Islamic Relief Worldwide External Engagement Manager BASE LOCATION: London or Birmingham, UK REPORTING TO: LINE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES: Communications Director Media Coordinator and External Engagement Officer PURPOSE OF DIVISION / OFFICE: The Communications Division is responsible for the marketing, brand and global voice for Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW). Serving the Islamic Relief Family to Partners and IRW inclusive of its regional presences it collects, coordinates and delivers compelling content and messaging around the globe. The Division leverages digital platforms, public relations and the media, all in line with IRW s vision, mission and strategy. IRW is an international relief and development charity, which envisages a caring world where people unite to respond to the suffering of others, empowering them to fulfil their potential. Islamic Relief is an independent Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) founded in the UK in 1984. JOB PURPOSE: (A) Role specific Working closely with the Communications Director, and with a remit that includes the public relations and media of IR s various global entities, the External Engagement Manager is responsible for: 1. The planning and execution of the PR strategy to enhance the reputation and increase the exposure of the organisations great work around the globe in the eyes of the global media and external stakeholders. External stakeholders include but are not limited, to multilateral, multinational and governmental organisations, corporations, philanthropists, and community leaders 2. Leveraging external relations to strengthen the programming, funding and voice of IR in line with its vision and global strategy 3. Promoting and supporting a culture of effective and coordinated public relations and media work with consistent messaging across all IR bodies 4. Working closely with the office of the CEO and Directors, with a key role in crisis management (B) Organisationally The External Engagement Manager is expected to: 5. Provide strategic organisational leadership, inspiration and guidance in the field of public relations and media to ensure that the vision, mission, global strategy and year-to-year objectives of IRW are achieved 6. Facilitate professional and systematic communication and cooperation between the different parts of the IR family to ensure maximum exposure of the organisation s great work around the globe. 1
STRUCTURE OF ISLAMIC RELIEF WORLDWIDE CEO International Programmes Communications Human Resources & Organisational Development Finance & Services UK International Fundraising Director Operations Manager External Engagement Manager Communcations Support Officer Media Co-ordinator Brand & Production Co-ordinator Internal Communciations Co-ordinator External Engagement Officer Graphic Designer x2 Editorial Coordinator x2 Regional Curator KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS o Day-to-day engagement with the Communications Director o Day-to-day engagement with the Operations Manager o Day-to-day engagement with IRW staff in programmes, advocacy, creative and digital o Regular engagement with international media and external bodies including corporations, NGO and INGO partners, governmental and multilateral agencies o Regular engagement with CEO, Board of Directors, Heads and Managers, who are empowered by the Islamic Relief family to represent on a regular basis with external bodies o Regular strategic and operational engagement with field and partner offices o Quarterly reports for the Board of Trustees on external relations and media SCOPE AND AUTHORITY Scope of the Role: The role will involve a significant amount of international travel, with potentially extended trips abroad, given the global nature of media agencies and IR s international partners. 2
Responsibility for Resources: As part of a dedicated budget it is expected for the Manager to manage a Media Coordinator and External Engagement Officer at the International Office. The Manager will also hold responsibility for public relations and media messaging of various IR entities, subject to the Communications Director authority. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES The jobholder is accountable for fulfilling his or her roles and responsibilities in line with Islamic Relief s values and principles of fairness, humanity, honesty, respect and fair treatment of their colleagues and staff. The jobholder will report to the Communications Director regularly, and work closely with the respective international Directors, on the basis of the IR Global Strategy and annually defined key performance indicators (KPIs). Area One: Build and deliver Global PR and Media Strategy to protect and promote the profile of Islamic Relief around the world and leverage programming, funding efforts 1. Build and implement strategy together with leaders across Family, inclusive of IRW s International Office, Regional Offices where relevant, Field Offices and Partner Offices 2. Ensure strategy is critically analysed, regularly reviewed and updated, with due consideration to benchmarking exercises to enable improvement 3. Global stakeholder mapping with central considerations to engaging with the full of scope and diversity of the following, with whom a strategic and organisationally-relevant approach is taken that inspires partnership, trust and confidence: a. Humanitarian and development community, multilateral agencies, policy-forums, governments, civil-society organisations and corporations; b. Media agencies for print, broadcast and digital (section to be led by media specialist) c. Other decision makers, opinion formers, foundations and individuals d. Profile of IRW CEO, IRW Directors, leaders that engage on advocacy-related matters and with multilaterals, and Partner Country Directors e. Islamic Relief Alumni (a new area) 4. Develop media strategies (led by media specialist) to cover the full scope of IR s work 5. Identify relevant national and international networks, events and other public forums 6. Provide due consideration to reputational management including risk assessment 7. Champion the Family brand through the strategy, ensuring that it has a clear identity with target audiences and that there is consistency with Family s values 8. Identify and support a group of PR and media representatives around the world through which the strategy can be embodied and implemented at all points of impact 9. Deliver a database of PR and media partners that is accessible to IRW 10. Strategy to identify means and plans for developing PR and media capacity at field-level, that thus enables it to meaningfully implement the strategy at that level Area Two: Oversee media relations and managing (and reporting-on) of the IR Family s engagement with media (print, broadcast and electronic); Managing, serving and reporting-on the IR Family s engagement with external networks and engagements on an on-going basis 3
1. Manage global external relations (attendance, preparation, debriefing and follow-up) for organizational leaders, and provide oversight to others 2. Develop and lead an international external relations and media working group to assist coordination of public relations and media activities globally 3. Preparation of tailored high-quality briefing papers, speeches and other background materials for senior leaders, and support for others as possible 4. Provide a central repository for the external engagement undertaken by the IR Family, which is reported on a quarterly basis to the Trustees and the Board of Directors 5. Identify relevant opportunities with relevant external stakeholders on an on-going basis; 6. Inform external engagement, and shape narratives to ensure they are in line with the organisation s vision, mission and values, as well as the global strategy; 7. Escalate potential risks (including reputational risks) wherever necessary to the Communications Director and senior leadership for strategic direction and swift action 8. Support relevant global initiatives and actively contribute to the agenda-setting processes at key institutions and industry forums 9. Together with policy and programmes, draft position papers, Q&As and messaging on relevant issues Area Three: Oversee media relations and managing (and reporting-on) of the IR Family s engagement with media (print, broadcast and electronic); to be provided by a media specialist 1. Oversee a media specialist who is the global contact point for media enquiries 2. Oversee crisis media work, drafting media strategies, statements and Q&As ensuring tat a timely media response is provided to any critical development 3. Oversee the identification of opportunities to engage with the media from Islamic Relief s broader work and activities 4. Oversee the pitching of IR stories and spokespeople to the global media 5. Lead an international external relations and media working group to assist coordination of public relations and media activities globally 6. Ensure a central repository for the media engagement undertaken by the IR Family is provided, reported on a quarterly basis to the Trustees and the Board of Directors 7. Oversee media engagement, and shape narratives to ensure they are in line with the organisation s vision, mission and values, as well as the global strategy 8. Oversee media profile provided to the IRW CEO, IRW Directors and Field and Partner CDs 9. Oversee provision of advice on narratives that work best to achieve press coverage to IR 10. Oversee organisation of media activities including news conferences and media briefings, as appropriate, managing the resources and budget required to deliver events 11. Oversee and approve as necessary the writing of effective media materials including press releases, press kits, news releases, op-eds and features 12. Oversee identification of media training needs for spokespeople and assist in implementing relevant training 13. Oversee contribution to the development and strengthening of the global network of media reps, through the development and provision of media materials about IR s work 14. Oversee tracking of media mentions and trends 15. Oversee support of field offices to strengthen media relations in their respective countries and their ability to influence media coverage in promoting IR s work 4
Area Four: Networking and representation of the IR Family by actively engaging stakeholders 1. Act as a representative on behalf of the IR Family as delegated by senior management at IRW or partners, and as approved by the Comms Director 2. Attend, participate and learn from external engagements 3. Develop relationships with all stakeholders as set out in Area One 4. Prepared in the case of a humanitarian disaster to provide PR and media support on field, as well as support with dignitaries 5. Join and support international delegations with dignitaries to field offices Area Five: Support of Divisional leadership 1. Supporting the Comms Director in providing the IR family with strategic direction, timely reports and technical advice in the fields of PR and media 2. Support for IR Global Strategy review and development, and willingness to transform function in accordance with global regionalisation exercise 3. Contribute to Family-wide decision-making and continuous learning, change and improvement processes, and implementation of the overall organisational and divisional strategy, key policies and processes 4. Support delivery on Division objectives that are monitored on the basis of KPIs 5. Support efficient planning and management of the department s work, and continuous analysis and adaptation to the risks and opportunities posed by both internal and external changing environments 6. Timely and efficient departmental decision making; sound financial and resource management; assured quality of programmes and services; active and continuous monitoring, evaluating, learning and benchmarking within the department 7. To communicate effectively and systematically across the organisation and to actively support cross-organisational processes Area Six: Other 1. To help promote and foster a culture in which Islamic principles, values and approaches which are adopted by IR are consistently respected, applied and complied with in the delivery of the country / division / unit objectives and in the conduct of its employees 2. Responsible for maintaining own professional development 3. To comply with IRW s policies and procedures in undertaking roles and responsibilities 4. Performing other duties incidental to the work described herein. This requires a flexible approach to respond to any work requests from the Comms Director at short notice PERSON SPECIFICATION Experience o Experience of successfully leading and managing PR in a global corporation or in an INGO o Experience of developing and establishing international strategies and work plans in PR o Proven experience of engaging with and influencing decision-makers whilst utilizing sound political judgment and sensitivity 5
o Proven track record as a strategic leader, operating within a senior management team with budgetary responsibility and delivering results across a range of activities o Experience in successful high-level institutional and governmental engagement, in multiple geographies o Experience in successful media engagement at an international level o Experience of messaging, public positioning understanding of political, media and NGO coordination mechanisms o Experience of how to build, guide and influence teams that have a clear innovative direction as well as working collaboratively as part of a high performing senior team Knowledge and skills o Exceptional communication, representative and persuasive skills, both orally and visually, able to influence target audiences (both professional/specialist and lay) o Strong team-working and interpersonal skills, able to work in a collaborative manner and connect with people genuinely from a wide-range of backgrounds o Strong ability to deliver complex information with clarity in a wide range of situations o Strong ability to work calmly under pressure to tight deadlines and balance competing priorities o Strong negotiating and diplomatic skills o Results focused ability to plan, co-ordinate and deliver objectives and targets with a positive drive to achieve results o Sound financial and resource management o Sound understanding of development and humanitarian work at an international-level o Knowledge of: - The global humanitarian and development policy and institutional arena and frameworks, its challenges and blockages, and how they can be addressed - Knowledge of Islamic teachings in development and their representation externally o Sensitive to the complexities in working with wide and diverse civil society coalitions, in particular NGO and social movements and media networks o Confidence in dealing with Politicians, VIPs, dignitaries and royalty o Ability to work in a way that is discreet and maintains confidentiality o Willingness to work autonomously, and take initiative o Attention to detail o IT literate with a command of MS Office applications, in particular Powerpoint and Excel o Fluent written and spoken English. Working knowledge of Arabic or French is advantageous Qualifications o Degree or qualification in PR, International Relations or other degree highly desirable Key personal qualities o Is committed to integrity and IR Values, upholding the highest standards in conduct. o Willingness to work unsociable hours regularly, including some weekends o Willingness and ability to travel extensively and frequently to IR Family and Field offices as well as to policy-making and media forums o Strong emotional intelligence and resilience, and able to maintain composure - acting in a calm and measured way, in difficult situations o A positive demeanour / disposition, and able to overcome setbacks and motivate others 6
o Is highly flexible and able to adapt to changing situations and priorities o A learning attitude and a continuous improvement philosophy o To work in a way which will consider the organisation s long-term vision whilst achieving the overview of its immediate situation Signed by: (Direct Line Manager) Signed by: (Divisional Director) 7