Communications Officer

Details:

• Salary: £32,500-35,000 per year dependent on experience
• Location: United Kingdom, Germany, Global South (Africa preferred)
• Contract type: Full-time, fixed term contract
• Closing date: 23 July 2023

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, an international non-profit organisation tracking the human rights impacts of over 10,000 companies worldwide, is seeking a Communications Officer to join our global team.

The successful candidate will bring talent, enthusiasm, to support organisational media strategies and external communications work across the world. The Communications Officer will join the busy and collegiate central communications team, supporting project teams by devising impactful communications materials and developing digital content, including for our landmark digital platform, to advance change in key business and human rights fields including supply chains, the just energy transition and technology.

As well as working with project team colleagues to develop strategies to most effectively communicate our research, analysis and key findings, you will support and amplify the efforts of our partners on the ground fighting to achieve justice and remedies for victims of abuse.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is a diverse, global organisation. We are committed to providing equal opportunities and particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, Latinx and other minorities, people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQ+.

About the organisation

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre works with partners to put human rights at the core of companies’ business models; to empower communities and workers to secure their rights and gain accountability for abuse; and to advocate for effective regulation – policy and legislation – to facilitate these outcomes. We are a global organisation committed to cooperation with diverse actors in our movement. The organisation comprises a Global Team of more than 70 people based around the world who work with a wide network of human rights advocates.

With our global network of allies, our primary global approaches to deliver this vision are:

• Working to achieve equality of power in negotiations which further human rights between workers and communities, with business and governments;
• Use the evidence and data we generate to positively influence decision-makers including business, investors and national and regional governments;
• Strengthen corporate accountability, due diligence and effective remedy for abuse;
• Build transparency of the advances, challenges and abuse of human rights in business.

Responsibilities

Develop innovative digital communications: Work with communications and global team colleagues to explore and develop digital communications outputs including digital launch materials, online events, podcasts, etc to support the dissemination and impact of our research and associated advocacy messages to key audiences.

Support the development of project communications strategies and planning: Advise project teams on strategic communications, develop specific project-related communications strategies with support from the communications team. Work with our Global Team, partners and contractors to ensure communications products and strategies are well planned and executed, keep oversight of delivery timelines.

Support Global Team digital events: Project manage online events which support the dissemination of our research and analysis to a wide audience. This includes our annual flagship Mary Robinson Speaker Series.

Produce compelling content: Write and edit channel-appropriate content for our audiences, including for our digital platform, social channels, email newsletters and for other external audiences. Support the Web Content and Digital Officer by developing and editing content as required and assisting with digital platform use training as appropriate.

Contribute to organisational, issue and regional communications strategies: Support the Head of Communications to implement our communications strategy. Keep our planning calendar up to date and help ensure key deadlines are met.

*Support the Communications team:*Attend weekly Communications team meetings to share expertise and provide appropriate input to global media plans, digital development and internal communications outputs as required.

Key competencies and attributes

Experience: At least 3 years’ experience in a communications role, working in a public relations office, communications department, as a journalist or similar role in another NGO.

Communications: Excellent understanding of how strategic communications can work alongside research and advocacy approaches to achieve change. Proven ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an impactful way; understanding of how to tailor content to different audiences, contexts and channels.

Strategic thinking: Track record of helping to develop successful communications strategies to effect change – leading and/or implementing complex projects including planning, execution, and evaluation of lessons learned. Experience tailoring communications products for diverse international audiences an asset.

Digital communications skills: Knowledge and experience of website inputting, dexterity working with content management systems. Experience creating organisational content for key social media channels including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as social media managing programmes (e.g. Tweetdeck, Agorapulse). Familiarity of automated communication and CRM platforms (e.g. Mailchimp, SurveyMonkey, Salesforce) an advantage. Ability to plan and deliver strategic social content, monitor reach and impact.

*Production:*Experience coordinating online events on various platforms (Teams, Zoom). Comfortable producing and/or commissioning content, including blogs, podcasts, videos and infographics. Graphic design and/or audio-video editing skills desirable.

*Supporting staff:*Enthusiasm for supporting colleagues develop strategic communications. Experience supporting staff either through training, coaching or assisting with particular projects an asset.

*Team player:*Experience of, and commitment to, working in high-performing teams which are highly collaborative and focused on outcomes. Willingness to provide cover for team members – including occasional, infrequent out of hours work – and share admin jobs. Experience of working with colleagues remotely, and in multicultural and diverse cultures and working environments also desirable.

Knowledge of human rights issues: A strong interest in international issues and familiarity with social justice issues desirable.

Languages: Must have exceptional spoken and written English. Additional language(s) desirable (Arabic/ Chinese/ French/ German/ Japanese/ Korean/ Portuguese/ Spanish).

Travel: There may be occasional international travel for information gathering, communications and/or representation.