Senior Communication Officer

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 191 member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC uses the Triple R – response, resilience and respect – to deliver on Strategy 2030. IFRC responds to disasters and crises, ensuring timely, coordinated and locally led humanitarian action. IFRC supports its members in building community resilience in the areas of climate and environment, health and wellbeing, and migration and displacement. IFRC promotes respect for our fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality, including in our work on values, power and inclusion. The IFRC focuses throughout on our core mandate – our raison d’être – of strategic and operational coordination, humanitarian diplomacy, National Society development, and accountability.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General and has its Headquarters in Geneva and five regional offices in Africa (Nairobi); the Americas (Panama); Asia Pacific (Kuala Lumpur); Europe (Budapest); and MENA (Beirut) as well as representation offices, service centres and delegations across the globe.

The IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The IFRC is currently present in Nepal through a Country Delegation (CD - first established in 1965 with a presence through regional representation at times), providing support to Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) programmes and National Society development (NSD) amongst as well as emergency response, other areas. The longer-term mission of the Nepal Delegation is to facilitate organisational growth, technical capacities, partnerships, and resource mobilisation that enable Nepal Red Cross Society to deliver on its humanitarian mandate in the country through the provision of technical support, advocacy, representation and coordination functions, in accordance with Strategy 2030, the IFRC Renewal and annual Operational Plans.

The Country Delegation also provides integration services to six IFRC members with a presence in Nepal.

On 26 August 2026, a major ice-rock avalanche occurred in the upper Bhote Koshi watershed near the China–Nepal border, resulting in an historically powerful flash flood that advanced from the border down the entire length of Nepal along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli River basins.

Due to the evolving operational requirements of the Rasuwa Flash Flood 2026 response operation, this role profile provides an overview of the principal responsibilities and functions associated with this position within a Federation-coordinated operation.

Sr. Officer, Communications will coordinate communications and media activities to highlight the humanitarian situation and needs on the ground, as well as the National Society’s response, supported by IFRC and its network, through compelling content on relevant communication channels to reach target audiences. This involves crafting impactful communication key messages about the humanitarian situation in country, outlining the roles of the IFRC network in supporting the host National Society.

Additionally, the role involves enhancing the visibility and public image of the host National Society and IFRC, with a specific focus on emergency and crisis responses, in the international media. The role holder will create or commission high-quality communication materials that give a voice to populations affected by disasters and crises, showcasing the impact of the host National Society’s operations and programmes, contributing to resource mobilization efforts and reporting to partners and stakeholders.

Sr. Officer, Communications also supports the host National Society in coordinating communication activities within the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, including the development of key messages for public advocacy. Furthermore, the incumbent will provide technical assistance and support to the NS in further developing and strengthening their communication capacity and systems.

Sr. Officer, Communications is responsible for supporting the NS and the wider network through:

• In collaboration with the host National Society, develop and implement a communications strategy and plan of action, that supports programmatic and policy priorities, covering the various aspects of communications including public and media relations, corporate communication, social media, and advocacy.
• Coordinate the production of communication products to support IFRC network advocacy, marketing, and fundraising efforts.
• Create human interest stories, high-quality photography and videography materials to support donor reporting.
• Develop and update external-facing key messages for use by IFRC and the wider Red Cross and Red Crescent communications network. Share any communications material created with the IFRC communications team for wider distribution and use among the IFRC communications network.
• Ensure strong visibility in international media through producing stories and content pitching story ideas about Red Cross and Red Crescent operations. Arrange media visits to field operations, act as a spokesperson (when applicable) with international media, ensure the availability of in-country well-briefed spokespeople for media. Produce communication materials for media and external audiences and support the IFRC/NS spokes persons in media engagements.
• Ensure strong social media engagement through proposing and producing content for IFRC channels such as Facebook, Instagram and X and tracking audience engagement with social media.
• Ensure comprehensive and effective communication of major milestones for the emergency response using diverse people-centered content, including video footage, photos with extended captions, and content generated by community engagement activities, such as feedback/concerns from affected communities.
• In coordination with the IFRC technical focal persons, create high quality content demonstrating the positive impact on affected populations of programmes and operations implemented by the host National Society with the support from IFRC, for further resource mobilization, reporting and general profiling and awareness raising purposes.
• Work closely with the host National Society and the IFRC regional/in-country Strategic Partnership and Resource Mobilization focal point to create materials that support resource mobilization interventions.
• Support the host National Society in the coordination of media and communications initiatives among the Movement partners to ensure an aligned Movement approach to public communications, and consistent messaging including coordination of key messages, reactive lines, where required, for different situations.
• Facilitate visits/ field trips by media, Partner National Societies’ (PNS) communicators.
• Supporting the management of reputational issues through monitoring, advising on, and responding to developments and issues with possible reputational consequences in close coordination with the Head of Delegation and the Risk Management delegate/focal point.
• Supporting the capacity-building of the host National Society’s communications team, including through providing opportunities for learning, coaching, skills transfer, mentoring and facilitation of peer-to-peer exchanges, in coordination and collaboration with the IFRC regional and country team.
• Coordinate with PNS bi-lateral and multilateral communications teams in-country.

Other

• Under the direction of the line manager, support the annual strategy and work plan of the IFRC Country Delegation Communications as well as the IFRC Global Communications strategy
• As applicable, mentor the NRCS communication team in relevant fields of communication (social media, website, exposure stories, media engagement, etc.).
• Coordinate with the Country Delegation team, NRCS team and IFRC Asia Pacific regional team in ensuring consistency of IFRC image is maintained
• Ensure all IFRC communications activities including the IFRC members in Nepal are well-coordinated with NRCS while also contributing to the enhancement of their capacities.
• Undertake field missions to support local communications as relevant.
• Support the line manager and the Head of Delegation in preparing for and organizing public speaking engagements with the preparation of background materials and speaking points.
• Support Unified Planning process as required.
• Other relevant tasks that can be assigned by the line manager.

• Master's degree in communication, Journalism, Media Studies, digital media, or any other media-related field or equivalent higher education degree.
• Technical training courses linked to the post.

Required:

• 6-7 years of demonstrable experience in Communication for a humanitarian or development organization
• Demonstrated experience in social media account management
  A skilled photographer with demonstrated skills in digital video editing
• Experience in the humanitarian or development sector, with a focus on Communications
• Possesses creative and analytical skills
• Demonstrated professional credibility in the sector and experience working in an international or cross-cultural environment.

Prefered:

• Experience working in a Red Cross or Red Crescent National Society and/or IFRC or ICRC

• Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and achieve results through collaboration
• Proactive, innovative, willing, and committed to stay and travel in the remote areas to work with vulnerable communities.
• Programme and project management
• Results-oriented and demand-driven individual, entrepreneurial, ability to lead in unprecedented and/or ambiguous situations.
• Demonstrated track record in innovating, contributing to a learning culture, sharing knowledge and new approaches to engaging partners.
• Professional credibility, able to work effectively at all levels across the organisation
  Proven good judgment and ability to work with complete integrity and confidentiality
• Demonstrated core proficiency in (a) digital communication & collaboration, (b) basic digital content creation, (c) digital safety & security, (d) data literacy, and (e) problem solving with technology (including responsible use of AI assistants.
• Understanding of and commitment to IFRC’s mission and values.

Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision-making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust