Communications Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 28 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Position Summary:

The IRC seeks a Communications Officer who will support the TeachWell (TW) Project and will play a pivotal role in implementing TW’s communication strategy. Reporting directly to the Project Director, the incumbent will be responsible for organizing, and driving both internal and external communications for the program with an eye towards increasing visibility and engagement with content produced by the TeachWell Consortium and ensure that TW’s messaging is consistent and engaging.

Job Responsibilities:

• Communication Strategy: Review and update TW’s Communications Plan with the guidance of the Project Director, for both internal and external audiences based on TW’s Annual Planning.

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• Stakeholder Engagement: Establishing and maintaining relationships with TeachWell Consortium Partners.

• Message Development: Working with consortium partners, support the development of clear and compelling messages that effectively convey the impact and importance of the TW Project. Ensuring that these messages are consistent and resonant with the Project goals.
• Content Creation: Lead in the gathering, creation of diverse content and packaging of information, including reports, stories, videos for the TW website, social media outputs, and other materials that showcase the stories and successes of the TeachWell Project.

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• Advocacy Support: Collaborating closely with the consortium team, track key Education calendar events, fora and meetings in Kenya and work with the Project Director to coordinate representation, attendance and sharing of IRC lessons.
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• Internal Engagement: Collaborating closely with all TeachWell Outcome focal points including WASH, MHPSS, Education and Crisis Modifier, to identify communication needs, stories, and products. Support the Project Director to liaise with the East Africa regional communication, creative and content teams to share photos and videos based on the requirements for the global content library. Coordinate with Communications team and Partner staff to ensure partner communications requirements are met.

Qualification

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in communications, development studies, science, Public Relation, or a related social science.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience working and leading in media, journalism, advocacy, and communications within an NGO and/or in the development and humanitarian contexts.
• Experience managing communication strategies in a complex and dynamic environment, preferably in the development, humanitarian or international development sector.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with a track record of successfully engaging with diverse collaborators.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to create content that resonates with various audiences.
• A deep commitment to the mission and values of IRC, with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the humanitarian and development sector in Kenya.
• Exceptional planning and organizational skills, with an ability to meet deadlines, handle multiple demands and competing priorities, while maintaining high quality standards
• A creative and innovative mentality, adaptive to evolving communication trends and technologies.
• Experience in content collection, report writing, creating feature stories.

Working environment:

• Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and implements policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI), Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, and several others.
• Narrowing the Gender Gap: The IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including a flexible hour (when possible), parental leave, and gender-sensitive security protocols.
• Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

• Communications planning: Support the Project Director to review and implement TeachWell’s communications plan in line with annual project priorities. Maintain a communications calendar covering key activities, events, campaigns and planned publications.
• Storytelling and content development: Work with consortium partners and technical teams to identify stories, results and lessons from the project. Write and edit website articles, human-interest stories, social media copy, briefs, presentations and other materials for different audiences.
• Evidence communication: Collaborate with monitoring, evaluation and technical colleagues to translate project data, research findings and learning into clear, accurate and accessible communications products. Check claims and figures with the relevant teams before publication.
• Visual and digital content: Create simple, well-designed graphics, social media assets and presentations using tools such as Canva. Coordinate photography, video and other creative production, and prepare content for TeachWell, partner and IRC channels in the required formats.
• Video production and coordination: Coordinate video documentation with FilmAid and other production partners, including developing briefs, arranging interviews and filming, tracking production timelines, consolidating feedback and reviewing outputs against project and donor requirements.
• Consortium coordination and approvals: Serve as a communications focal point for TeachWell consortium partners. Gather partner inputs, maintain consistent project messaging and branding, and coordinate the review and approval of communications products with the Project Director and relevant IRC and partner teams.
• Events and external engagement: Support communications for education events, meetings and learning forums in Kenya. Prepare key messages, presentation materials and coverage plans, and document relevant discussions and project contributions.
• Internal communications and content management: Work with TeachWell outcome leads, including Education, WASH, MHPSS and the Crisis Modifier, to identify communications needs and share project updates. Liaise with IRC’s regional communications and creative teams, and organise approved photos, videos, stories and consent records for future use.
• Ethical and inclusive communication: Ensure content accurately represents the people and communities involved in TeachWell. Follow IRC requirements on informed consent, child safeguarding, image use, accessibility and responsible storytelling throughout content collection and production.

• Ability to create clear, professional graphics, presentations and social media assets using Canva or similar design tools.
• Experience coordinating photography and video production, including writing creative briefs and reviewing edits.
• Ability to interpret project data and research findings and communicate them accurately to non-technical audiences.
• Familiarity with digital content publishing and basic social media performance tracking.
• Strong proofreading, editing and quality-control skills, including checking figures, credits, branding and permissions.
• Experience collecting stories and images ethically, particularly when working with children or displaced communities, is an advantage.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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