Communications and Advocacy Officer

Organisational Context

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is a ministry of the Society of Jesus, acting as an international non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. The organisation was founded in 1980 and has a presence in 58 countries. JRS undertakes services at national levels with the global support through its Virtual Global Office.

The style of JRS service is human and spiritual, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term well-being of refugees and displaced people while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs. The main services provided are in the field of Reconciliation, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Education; Livelihoods, and Advocacy. Currently, about 1 million individuals are directly served by JRS projects.

Since 2008, JRS Jordan has served the most marginalized and often overlooked forcibly displaced communities in Amman JRS now runs project and activities that favor social inclusion, intercultural dialogue, community-building, psycho-social well-being, peacebuilding, empowerment, and self-reliance. JRS strives to create spaces where everyone feels included, accepted, and respected.

Operational Context

The Communications and Advocacy Officer owns and coordinates JRS Jordan's communications, visibility and advocacy work, in close coordination with the Country Lead, across the following areas:

• Social Media Management
• Collection of stories
• Production of creative visibility material (photos, videos, design, art…)
• Event Management
• Institutional Communications and Donor Visibility
• Media Engagement and Media Monitoring
• Advocacy
• Partnerships and External Engagement (secondary responsibility)

The position reports to the Country Lead and works in collaboration with other team members.

Main Responsibilities and tasks of the Position

Communications, Institutional Visibility and Event Management

1. Manages the social media pages of JRS, and coordinates communications in Arabic (posting, replies to messages and comments…); 2. Develops and manages the social media calendar and social media content (posts, visuals, campaigns…); 3. Develops communications products, such as: brochures, flyers, photos, design, posters, videos, artwork; 4. Coordinates and develops institutional communications and donor visibility materials, including briefs, donor reports, newsletters and website content, and monitors compliance with donor visibility requirements across communications materials; 5. Coordinates the collection of stories from refugees and JRS community members (interviews gathering, photos and video creation…), providing support especially in Arabic-English transcription, and translation; 6. Ensures ethical storytelling, including informed consent, safeguarding and data protection standards, in all communications and visibility materials involving refugees and JRS community members; 7. Plans and manages public events and community events that might include (but are not limited to): bazaars, photo exhibitions, conferences, focus group discussions, open days, intercultural meetings and dialogue, movie screenings, art club, presentations, awareness raising sessions, festivals, community consultations; 8. Coordinates and monitors gathering useful information about services and opportunities for refugees, to be shared with JRS community; 9. Identifies and develops opportunities, collaborations and innovative creative modalities for JRS Communications work; 10. Represents JRS Jordan communications at meetings with partner organisations, as needed; 11. Is willing to keep in contact with the community members and build a relation of trust with students and beneficiaries, and has a clear understanding of the challenges and needs of the refugee communities (especially non-Syrians); 12. Ensures JRS is seen as a welcoming, open place for people of all nationalities and backgrounds and that refugees feel comfortable to access our services; 13. Adheres to the vision and ideals JRS programs: creating opportunities of encounter, favouring peace-building processes, reducing tensions and fostering social inclusion.

Advocacy

• Coordinates and supports implementation of the advocacy strategy of JRS Jordan;
• Prepares key messages, briefs and talking points for advocacy engagements, drawing on programme and MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) evidence to ground advocacy positions;
• Actively participates in relevant advocacy networks and meetings, representing JRS Jordan's positions and interests;
• Actively participates in JRS Committee (refugee representatives) work, in coordination with the Country Lead;
• Uses programme and MEAL data and evidence to inform the production of advocacy statements, reports and surveys.

Partnerships and External Engagement (secondary responsibility)

• Maintains an up-to-date stakeholder map of relevant donors, media, civil society, faith-based and government actors in Jordan;
• Builds and maintains networks and working relationships with external stakeholders relevant to JRS Jordan's communications and advocacy work;
• Attends and, where relevant, represents JRS Jordan in partnership meetings with partner organisations and networks;
• Identifies and flags collaboration opportunities with external partners to the Country Lead.

Availability:

Be available for other duties and activities as requested by the Country Lead, which are within the ambit of the position.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Public Relations, International Relations or a related field.
• Minimum 2–3 years of relevant experience in communications, advocacy, external relations or related humanitarian/development work.
• Strong written and spoken English and native Arabic.
• Strong writing, storytelling and content-development skills, including social media, campaigns and institutional communications.
• Experience in photography, video production and basic design/editing tools such as Adobe, Canva or similar.
• Understanding of forced migration and refugee issues, particularly in the Jordanian context.
• Experience or demonstrated understanding of advocacy, external engagement and stakeholder relations.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage professionally with NGOs, UN agencies, donors, civil society and other stakeholders.
• Ability to translate programme evidence and complex issues into clear communications and advocacy messages for different audiences.
• Strong planning, organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multicultural environment and to take initiative in communications, advocacy, external engagement and events.
• Commitment to JRS’s mission, vision and values, with high integrity, discretion and respect for diversity and inclusion.

Working Environment

• A combination of standard office environment and ‘field’ time in and around the service delivery area to perform the above outlined responsibilities. The position requires flexibility and availability for working on events and activities during weekends and after official working hours (evenings).