Requirements

Additional Requirements

Essential Competencies:

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience at a leadership role in Communication, advocacy, external relationships, Advocacy & system innovations.
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles, international development frameworks, and donor communication practices and trends.
• A good understanding of the dynamics of external relationships- use of social media and online channels, media houses, and their use in external relations.
• Ability to cultivate and build relationships with government officials and ministries.
• Able to write engagingly and persuasively for a variety of external audiences, with a native or bilingual proficiency in English.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent representation and diplomatic skills / Ability to defend advocacy position in front of external actors
• Strong organizational skills / Rigor / Ability to classify and manage priorities.
• Capacity to take initiative and propose innovative solutions / Adaptability to a possible changing context
• Knowledge to use policy research, lobbying, public campaigning, media, and digital work for effective advocacy.
• Professionalism, ability to develop solid evidence-based arguments and recommendations.

Desirable Competencies:

• Good knowledge and understanding of international advocacy, government affairs, and political sensitivities.
• Familiarity with systems change, systems innovation approaches
• Skills in graphic design, video, photo editing, and web development applications (would be a plus)
• Good knowledge and understanding of international advocacy, government affairs, and political sensitivities.

• Gender-sensitive with a commitment to inclusive communication practices.

Language and computer skills:

• Fluent in English and Bangla (written and spoken).
• Proficient in MS Office; knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and digital communication tools is a plus.

Responsibilities & Context

Job Context:

This newly created leadership role will spearhead IRB’s national policy, advocacy, systems strengthening and communication strategy to strengthen its external positioning, build strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders, and influence systems and policies for sustainable impact. The postholder will manage strategic communication, media relations, stakeholder engagement, and system-based advocacy, ensuring that IRB’s programmes speak to national and global development narratives.

Key Responsibilities:

Advocacy & Systems Strengthening Strategy Development, Implementation and Strategic Advice – 30%

• Lead the development, execution, and periodic review of IRB’s national advocacy and systems strengthening strategy.
• Prepare talking points, policy briefs, messaging, reports, and advocacy materials aligned with programme objectives.
• Collaborate with sector leads (e.g., Child Protection, Climate Change, Humanitarian Response, Economic Empowerment & Governance) to develop sector-specific advocacy plans and campaigns.
• Represent IRB in key forums, working groups, and interagency coordination platforms at national and subnational levels.
• Contribute to global/regional advocacy campaigns and ensure IRB’s voice is reflected in global humanitarian and development discourse.
• Conduct policy analysis and ensure senior management is informed on key national and regional policy shifts.
• Facilitate evidence generation through research and documentation to support advocacy objectives.
• Remain up to date on key issues at the national and regional level, through engagement with relevant stakeholders.
• Alert the SMT to relevant policy developments and provide analysis and input for various inter-agency meetings such as the Technical Monitoring Group, the Humanitarian Country Team, and others.
• Support the Head of Programmes and Programmes Manager to articulate priority advocacy objectives and develop program-specific advocacy strategies. In addition, work with Sector Managers, Technical Coordinators, and Area managers on key issues within clusters, working groups, and area-specific forums.
• Support the teams in collecting adequate and reliable information and feedback to be used in advocacy activities.
• Advise the Country Director and SMT on advocacy and communication trends, risks, and opportunities.

External Communication and Media Engagement – 25%

• Lead IRB’s communication strategy to enhance visibility among donors, partners, and the public. Ensure presence at sector events, regular stakeholder meetings, attendance in government programs, hosting IRB events (e.g. briefings to stakeholders or field trips), and related external communications/PR/ lobbying.
• Oversee production of high-quality external content: reports, case studies, human-interest stories, social media assets, videos, etc.
• Build relationships with journalists and media outlets to amplify IRB’s work and campaigns.
• Ensure compliance with branding and visibility requirements of donors and stakeholders.
• Guide visual identity updates and collaborate with design agencies to modernize IRB’s communication presence.
• Develop and maintain strong and productive relationships with relevant Government Department, UN, International organizations and other stakeholders.
• Develop CO Annual Report, Departmental Annual report.

Implementing Stakeholder Engagement & Public Relations – 25%

• Develop and implement a targeted stakeholder engagement plan across government, INGOs, UN agencies, international organizations, Donors and civil society to advance policy and advocacy objectives.
• Develop and coordinate the development of relevant content and messaging to support stakeholder engagement.
• Lead in preparing target-oriented messages for different stakeholder.
• Cultivate strategic partnerships and facilitate regular dialogues with relevant ministries, national actors and donor community.
• Support the Country Director and senior team in high-level stakeholder engagements and public speaking opportunities.
• Facilitate briefings, exposure visits, and tailored events for donors, partners, and media.
• Ensure Media & Visibility plan for each of the projects in the earlier stage & lead the implementation process accordingly.
• Ensure Media & Visibility requirements (Plan, Materials & Execution) are set by the donor and other stakeholders in the context of humanitarian appeals, responses, or development programs on time.
• Ensure branding, Media, or visibility tools are updated & available.

Staff Management & Development – 10%

• Provide leadership and direction to the team through proactive engagement, communication, and direction.
• Supervise and mentor the advocacy and communications team.
• Build internal capacities of sectoral teams to integrate advocacy and visibility components.
• Lead on annual planning and ensure that communication and advocacy outputs are linked to programme deliverables.
• Conduct regular performance management, coaching, and professional development of team members.
• Ensuring that each member of the team fully understands the outcomes that are expected of them and they are aware of the success criteria which pertain to their work.
• Ensuring that work is planned and organized in a way that will meet the needs of staff at the Islamic Relief Country Office and in project areas in the most cost-effective manner possible.

Compliance, Safeguarding, and Other Duties -10%

• Promote and uphold IRB’s safeguarding, child protection, and gender policies in all communication and advocacy materials.
• Willingness to travel to field locations for content gathering, programme monitoring, and stakeholder outreach.
• Perform any other duties assigned by Management.

Compensation & Other Benefits