What we do

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works worldwide to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to people affected by conflict and armed violence. We take action in response to emergencies and, at the same time, promote respect for international humanitarian law. We are an independent and neutral organization, and our mandate stems essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. We work closely with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a concerted, rational and rapid humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence. We direct and coordinate the international activities conducted in these situations.

Purpose

The Eurasia region is home to one of the ICRC’s largest and most highly visible operations in the Russia-Ukraine international armed conflict. The region is also pivotal for operational, fundraising and diplomatic influence.  Together with delegations and partner Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies, the regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) contributes to building trust, understanding, and awareness of ICRC’s work in the region as well as globally supports the positioning of the ICRC operations within the region and beyond.

Based in Belgrade as a member of the Regional Resources Network team, the Regional PRO leads in devising and implementing proactive media outreach strategies for the promotion of ICRC’s humanitarian operations in the region as well as thematic issues and concerns. The PRO also provides strategic support and guidance to delegations on public communication issues, opportunities and challenges. As the ICRC chief spokesperson in the region, the role holder coordinates with communications  teams based in the region that sustain established relationships with regional and global media and leads on developing/maintaining relations with media correspondents (local, regional, global) in countries without ICRC delegations (Nordic countries, Germany and other contexts in the region).

Concretely, this means managing media queries, setting up interviews and other media or public-facing opportunities, coordinating messages and driving media plans to enhance and manage the ICRC's public profile in the region. Additionally, the ideal candidate contributes to the objectives of the Eurasia Regional Strategic Framework 2024-2027, guided by the 2024-2027 Communication Strategy in close liaison with concerned delegations and relevant National Societies. The post-holder will lead regional public communication endeavours during crisis situations (i.e. fluctuations in the UA/RU IAC or the onset of a new conflict in the region), in close coordination with the Communications department in concerned delegations and with Movement partners and Movement Communication colleagues.

Accountabilities & Functional responsibilities

1/ Public communication (covering Eurasia region, supporting ICRC global positioning) - Objective: increase visibility in Eurasia on ICRC identity and operational approach. Leads on public communication strategy for the region (Regional Strategic Framework -RSF- objective 1, 2, 4, 5).

• Acts as the regional spokesperson, providing information to media on the ICRC's activities and humanitarian concerns on issues relevant to EURASIA in partnership with communication teams in Paris, London, Brussels and Moscow.
• Works with global spokespersons team in HQ to position ICRC priority contexts and thematic issues in media outlets in EURASIA in consultation with delegations and partner National Societies
• Works with other communication staff based in or covering EURASIA to map, prioritize and develop/nurture contacts with national, regional and global media based in the region that are not covered by current communication staff based in the region.
• Pitches story ideas, content and interviews, and engages with key media to develop longer-term content partnerships (either directly or with global reach delegations).
• Develops public communication plans on specific priorities for the region.
• Supports delegations in crafting their public communication and media strategies and to map, prioritize and build media contacts, including through country visits.
• Coordinates and negotiates with delegations and other internal stakeholders, including counterparts in ICRC’s communications team in Geneva, to develop narratives, key messages, speaking points, reactive lines, news releases and other products and content to support our global communications on EURASIA operations.
• In coordination with the Movement Communication Officer based in Budapest and EURASIA Communications Head of Sector, leverages the power of the Movement and seeks to partner with organizations that share the ICRC’s values for the purpose of amplifying public communication efforts and objectives.
• Sets up and manages communication opportunities for senior ICRC leaders to profile operations, in close coordination with global reach, diplomatic and/or operational delegations (e.g. during field visits to operational delegations or during diplomatic conferences/events).
• Supports the definition and roll-out of media/digital campaigns around key thematic issues relevant to EURASIA and selected contexts in the region.

2/ Crisis communication (cf. RSF priority 3)

• Ensures that public communication is integrated in the delegations’ response from the outset of any humanitarian crisis, working together with the Movement partners in close coordination with the Budapest Movement Communication officer and Deputy Director for Movement Affairs to anticipate perception risks.
• Supports the global media management of crises hitting EURASIA, working with the operations, the concerned delegation(s), regional communication staff, digital communication team at headquarters and global reach delegations in the field. This support includes managing media requests, messaging and coordination, providing or organizing interviews, quotes and briefings for journalists on operations and issues of concern, particularly in delegation-less contexts or with media outlets not covered by delegation-based spokespersons (such as Paris, London, Moscow).
• Ensures dedicated support to public communication around the Ukraine-Russia international armed conflict in particular.
• Deploys, when required, during crisis periods and major media moments to act as a media liaison and content focal point.
• Contributes to crisis preparedness and response in relation to all communication aspects that may be required for a crisis and supports the drafting of the public COM component of delegations’ Operational Contingency Plans.
• Contributes to the response to harmful online and offline narratives affecting the region, works towards preventing disinformation campaigns that may affect or target the ICRC Misinformation, Disinformation and Hate speech (MDH).

3/ Fundraising and influencing - Objective: Develop media strategies in support ICRC influencing and fundraising objectives in the region (RSF objective 4 and 5)

• Develops media strategies and products that support ICRC positioning within the region to meet influencing and fundraising objectives, including in delegation-less countries (eg. Nordic and German-speaking countries).
• Works with Resource Mobilization team (REM), EURASIA delegations, Operations Coordinators and EURASIA leadership to support donor visibility objectives in the region. To this end, works with delegations and REM relationship managers to understand needs and craft messages that meet donor visibility requirements.
• Supports, as required, media engagement on key policy and humanitarian diplomacy priorities (or: key influencing objectives) 
• Carries out any other relevant tasks as required.
• The incumbent ensures smooth coordination of public communication issues with all International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement components, including during crises and joint Movement response.

4/ Capacity building of Staff in delegations (COM as enabling priority, Eurasia RSF)

• In support of the implementation of the new Communication strategy and the Eurasia RSF, coordinates with and supports delegations Management & Communications teams to ensure that capacities of delegations’ staff (notably newcomers and frontline staff) are trained and equipped so that they can act as ambassadors and can amplify messages externally, uphold the ICRC’s core values and principles coherently, filter and prevent misinformation and disinformation from spreading further.

Scope & Impact

• Geographic remit: regional
• Strategic impact: contributes to regional communication strategies. Identifies, manages risks and positions the ICRC. Global impact of public communication is high, including on reputation and fundraising.

Relationships

• Internally, interacts with the Communication Division (X-Media, StratCom and TRAK in particular), Eurasia OPS department and other departments, divisions and units at headquarters, and with the Eurasia Regional Management Team, including the Budapest team and delegations in the field. Works in close collaboration with the COM teams in London, Paris, Brussels and Belgrade. Reports to Communications Head of Sector Eurasia internally (blue line) and Head of Regional Resource Network - RRN (redline).
• Externally, interacts with media, public relations agencies, humanitarian actors, Movement members, and public relations representatives of the authorities.

Certifications / Education required

• University degree in a relevant discipline such as political science, international relations, journalism, communication management or public relations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in both English and German mandatory. Russian and Turkish a strong asset.
• Excellent public communication skills and sound knowledge of the media environment.
• Computer skills (competence in MS Office and other software); familiarity with digital communication tools.

Professional Experience required

• Minimum 8 years’ work experience in media relations and content generation (inside or outside the ICRC).
• ICRC experience an asset.
• Proven capacity to work in a stressful environment and under tight deadlines.

Other requirements

• Ability to travel when needed (frequently).
• Strongly motivated by humanitarian work.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.

Our operational & field constraints

• In line with the principle of neutrality, the ICRC does not assign personnel to a country of which they are nationals.
• Candidates must be in good health and will have to do a medical check-up prior to departure in the field.
• Candidates must possess a driving license (for manual transmission vehicles).

What we offer

• Rewarding work in a humanitarian and multicultural environment with attractive salary and social benefits.
• Institutional onboarding program and opportunities for further in-house training.
• Opportunity to join an ICRC talent pool and be considered for future assignments elsewhere.

Additional information

• Type of role:  Mobile
• Working rate: 100%
• Location: Serbia
• Length of assignment: 12 months
• Start date: March 2025
• Application deadline: 2nd February 2025

The ICRC values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.

Our Values

• At the ICRC, we value impact, collaboration, respect, and compassion. We seek candidates who demonstrate behaviors based on these shared values. For more information on the ICRC values, please visit this page.