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 of the position

The Editorial Manager is responsible for implementing ICRC’s editorial strategy and priorities to position the organization on global priority themes and contexts, developing clear public narratives and messaging, and coordinating roll-out plans across ICRC`s global communication network. They have a lead role in setting the ICRC’s editorial calendar. By driving institutional alignment, they strengthen the ICRC’s public positioning, reputation and acceptance. 

Main duties and responsibilities

1. Editorial Lead

• Leads on the roll-out of the editorial strategy across HQ, regions and delegations, ensuring coherence of messaging.
• Leads on the execution of the global editorial priorities, ensuring a well-orchestrated  delivery across operational and diplomatic delegations 
• Ensures coordinated editorial approaches during crises, emerging issues and positioning opportunities.
• Co-leads the Communication Division`s Editorial Board 
• Ensures complementarity of leadership voices and their articulation with editorial plans and priorities  
• Leads the implementation of the annual communication priorities, as part of ICRC’s External Engagement Priorities.
• Leads on the monitoring and evaluation of ICRC’s media visibility and share of voice, contributing to the Communication Division’s Quarterly Review and feeding back into editorial plans to support positioning and acceptance objectives. 

2. Media Lead 

• Manages ICRC’s press office, ensuring the overall coordination of breaking news response, leading and clarifying the strategy and approach and working to enable delivery across teams. Develops guidance, frameworks and process to ensure we are well placed to manage and capitalize on such situations.
• Manages the network of regional & global spokespersons and ensures that they are timely equipped with key messages and media approaches 
• Supports media engagement to elevate ICRC positioning, ensuring alignment with institutional editorial priorities.
• Serves as backup for the Global News Editor, contributing to media outreach, press releases, pitching and crisis communications as required.
• Acts as spokesperson, when required.

3. Narrative & Messaging 

• Translates editorial priorities into compelling public messaging, to position the organization with key audiences.
• Develops narratives, and media/PR partnership opportunities to proactively position the organization effectively with key audiences around designated priority issues.
• Ensures messaging coherence across HQ, regional and delegation communication teams by providing guidance, clarification and coordinated narrative frameworks.
• Ensures that narrative guidance and key messages are well understood and consistently applied across the communication network.
• Ensures that the Leadership messaging is well connected, targeting the right audience. 
• Oversees and develops senior leadership profiling plans and opportunities to shape and promote high-level messages and generate media opportunities related to contexts and themes; ensures coordination around public coms plans for high-profile senior leadership field visits and events.

Relationships

• Internal: Works closely with all communication teams, regional communication teams, particularly the Global Content Hub in Nairobi, regional public relation officers, global reach delegations and relevant HQ units.
• External: Engages with international and regional media and agencies.

Scope and Impact

• Geographic remit: Global
• Institutional impact: Ensures coordinated implementation of ICRC’s editorial and public communication priorities and contributes to coherent institutional visibility and positioning.

Professional and education background

• Typically 8 to 10 years of relevant professional experience.
• University degree in communications, journalism, public relations, international relations or a related field.
• Advanced training or postgraduate specialization in strategic communications, media relations, editorial management, or similar areas is a strong asset.

Desired profile and skills

• Strong experience in strategic media relations, editorial coordination and PR partnership development.
• Demonstrated ability to implement and coordinate global editorial strategies.
• Proven ability to translate complex, sensitive issues into compelling messages.
• Experience coordinating editorial approaches engaging multiple stakeholders.
• Strong managerial experience in complex environments 
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken), with the ability to craft and adapt high-level messaging for diverse audiences.
• Working knowledge of French or another institutional language (Arabic, Spanish, Russian) is a strong asset for coordinating communication across regions and delegations

Additional information

• Location: Geneva
• Type of contract: Open-ended
• Activity rate: 100%
• Start date: June 2026
• Recruiter:  Diara NIANG
• Application deadline: Sunday, 10th of May 2026
   

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

Important information: For future employees and their dependents who are not EU and/or EFTA nationals, settling in Switzerland is now required. Direct settlement in France upon arrival is no longer possible.

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.