Operational Communication Officer - Kyiv – 877441 in International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral, and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. The ICRC is mandated to work in countries affected by armed conflict or other situations of violence. The ICRC is present in over 100 countries and has 18,000 staff worldwide. In 2014, the ICRC expanded its presence in Ukraine, over 900 team members working across the county in various professional fields. 

About the job 

The ICRC Communication Unit seeks a highly skilled and motivated Operational Communication Officer to join our dynamic team in Kyiv. In this key role, you will represent the ICRC externally and foster a deep understanding and support for its mission among key stakeholders in the area of responsibility (AoR). You will be critical in developing and promoting operational communication strategies and tools to enhance the ICRC's acceptance. Your efforts will help shape its identity and communicate its mandate to diverse audiences, including national and local authorities, political parties, affected populations, armed and security forces, NGOs, advocacy groups, and academic institutions. 

Start date: February 2025

Your Tasks and Responsibilities

• Shape and contribute to developing communication and prevention objectives and action plans that reflect the unique needs and challenges of the ICRC work in Ukraine
• Conduct insightful communication analyses to inform and drive perception management and community engagement efforts that support the operational priorities of the ICRC and its mandate
• Manage and oversee diverse operational communication activities that spotlight the ICRC’s humanitarian response, working closely with and guiding communication officers across the organization to create compelling, consistent messaging.
• Design and promote communication practices and tools that build acceptance and reinforce the ICRC’s identity and mandate with critical stakeholders, including national and local authorities, political figures, armed forces, NGOs, advocacy groups, and academic institutions, in close collaboration with Kyiv communication coordination
• Strengthen partnerships and prevention efforts with key audiences, such as the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, Armed Forces of Ukraine, local authorities, and police, through innovative engagement approaches
• Guide and support the ICRC’s operational communication efforts by conducting perception gap analyses, crafting strategies, delivering workshops, and developing practical tools and training to amplify our voice and influence
• Drive "information-as-aid" activities by assessing information needs, designing impactful strategies, and gathering evidence that brings life-changing resources to affected populations
• Coach and mentor team members, ensuring high-quality operational communication practices
• Guide operational colleagues on effective external representation and strategies to navigate and counter harmful narratives 

What we offer you

• A great team to work with and an organization where you have an impact
• Employment contract according to Ukrainian labor law with flexible working arrangements 
• Competitive salary between UAH 70,000 and 95,000 (gross) before taxation
• Medical insurance for you and your depending family members
• Comprehensive onboarding and learning opportunities
• 20 days of annual paid leave
• Convenient office location in the city center 

The ICRC is an equal-opportunity employer that prioritizes staff safety and security. 

 We are committed to diversity and inclusion within our workforce and encourage qualified female and male candidates of all backgrounds, including candidates with disabilities to apply for the position. We also value our employees' professional growth and offer a supportive and inclusive work environment. For more information, visit the website http://www.icrc.org/.

About you

To be successful as an Operational Communication Officer in the Communication Unit, you should possess the following qualifications and experiences and have the following characteristics:   

• Ukrainian citizenship or permanent residence permit in Ukraine
• University degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as communications, social sciences, international relations, or journalism
• Minimum 5 years of work experience in a field relevant to public communication, community advocacy or engagement, and/or prevention
• Proven experience in reputation management or a similar role
• Fluent in spoken and written English and Ukrainian
• Computer skills (proficiency in MS Office); familiarity with online and social media communication tools
• Experience in processing data and information; identifying trends and patterns impacting the reputation and perception of the organization; proposing mitigation measures
• Confirmed capacity to represent the ICRC
• Good public speaking skills and ability to communicate to audiences in training settings
• Good knowledge of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) an asset
• Sound knowledge of the humanitarian, social, and media environment in Ukraine
• Self-motivated with a strong commitment to teamwork and humanitarian principles
• Flexible, enthusiastic, and willing to learn
• Ability to work with a team, independently, as well as effectively under supervision
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks
• Ability to work within a diverse team and establish and maintain good working relations in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-disciplinary environment 

Interested? Yes? THEN APPLY!

Please submit your English CV, along with your motivation letter and salary expectations, to the attention of the ICRC People and Culture Team. Please label your CV with your first and last names (First Name LAST NAME). In addition, please complete the compulsory ICRC questionnaire. The questionnaire is available through the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/APw3dvQMHJ. (Click on the link or copy the link into your internet browser.)

Your application will be considered only once you have completed the ICRC questionnaire and uploaded your English CV. 

Application deadline:  09 February 2025 

Only candidates meeting the abovementioned criteria will be contacted to move forward in the recruitment process.

The ICRC reserves the right to re-issue the vacancy, cancel the recruitment process, offer a position at a lower grade, with an adjusted job description or different duration, or to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the deadline.