Press Officer

MSF UK London United Kingdom Communications
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Company Description

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.




Position

Hours: 40 hours per week

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £38,826.96.61 per annum (£35,326.96 p/a non-London weighting)




COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT


The department’s purpose is to raise the profile of the organisation and its causes amongst British and international audiences to support MSF’s advocacy, recruitment and fundraising activities. The press officer sits within MSF UK’s press office, and reports to the media manager. The press office is one of four teams within MSF UK’s Communications department – along with the digital, editorial/AV, and public engagement teams. The press officer will work very closely with all members of the Communications department, particularly the other press officers and media manager. The press office share duties and press management, including an out-of-hours on-call rota, and often cover for each other during holidays or when one member of the team is travelling. The UK is a hub for communications internationally and MSF UK is expected to play a significant role in supporting communications ambitions for the whole of MSF.




JOB PURPOSE


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


Position in the organisation

  • Reports to the media manager, and works closely with fellow press officer, as well as members of the Communications team and other departments in the UK office, such as Fundraising, HR, Programmes and the Manson Unit; and the wider MSF movement.
  • Alternates supervision of communications intern with the other press officers.

Please download the job description and person specification below for full details of the role.

Requirements

Essentials knowledge, skills and experiences required:

  • Demonstrable experience in press office work or journalism, including substantial understanding of, and contacts in, UK media.
  • Extensive 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.
  • Understanding of how to identify and target key audiences.
  • 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.

Other information

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 and answers to the application questions below (please upload as one document) by the closing date.


Recruitment timetable:

  • Closing date for applications: 20 April 2022, 11.59pm (BST)
  • Interviews: w/c 25 April 2022
  • Ideal start date: May 2022