Job Description

What we are looking for

NRC Syria is in search of a Policy, Communications and Advocacy Manager whose main role will be providing overall leadership, management and strategic direction to NRC’s influencing work for the Syria Office. They will develop and implement influencing, media, communications and visibility strategies, driving a domestic and internationally focused humanitarian advocacy agenda, complementing NRC’s programmatic priorities. Additionally, they will also ensure alignment and synergies between Syria advocacy strategy, and regional and global priorities, and support teams to implement advocacy plans at field level as appropriate.

If you are a passionate leader with extensive experience shaping and influencing humanitarian advocacy & policy, working collaboratively with others, managing teams and fundraising then this is the role for you!

What you will do

The role will have some of the following responsibilities:

• Lead the development of key policy positions and advocacy messages aligned with NRC’s global and regional positions and strategies, to support external engagements in line with the advocacy strategy and to achieve positive changes for displacement affected communities.

• Ensure oversight of sign off for all influencing and media and communication products in Syria in line with NRC guidelines

• Build relationships, networks and alliances with advocacy, media/communications colleagues in other organizations (e.g. NGOs, UN agencies, civil society) to coordinate and collaborate on projects. Specific attention should be given to consortia advocacy efforts and coordination fora for joint advocacy.

• Provide advocacy, policy and communication input into programme proposals to ensure that they are in line with NRC positions, priorities and guidelines and to secure funding for advocacy and communications activities as relevant

• Working with the media and communications coordinator, lead the development of strategies to ethically raise issues and voices of displacement affected people, including identifying and producing content on key barriers for people and communities affected by displacement, NRC success stories and humanitarian and context trends.

• Supervise and steer media and communications activities conducted by the media and communications staff, ensuring that these are aligned with the team’s priorities, and comply with NRC’s media guidelines for content gathering.

• Support the media and communications coordinator to design, support and implement internal and external communication strategies through the development of newsletters, social media, posters, internal campaigns, and other relevant information sharing products/

• As a member of the CMG - actively participate and contributes to the strategic direction of the country programme, provide analysis/reports to Senior Management and advise on programme & policy-based advocacy.

• Any other tasks as reasonably delegated by the Country Director.

Please download the detailed job description to learn more about the position.

What you will bring

• Minimum of 4 years of experience working in advocacy within the humanitarian field, of which 3 years should be manager experience.

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, Journalism, law or any relevant field.Master's degree is an added value

• Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts

• Experience with humanitarian protection programmes and humanitarian policy and advocacy.

• Professional knowledge of humanitarian and protection principles

• Excellent networking and negotiation skills to develop good working relationships

• Strong writing skills and analytical skills, preferably with a history of writing communications materials, and ability to produce quality advocacy work within tight deadlines.

• Fluency in English, both written and verbal

• Excellent teamwork skills and experience working closely with programme teams, technical experts, partners and management to provide sound communications advice.

• Strong organizational and personal management skills, with the ability to prioritise work issues to meet deadlines.

• Sound political judgement on issues of extreme sensitivity. Able to make decisions and solve complex problems.

• Ability to work creatively, effectively and in an innovative manner and to identify and develop new ways to use advocacy and media strategies to NRC’s advantage.

• Experience in managing a team and working within senior country management teams.

• Knowledge of the context in the Middle East and in Syria in particular is an advantage

• Knowledge of Arabic is an advantage

What we offer:

• Duty station: Damascus, Syria.

• Contract: 12 months

• Travel: 30% -40%

• Salary/benefits: Grade 9 on NRC’s Syria’s national or International salary scale (Open to both national and international)

• NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.

• We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC

Important information about the application process

• Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity Marketplace.

• For internal candidates, please use your official email address when applying.

• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.

• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.

• If you have any questions about this role, please email mero.recruitment@nrc.nowith the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

NRC currently has over 3,000 staff across the Middle East dedicated to assisting people affected by conflict in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya and Palestine. Its humanitarian interventions are based upon its programming expertise in the Core Competencies of Shelter, Education, WASH, Livelihoods and Food Security, and Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) to vulnerable displaced people that were forced to flee.

Watch this short video to see NRC in action.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.

• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.

• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.

Learn more about NRC's operations in Syria here.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a global humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee.

Join us in assisting millions of people in areas where others cannot, tackling some of the world's most dangerous and difficult crises. Bring your skills and dedication to an organisation recognised for providing high quality aid and for defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced people.

At NRC, we give responsibility to employees at all levels and foster professional growth and innovative teams. You can expect a supportive culture and an open dialogue with management. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Together, we save lives and rebuild futures.

Safeguarding is central to NRC’s work. We expect all employees to:
• treat everyone with respect and dignity
• contribute to building a safe environment for all
• never engage in any form of exploitation, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH)
• always report. NRC has a zero-tolerance approach to inaction against exploitation, abuse and SEAH