Artsen Zonder Grenzen

HEAD of DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATIONS

22/07/2010 - 05/08/2010

Werkaanbiedingen in Brazilië

1.    Position Title:    Head of Department Communications
2.    Reporting To:    General Director of MSF-Brazil
3.    Deadline Applications:    Aug 6th, 2010

4.    Context

Médecins Sans Frontières was established in Brazil in 1993 as an operational mission. In 1999, a communications cell was added to the mission to do media work, awareness raising and fundraising. In 2001, CAME started its activities in Brazil. As of January 2006 MSF Brazil increased the fundraising and communications activities, started recruitment of Brazilians and develop a medical unit to contribute to medical challenges faced by MSF´s movement. MSF Brazil is today a Branch Office with a team composed of 18 dedicated staff and a budget of 3,1 M Euros. In 2010 MSF Brazil will have raised 3,5 M and 80 Brazilians will have gone to the field with all 5 MSF OCs. MSF Brazil works in collaboration with the CAME representative in Brazil, who also works it MSF Brazil´s premises.MSF Brazil Branch Office is part of the OCB group. However its objective and mandate is to support MSF’s social mission as a whole, and this by recruiting high quality expatriates, by fostering fruitful ties between Brazilian medical institutions and MSF medical departments, relaying MSF´s message to Brazilian and regional institutions and civil society, by influencing Brazil´s and other regional countries´ international public policies on health and aid and by supporting CAME´s work in Brazil. The Brazilian Medical Unit (BRAMU) is linked to OCBA. The long-term vision is for MSF Brazil to increase its contribution to the development and rationalization of the MSF movement through the excellence of resources, both national and regional, contributing directly to MSF´s social mission.  5.    Role and PurposeThe primary role of the HoD Comms is to steer the overall functioning of the Comms department, through the establishment and monitoring of long term strategic goals.  He/she defines the activities of the Comms department in Brazil, and plays a key role in the Management Team, contributing to the long term vision of MSF-Brazil within both the movement and Brazilian society.  6.    Primary Objectives

• Responsible for drafting and implementing a clear communications strategy (including media, events, conferences, internet, audiovisual productions etc) in order to inform the public in Brazil about the operations of MSF, and to ensure transparency and accountability towards the public in general and MSF´s donors in particular.
• Ensures that MSF Brazil comms team adheres to MSF’s core values and principles as indicated in its charter.
• Responsible for the definition, together with MSF Brazil Management Team, of MSF´s public positioning and advocacy strategies in Brazil, and eventually in other countries in the region.
• Provides leadership to and management of the 3 staff members in the Comms department.
• Develops and implements approved yearly strategic objectives.
• Develops, monitors, and respects the yearly Comms budget.
• Participates in the international Comms platform, and seeks to work in close conjunction with other communications departments in the movement, as well as the International Office.
• As part of the Management Team, contributes pro-actively to debates concerning the overall direction and vision of MSF-Brazil in the country and the region.
• In many instances will be called upon to represent MSF Brazil, acting as a spokesperson on various platforms vis à vis the Brazilian media and also during associative events.
• Identification and implementation of Comms opportunities in ´new media´.

7.    Key Selection Criteria Candidate’s Profile

• MSF experience and field experience are major assets.
• Minimum 5 yrs experience in Comms.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English is essential.  Must be able to write professional quality press releases and news articles in both languages. Spanish is an asset.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of international and humanitarian issues and of the development of MSF as an organisation and association.
• Proven strong HR management skills.
• Knowledge of the Brazilian media and is highly desired.

8.    CONDITIONS

• Full time position
• Based in Rio de Janeiro
• Indefinite contract
• Starting date: September 1st.

CV and motivation letter to be sent to vagascomunicacao@rio.msf.org, before Aug 6th 2010.