Senior Communications Officer – Beirut at International Rescue Committee

Senior Communications Officer – Beirut at International Rescue Committee

The Senior Communications Officer will support IRC Lebanon’s communications and visibility efforts, with a strong focus on the emergency response communications and IRC’s programming. The role will ensure the production of timely, accurate, and high-quality content that captures the impact of IRC and partner-led interventions across response locations.

S/he will play a critical role in rapid content generation during emergencies, including collecting, developing, and packaging field-based evidence into compelling communications products for internal and external audiences. This includes showcasing both IRC direct implementation and partner-delivered programming, ensuring visibility of the full response ecosystem.

Working closely with program, partnerships, and MEAL teams, as well as the MENAU Communications team and global content and creative teams, the Senior Communications Officer will contribute to real-time situational updates, donor visibility, content and media engagement, supporting IRC’s positioning and advocacy priorities during crises.

Major Responsibilities:

Reporting, visibility and branding requirements:

• Work in close collaboration with IRC grants team to ensure adherence to donor commitments in communications reporting, as well as branding and visibility requirements across IRC Lebanon and partner programs.

• Maintain a calendar of donor deliverables and support in the collation and submission of products to the donor by deadlines.

• Attend the projects’ implementations meetings organized by the grants team and share communications updates with programs teams.

• Coordinate sign off on branded items and products as necessary internally and with partners.

Planning, collecting, and developing communications content:

• In coordination with the PAC Co, develop and implement a communications work plan aligned with emergency response priorities, ensuring timely coverage of key developments and response milestones.

• Conduct regular and ad-hoc field visits, including to emergency response locations and partner sites, to collect high-quality content (stories, photos, videos) that reflects the realities, needs, and impact of IRC and partner interventions.

• Lead or support the rapid development of emergency communications products, including situation updates, human-interest stories, flash content, and social media posts.

• Produce and update key materials (fact sheets, infographics, and briefs)

• Conduct field visits to collect content – including stories, photos, and video – that communicates the impact of IRC programs and initiatives for internal and external audiences.

• Organize and archive all communications content and consent forms to IRC’s internal content management systems and digital storage platforms.

• Develop a social media content calendar for the IRC X (Twitter) account and other platforms.

Internal communications and capacity building for partners:

• Provide training to program colleagues and partner organizations on IRC and donor branding and visibility guidelines to ensure the production of highly quality communications materials.

• Provide training and guidance to IRC staff and partners on best practices for communications.

• Provide English-Arabic and Arabic-English translation as needed.

Media:

• Support the identification and development of media opportunities linked to emergency response, including pitching stories/themes that highlight IRC and partner impact.

• Pitch and manage media embeds with IRC activities

• Support the organization of media visits ensuring content reflects both IRC and partner programming.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Policy, Advocacy, and Communications Coordinator – Head of Unit

Position provides technical support to: IRC Lebanon program staff and partners
Other Internal and/or external contacts:

· Internal: Technical coordinators, grants staff, MEAL staff, Deputy Regional Director for Communications and Public Affairs, Regional Content and Digital Specialist

· External: IRC Lebanon partners

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree, in journalism, media, communications, or relevant experience with at least 3 to 4 years of relevant job experience.

• Excellent writing and storytelling skills, and ability to adapt communication styles to different audiences.

• Ability to take high quality, professional photos in various settings, and basic photo editing skills.

• Basic knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (esp. Final Cut, Illustrator, Photoshop and In Design) is highly desirable.

• Fluent (spoken and written) English and Arabic is required.

• Video editing skills is a plus

• Ability to build strong professional relationships across diverse departments and take initiatives.

• High proficiency in handling varied, demanding and complex tasks.

• Previous experience working in an NGO in a similar role is required