Netherlands: Communications Advisor

Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) is an independent, medical, emergency relief organization that provides assistance to people worldwide, regardless of their background, religion or political convictions. Above all, we aim to save lives and to offer medical care to victims of disasters, wars and epidemics. MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) currently operates medical humanitarian interventions in 27 countries. On a yearly basis MSF-OCA deploys approximately 900 international staff and employs over 7,000 national staff. At headquarters in Amsterdam, around 220 employees offer their support to the projects.

For our office in Amsterdam we are looking for a:

Communications Advisor (100%) in Amsterdam

The challenge:

As part of the Advocacy and Communications team, the Communications Advisors (CAs) play a key role in developing communications strategies on issues critical to MSF’s operations. The CA supports operations in identifying and acting upon opportunities for communication aimed at increasing MSF’s visibility, local acceptance, and leverage on specific humanitarian and medical issues.

The scope of the CA’s work ranges from local to international level, and includes the production and dissemination of pertinent and high quality communications materials to the MSF network -consisting of 24 MSF sections across the globe. The CA also responds to communications/media requests from throughout the MSF communications network; and actively supports MSF’s communication response during emergencies (often through deployment on the ground).

To effectively conduct its work, the CA needs to work collaboratively with a multiplicity of counterparts, including the Humanitarian Affairs Advisers, Operational Managers at HQ, Country Managers in project countries, and communications colleagues throughout the MSF movement. For this purpose you will be required to do field visits and international trips. Total amount of travel expected is up to 40% of time.

Your responsibilities:

Develop and implement a number of communications projects each year, focusing on an agreed country or issue, and managing the process from strategy development, activity planning, and implementation on the ground in collaboration with counterparts and colleagues (including content production and dissemination);
Provide reactive and timely support to MSF operations on communication issues, public positioning and messaging in agreed priority countries;
Act as back-up for colleague CAs when required, ensuring flexible and adequate coverage of operational communications needs throughout the OCA portfolio,
Manage communications/media requests from throughout the MSF movement; and liaise with operations (head office and country teams) to provide timely support;
Produce and disseminate pertinent and high quality communications materials;
Provide communications trainings to a variety of MSF staff – from first missioners to Heads of Mission
Contribute to the wider goals of MSF by integrating advocacy & communications efforts to ensure leverage on critical humanitarian and medical issues.

Your profile:

We are looking for a communications expert with at least 3 years of professional experience preferably in an international (NGO) environment. Excellent strategic communication and advisory skills are essential, proven in a journalistic or public communication environment. Outstanding interpersonal skills are required, along with strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, and sound judgment. Ability to work in a high pressured environment is crucial to this position, as are successful negotiation and diplomatic skills. A sound knowledge of humanitarian action, along with international affairs and media are a must, complimented by a good knowledge and strong affinity with the work of MSF. You need to be a highly motivated and creative team player, who shows initiative and innovation. You have the flexibility to respond to emergency communications needs, and frequent international travel. An excellent command of the English language is essential, French and Arabic are highly appreciated. Experience in digital content/multimedia production is an asset.

We offer :

A Dutch employment contract for one year with a full-time appointment based on 5 days per week, with the option for renewal.
A gross salary of max. EU 3,786 gross per month, based on relevant professional work experience, for full-time employment (based on a 40-hour week) plus 30 days vacation and premium free pension.
A stimulating, professional working environment in an international organisation.