stories, learnings and innovations, and to secure their placement in global media; to mobilise the placement of communications materials in global media outlets; and to build media relationships and networks to raise BRAC’s leadership role. The BRAC International Director of Communications also provides support and guidance to regional and country-level communications teams to increase the visibility of BRAC International within respective regions and countries and to support the country offices to create high quality stories, videos, and other materials, and link them with communications partners and agencies.
The BRAC International Director of Communications ensures the BRAC International brand is effectively portrayed through fundraising campaigns, and for this she/he would be working as part of a larger global BRAC Communications Team, consisting of communications directors of BRAC Bangladesh, BRAC USA, and the Communication Point Person of BRAC UK. They collectively work towards positioning BRAC as a known global humanitarian and social development organisation with southern uniqueness. Internally, the BRAC International Director of Communications works with senior management, including Regional Directors, to build institutional communications capacity and knowledge as well as examination and hiring of regional communications leads. The Director of Communications will report directly to the Executive Director of BRAC International and be responsible for charting the course of gaining global recognition for BI. The position is part of the BRAC International Core Management Team.
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MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Communications Leadership • Develop and implement a BRAC International Communications Strategy. • Create a strategy which will raise the profile of BI with donors, governments, peer organisations, and the general public. • Utilise programme learning to promote BI as a preferred partner. • Promote BI as a thought leader in global development, dialogues, and networks. Public and Media Relations Leadership • Build a pipeline of BRAC’s stories, learnings, and innovations and secure their placement in global media. • Leverage personal print and television media relationships and networks to raise the recognition of BI and BI leadership. • Oversee the development and ensure the quality of communications materials for external use. • Mobilise the placement of communications materials in global media outlets. Regional and Country Level Communications Capacity Building • Provide support and guidance to regional and country-level communications teams to increase the visibility of BI within respective regions and countries. • Work with BI country offices to create high-level and high-quality stories, videos, and other materials. • Support partnership development with regional and country communications partners and agencies.
Design, Build, and Grow the BI Communications Team • Work with senior management, including regional directors, to develop plans for growing the BI communications team. • Examine and organise current staff and plot growth strategy including hiring of regional communications leads. • Build institutional communications capacity and knowledge for the long-term growth of the organisation. Safeguarding • Establish a safeguarding culture across all levels of the programme by implementing the safeguarding policy. Act as a key source of support, guidance, and expertise on safeguarding for establishing a safe working environment. • Responsible to ensure team members are appropriately trained, supported, and have access to resources regarding issues that are identified and actioned in accordance with the safeguarding policy and procedure. • Follow the safeguarding reporting procedure in case any reportable incident takes place, encourage others to do so. Additional Responsibilities • Presenting BRAC International to different forums. • Attending seminars and dissemination of information to relevant authorities.
Fundraising Support • Work closely with BI leads for both private sector and institutional fundraising as well as relevant staff at BRAC UK and BRAC USA to mobilise resources. • Ensure BI brand is effectively portrayed through fundraising campaigns. • Support high-level messaging and help strategise/guide fundraising efforts.
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MAJOR CHALLENGES • Geographical and cultural differences. • Diversified rules and regulations among the countries. • Standardising the knowledge management system among the countries.
• Working with countries with no specific communications focal point. • Pressure with working under time and deadline constraints.
EXPERIENCE • 20+ years’ experience working in an International Organisation within strategic or corporate communications, public relations, media relations, and/or strategic branding. • Experience in crisis management communications preferred.
• Experience creating and executing innovative strategic communications and media outreach plans for a range of projects, initiatives, and campaigns.
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KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES • Excellent verbal, visual, and written communication skills are required, as is the ability to break down complex arguments, distill key messages, and present them in a clear and succinct manner to multiple audiences, which includes donors, partners, and other stakeholders. • Extensive professional networks with print and video media outlets. • Knowledge of communications and marketing best practices and tools. Experience with social media, blogs, websites, digital marketing, and CRM databases preferred. • Familiarity with data management and processes.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate, prioritise, and manage tasks collaboratively with grace, agility, and flexibility in a rapidly changing environment. • Strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines for multiple projects simultaneously. • Superb cross-cultural interpersonal skills, a history of forging strong relationships with diverse stakeholders and colleagues, as well as good listening skills. • Exercises discretion and smart, independent judgment.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS • Bachelor’s degree, Master’s preferred. • Degree in Journalism, Mass Communication, Public Relations, Marketing, or any other relevant field.
• Additional coursework and specialisation in international development considered favorably.
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HOW TO APPLY All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter. Please provide a CV and cover letter in two different documents.
Equality Statement Equality and diversity are at the core of BRAC’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.
The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The document should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-092020-BRAC or PatJones-CoverLetter-092020-BRAC.
Selection Process All candidates will be notified about the status of their applications. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder. Shortlisted candidates may be required to undertake an additional assessment prior to the final interview.
Timeline Closing date: 30 October 2020 Screening interviews with Oxford HR: 10 -18th November 2020 First round panel interviews with BRAC: Week of 30 November 2020 Final interviews with BRAC: TBC
Queries If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email: brac-commsdirector@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.
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ABOUT OXFORD HR Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy. Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic
contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our clients. Oxford HR’s team members have significant personal experience of working in international development and the social sector as well as the corporate and governmental sectors. We are in a unique position to find and assess talented individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
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OXFORD
LONDON
AMSTERDAM
NAIROBI
The Old Music Hall
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1053 SZ
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Oxford
London
Amsterdam
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OX4 1JE
SE1 1NL
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The Netherlands
Kenya
+44 (0) 1865 403 298
+44 (0)20 7939 7451
+31 (0) 683 334 473
+254 (0) 797 233 217
PO Box 17300-00606, Nairobi
www.oxfordhr.co.uk | Company No. 6456325
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