Comms Officer (Media) - Maternity cover for 6 months

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is seeking a Communications Officer (Media) with sharp news sense to join our growing team. The successful candidate will bring talent, enthusiasm, and relevant knowledge and experience to support press and social media strategies and communications across the entire global organisation. The role sits in our global communications team, working with, and reporting to, the Head of Communications. We are a small, high-performing team tasked with increasing the media and social media coverage of BHRRC’s analysis and key findings, as well as supporting and amplifying the efforts of our partners on the ground that are fighting to achieve justice and remedies for victims of abuse. 

About us 

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre works with partners to put human rights at the core of companies’ business models; to empower communities and workers to secure their rights and gain accountability for abuse; and to encourage governments to create the right regulation and incentives to facilitate these outcomes. We are a global organisation committed to cooperation with diverse actors in our movement. We have more than 80 global team colleagues based in 20+ countries around the world, who work with a wide network of human rights advocates.   

With our international network of allies, our global approaches to deliver this vision are:   

• Working to achieve equality of power in negotiations which further human rights between workers and communities, with business and governments;  
• Build transparency regarding allegations of human rights abuse in business, highlighting advances and challenges; 
• Use the evidence and data we generate to positively influence decision-makers including business, investors and national and regional governments; and 
• Strengthen corporate accountability, due diligence and effective remedy for abuse. 

Responsibilities 

The Communications Officer (Media) will have a particular focus on increasing international media coverage of BHRRC’s work and research, and the activities of our partners, including in the field of labour rights. Responsibilities will include: 

• Drive a proactive and strategic press approach: Spot opportunities for high impact coverage in target outlets, building on existing press lists, develop relationships with priority journalists, and create and pitch compelling content to media, including media advisories, press releases and related materials. 
• Develop high-impact communications products, synthesising complex research and data sets: Work with our Global Team to develop materials which speak to our key audiences. Develop key messages for our priority programmes and also discrete outputs including individual briefings and research reports. 
• Contribute to organisational and project communications strategies and planning: Support the Head of Communications to implement our communications strategy. Advise project managers on strategic communications and support launch project planning. Keep our planning calendar up to date and help ensure deadlines are met. 
• Produce well-written content: Write and edit channel-appropriate content for our audiences. Support the Global Team to produce high-quality and newsworthy reports, op-eds and blogs. 
• Support digital outputs: Support the Web Content and Senior Digital Officers as appropriate, creating content for our digital platform and social media platforms (including priority platforms LinkedIn and Twitter). 
• Support the communications team: Provide on-call cover for the media line, with occasional infrequent out of hours work, and share admin jobs. 

Key competencies and attributes 

• Experience: At least 3 years’ experience in a communications role, including working in a busy press office, communications department or as a journalist. 
• Media: Sharp news sense and editorial judgement; ability to conceive, craft and pitch news stories and carry out fast reactive work. Knowledge of and experience of working with the mainstream media, including knowledge of the editorial positions, audiences, and sections or programmes of key outlets. In addition, ideally, knowledge of international business media or media in some specific countries or regions. 
• Relationship building: Track record of developing relationships with journalists on key issues. Any existing contacts of relevance to BHRRC’s work a bonus. 
• For-impact communications: Excellent understanding of how strategic communications can work with research and advocacy approaches to achieve change. Proven ability to synthesis and communicate complex and sensitive information; understanding of how to tailor content to different audiences, contexts and channels. Outstanding written English and good oral communications ability. 
• Project management: Track record of leading and/or implementing complex projects including planning (timelining), execution and evaluation of lessons learned. 
• Strategic thinking: Track record of helping to develop successful communications strategies to effect change. Experience tailoring communications products for diverse international audiences an asset. 
• Supporting staff: Enthusiasm for supporting colleagues with communications. Experience supporting staff either through training, coaching or assisting with media advice an asset. 
• Team player: Experience of, and commitment to, working in high-performing teams that are highly collaborative and focused on outcomes. Experience of working with colleagues remotely, and in multicultural and diverse cultures and working environments also desirable. 
• Knowledge of human rights issues: A strong interest in international issues and familiarity with social justice issues desirable. 
• Languages: Must be fluent in English. Additionally Japanese or Spanish in particular, and/or French, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, or Russian language skills would also be an asset. 

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is a diverse, global team. We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background and we acknowledge that people from certain backgrounds are under-represented in progressive movements. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, Latinx and other minorities, people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGTBQ+. 

TO APPLY 

Complete and return this application form via our jobs portal. Kindly note that the application form is required; we will not accept CVs. If you need any additional support, please reach out to Bea Ocampo at [email protected]