MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES UK



Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provides life-saving emergency relief and longer-term medical care to some of the most vulnerable and excluded communities around the world. As an independent medical humanitarian organisation, we deliver care based only on need, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion or political affiliation.

MSF relies on donations from private individuals and organisations for the majority of its income. This private funding gives MSF the freedom to respond where needs are greatest and to speak out publicly, free from any political interference.

MSF has around 40,000 local and international staff working in over 70 countries, in some of the most challenging places in the world. Our medical humanitarian projects are supported by teams in 32 countries, including the UK, spread across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

At MSF UK/IE, we support MSF's operations by building relationships with our supporters, increasing awareness of our work, raising funds, providing specialist medical expertise, catalysing change on medical humanitarian issues, and recruiting field staff. MSF UK/IE personnel are dynamic, hard-working, enthusiastic and committed to MSF's values and aims. In addition MSF continues to build upon its presence in Ireland to become a widely recognised, accepted and respected humanitarian organisation among Irish audiences, and within the Irish humanitarian and political sector.

Hours: 40 hours per week

Location: London (MSF UK is a flexible working environment and hybrid working is welcome)

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £38,826.96 per annum (£35,326.96 non-London weighting)

Do you want be part of a vibrant and global facing team working to secure impactful media coverage for the medical-humanitarian organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)?

Would you like to work with journalists and producers from the world’s most influential outlets, connecting them with the incredible and often life-saving work that MSF colleagues are doing every day in over 70 countries?

If so, we invite you to apply for the exciting Press Officer position here in MSF UK! If you would like an informal chat about the role, please don’t hesitate to contact [email protected]

COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

The Press Officer sits within MSF UK’s Media Team (alongside another Press Officer and Senior Press Officer) and reports to the Media Team Lead. The team is one of four within MSF UK’s Communications Department – alongside Digital, Editorial/AV and Public Engagement, all whom this role closely works with. Team members share duties, press engagement and management including an on-call rota, and work directly with international colleagues and journalists to secure impactful coverage.

Given its location, the MSF UK Media Team is a hub for communications internationally and is expected to play a significant role in supporting communications ambitions for the whole of MSF.

We are regularly asked to provide strategic media advice and training to field and operational colleagues and work with all major news outlets

JOB PURPOSE

To raise awareness of the work and priorities of MSF with target audiences via coverage in UK and international radio, print, TV and online media.

Scope of job

• Implements, in collaboration with the Media Team Lead and other members of the UK press team, a media plan to maximise positive coverage of MSF’s work and values, and related humanitarian and medical issues.
• Develops and maintains a list of stories suitable for news, documentaries and features.
• Maintains and develops UK press office systems and structures

Please download the full job description and person specification for more information.

Essential skills, experience and knowledge:

• Demonstrable experience in press office work or international journalism, including substantial understanding of, and contacts in, UK media.
• Experience in pitching stories and features to print, radio, TV and online
• Good knowledge of world affairs and a demonstrable understanding of and commitment to humanitarian issues
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills; ability to adapt style to suit a wide range of audiences; accessible, friendly telephone manner
• Fluent spoken and written English
• Flexible, can-do attitude and good team player – this role involves working very closely and collaboratively with colleagues in the UK and overseas
• Ability to cope with stress, retain good humour and make sound ethical and personal judgements in order to deal with ambiguities and conflict
• Project management skills

MSF UK/IE is dedicated to safeguarding everyone who comes into contact with the organisation, for whatever reason and however brief. All posts are subject to safer recruitment process which include robust reference requests, scrutiny of employment history and where applicable criminal record and barring checks.

Our safeguarding commitment is underpinned by policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the organisation. MSF UK/IE employees are required to attend safeguarding training to ensure responsibility for and maintaining safe working practice and to safeguard our teams, beneficiaries, and communities.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply on our website by submitting a copy of your CV together with a letter of motivation (please upload as one document) by the closing date.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Recruitment timetable:

• Closing date for applications: 5th October 2022, 11.59pm (BST)
• Interviews: 12th October 2022 (TBC)

For an informal discussion about the role, you can contact the Media Team Lead, Gemma Gillie, by email at: [email protected]