Communications & Advocacy Officer

Job location: Tunis

Beirut would also be considered for those with existing right to work in Lebanon.

Target start date: as soon as possible.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is a worldwide organization of judges and lawyers united in affirming international law and rule of law principles that advance human rights. Its strategic goals for 2021-2025 are: (1) to develop, defend, and strengthen international institutions, instruments, and standards on rule of law and human rights; (2) to improve domestic implementation of, and compliance with, international law and standards; (3) to bolster the effectiveness and independence of judges and lawyers; and (4) to improve access to justice for all and accountability. With its Headquarters based in Geneva, Switzerland, ICJ has a presence in Africa, Latin America, Asia & the Pacific, Europe & Central Asia, and the Middle East.

The ICJ is seeking to recruit an Communications and Advocacy Officer to provide technical expertise to the ICJ MENA programme and its partners, support the formulation and implementation of the programme advocacy strategies at the regional and international levels, including engagement with United Nations mechanisms and bodies, strengthen the programme’s engagement with media, assist in the development of publications, videos and other promotional communication materials for the Programme particularly and provide technical support for activity implementation of the MENA Programme.

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting directly to the Regional Director of the MENA Programme, the Communications & Advocacy Officer holds the following responsibilities:

• Advocacy

Supports the formulation and implementation of the MENA programme advocacy strategies at the regional and international levels, including engagement with United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms and bodies; and supports the design of advocacy strategies and country engagement plans in collaboration with the programme’s country teams;

• Planning

Jointly with the country teams, the MENA Senior Legal Adviser and the Regional Director and in co-operation with the global ICJ advocacy and communications teams, develop an advocacy calendar, collecting dates and information relevant to the programme’s advocacy work at the national, regional and international levels, including sessions of UN treaty bodies, the HRC, and the ACHPR, develop a media and communications calendar for the ICJ MENA Programme, and ensure that all media activities, as well as the production of multimedia and publications, are properly planned and well-integrated in / coordinated with the overall ICJ MENA calendar;

• Management of media and advocacy relations

Develop and maintain a network, database of advocacy and media contacts in the MENA Region, as well as of relevant contacts globally. In addition to the media database, maintain an advocacy list consisting of contacts within NGOs, Governmental bodies, embassies, legal and academic circles and any other audiences relevant to ICJ advocacy work;

• Production of communications materials

Together with the country teams, the MENA Regional Director and the global ICJ communications team, coordinate the scheduling and production of all ICJ communications materials in the MENA Programme

• ICJ branding

Ensure that the ICJ Visual and Corporate Identity is fully and accurately implemented on all ICJ communications materials in the MENA Programme;

• Web publishing

Post ICJ media materials, web stories, multimedia and publications on the ICJ website according to the internal guidelines for web publishing;

• Visual communications/Multimedia

Ensure the production of high-quality visuals (mainly pictures and video clips) to illustrate ICJ’s programmatic activities;

• Social media

Maintain and update various social media accounts for the ICJ MENA Programme and contribute to global ICJ social media accounts, and feed these accounts;

• Supporting the ICJ MENA Programme

Maintain supportive working relations with programme staff. Provide regular updates on advocacy and communications issues to the MENA Regional Office.

PROFILE

The successful candidate will have:

Education & Experience

• A degree in Communications, Journalism or a related subject;
• At least four years of work experience in advocacy and communications, including campaigning, media work, social media, and web publishing;
• Strong organizational, drafting and editing skills;
• A proven knowledge of, and work experience in, advocacy at the national and international levels.

Language and Computer Skills

• Spoken and written fluency in English is essential; Arabic is an asset.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, content management systems, and social media platforms; and
• Knowledge of Adobe PhotoShop, InDesign, and Illustrator is an asset.

Other competencies

• Ability to think strategically and identify ways to improve advocacy communication efforts;
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently under pressure, in a complex, dynamic and changing work environment, as part of an international multi-cultural team;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and to adjust priorities flexibly in response to external events;
• Openness and flexibility, capacity to adapt to changing priorities and needs; and
• Demonstrated commitment to human rights and the rule of law in the MENA region.

How to apply

Interested applicants should provide all materials outlined below to recruitment@icj.org by Thursday 23 May 2024, midnight Geneva Time. Early applications are encouraged as they will be reviewed on a rolling basis, the ICJ reserves the right to close the recruitment process early if a suitable candidate has been identified.

• A CV (maximum 2 pages); please indicate your home address and your phone number on your CV. The HR unit might contact you by phone (fast-track process).
• A cover letter (maximum 1 page);
• The names and contact information of at least two recent references.

Please include “Communications & Advocacy Officer MENA” in the subject line of the application e-mail. The ICJ shall not be liable for not opening proposals that are submitted with a different subject.

Please appreciate that due to the volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The ICJ is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity and value a diverse workforce. The ICJ’s policy is to practice a fair and non-discriminatory recruitment and selection procedure and to strive for and maintain international and multi-cultural personnel.

Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

ICJ staff must adhere to its Code of Ethics which states that discrimination, bullying and harassment in any form will not be tolerated, nor sexual harassment, violence or assault in any form. The successful candidate will be required to pass a background check.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to recruitment@icj.org or call +41 229 793 833.