Media Officer

Job Description

About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients. 
 
MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.  

Role Overview

Reporting to the Media Relations Director, the Media Officer implements communications plans to secure high-impact US media and social media attention to MSF’s medical humanitarian activities, expertise, and concerns; conducts proactive and reactive media work, and collaborates with colleagues across the organization and the international communications networks to support media strategy and objectives. This role will focus on visibility and engagement opportunities for MSF thought leaders, experts, and returned aid workers. You will be encouraged to pilot innovative projects to expand our reach, including through influencer media, sponsored events, and partnerships.  

Department Accountabilities

External Communications 

Develop and distribute external communications products across multiple channels to raise awareness of humanitarian needs, advocate for patients and communities, engage with audiences, and achieve strategic objectives. 

Public Engagement & Advocacy 

Identify significant medical humanitarian issues and execute integrated communications plans to increase public awareness, audience engagement, and support for advocacy priorities.  

Brand Positioning 

Develop and contribute to brand strategy, positioning, and tactics to increase brand visibility. 

Content Creation 

Produce and support external communications content across audiences and channels, including for the website, social media, and live events. 

Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  

Promote DEI principles across all communications products and channels.   

Role Specific Outcomes

Media Relations Planning
Develop tactical media relations plans, build media lists, identify and develop story ideas to pitch to journalists working with US-based media to increase visibility of MSF’s programs, advocacy initiatives, and expertise.
Media Relations Outreach

Execute media plans for specific issues, contexts, or events to keep the public informed about MSF’s work.

External Communications

Write, edit, and distribute press releases and other communications materials to support media relations plans within established systems and procedures.

Brand Positioning

Execute media plans and tactics to increase brand visibility.

Media Monitoring & Analysis

Support monitoring and evaluation of media coverage and make recommendations based on data.

Media Training

Conduct or support spokesperson briefing and training for specific media interviews and general capacity building to strengthen communications impact.

These core accountabilities should not be construed to contain every function/responsibility that may be required to be performed by an incumbent in this job.  Incumbents are required to perform other functions as assigned.

Complexity and Problem-Solving Skills

• Use expertise to act as an organizational authority on planning, organizing, prioritizing, and overseeing activities to meet objectives efficiently.
• Operates as a recognized expert to assess circumstances and adjust appropriately to thrive. Typically known as a subject matter authority.
• Acts as an organizational authority and established expert on maintaining high performance while applying a change mindset to the planning, execution, and monitoring of organizational activities during times of transition. 

 

Behavioral Competencies

 

THOUGHT: How MSF USA staff understand the organization, manage complexity and contribute by creating new and different.

People Focus

Build strong relationships and deliver solutions geared to aiding others. Solicits feedback and data; conveys a clear understanding of the team's level of service; acts when the team does not meet standards; aligns processes with organizational needs.

Manages Complexity

Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Consistently looks at complex issues from many angles; obtains a rich and deep understanding; swiftly cuts to the core issue; skillfully separates root causes from symptoms.

Global Perspective

Takes a broad view when approaching issues using a global lens. Shows global thinking at work; adjusts organizational practices to meet different regions or countries' unique needs. Use a broad perspective when addressing issues and challenges.

Cultivate Innovation

Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful. Approaches professional work in unique or innovative ways. Offers original ideas. Appreciates others' creative ideas and solutions and provides helpful input to enhance them.

Strategic Mindset

Sees ahead to future possibilities and translates them into breakthrough strategies.

RESULTS: MSF USA staff achieve results by cultivating a forward-thinking environment that produces solutions for changing stakeholder needs.

Drives Results

Consistently achieves results, even under challenging circumstances. Regularly pushes self to attain outstanding outcomes; consistently establishes bold goals for own performance; is passionate about excellent results and significant contributions. Shows great tenacity to complete goals/initiatives in a timely way.

Ensures Accountability

Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments.

PEOPLE: MSF USA staff understand their impact on others through collaboration and inclusion of different perspectives to achieve common goals.

Collaborates

Build partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. Readily involves others to accomplish goals; stays in touch and shares information; discourages "us versus them" thinking; shows appreciation for others' ideas and input.

Communicates Effectively

Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Listens attentively and takes an interest. Keeps others well informed; conveys information concisely and professionally when speaking or writing.

Values Differences

Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Confronts stereotyping and offensive comments promptly. Consistently behaves with great sensitivity toward differences in cultural norms, expectations, and communication methods.

Builds Effective Teams

Build strong identity teams applying diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.

Manage Conflicts

Handles conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.

Build Networks

Effectively builds formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.

Drives Vision and Purpose

Paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.

SELF: MSF USA staff demonstrate self-awareness by having an open mindset and continuously seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and improve. 

Instills Trust

Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity. Model honesty and authenticity and encourage others to be upfront with one another. Demonstrates reliability and places a strong emphasis on the team meeting its commitments. Fairly represents others' positions.

Manages Ambiguity

Operates effectively, even when things are uncertain, or the way forward is unclear. Responds effectively to ambiguous situations, seeks to resolve ambiguity, and makes progress. Seeks guidance on how to adapt to changes and responds with appropriate composure and effectiveness.

Situational Adaptability

Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Consider the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization, and shift priorities appropriately.

Being Resilient

Rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations.

Technical Competencies

Plans and Aligns

Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with MSF-USA goals.

Financial Acumen

Interprets and applies to understanding key financial indicators to make better business decisions.

Tech Savvy

Anticipating and adopting innovations in organizational digital and technology applications.

Data Collection and Analysis

The ability and skill to determine and analyze trends from data collected to assist in compiling reports that will help in decision-making.

Project Management Skills

The ability to plan and manage small project assignments within desired cost, time, and quality parameters.

Presentation and Written Communication Skills

Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considering the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization shifts priorities appropriately.

Organizational Insight

Applying knowledge of MSF-USA and industry to advance the organization’s goals.

Supervisory Responsibility

• May supervise the media support work of office volunteers, interns, and/or work-study students for specific clerical, administrative, or research projects, as required. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.

   

Desired Qualifications & Experience

At a minimum the Job Holder should possess:

• Min. 3-5 years media or public relations experience, preferably with a nonprofit organization or creative agency, plus a Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Professional knowledge and understanding of media and social media landscape, combined with solid news judgment.
• Familiarity with relationship management with journalists, influencers, and content creators.
• Demonstrated track record of generating earned media coverage.
• Demonstrated knowledge of media database and media monitoring programs.
• Excellent research, writing, and editing skills, and ability to effectively present information to the media and external audiences.

Travel Requirements 

Domestic or international travel as requested to provide emergency or other communications support. This may include local, national, or international media work; content creation, reporting, or advocacy support.

Compensation

$78,399.00 - $117,599.00; All new employees will be compensated from the minimum to the midpoint based on experience

MSF-USA is dedicated to creating a diverse, impartial, and inclusive workforce. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences as per applicable laws. We also provide reasonable accommodation for disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. We encourage individuals from underrepresented communities in the Humanitarian Aid sector to apply.

If you have a disability and require accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Human Resources at employment.msfusa@newyork.msf.org. We consider reasonable accommodation requests on a case-by-case basis.

Job Requirements

Desired Qualifications & Experience

At a minimum the Job Holder should possess:

• Min. 3-5 years media or public relations experience, preferably with a nonprofit organization or creative agency, plus a Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Professional knowledge and understanding of media and social media landscape, combined with solid news judgment.
• Familiarity with relationship management with journalists, influencers, and content creators.
• Demonstrated track record of generating earned media coverage.
• Demonstrated knowledge of media database and media monitoring programs.
• Excellent research, writing, and editing skills, and ability to effectively present information to the media and external audiences.

Travel Requirements 

Domestic or international travel as requested to provide emergency or other communications support. This may include local, national, or international media work; content creation, reporting, or advocacy support.

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