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Humanitarian Communications and Media Lead (Secondment)

Actionaid International
On-site
Johannesburg Nairobi, London, AA Countries South Africa

 

Position: Humanitarian Communications and Media Lead Secondment (Internal Vacancy)

Location: Any ActionAid country office

Secondment duration:  01 June – 31 December 2025

Closing date:  23 May 2025 at 5.00PM GMT

STRICTLY INTERNAL RECRUITMENT - ACTIONAID GS AND COUNTRY OFFICES STAFF ONLY

 

The Role:

Plays an entrepreneurial and strategic role in driving significant increases in the quantity and quality of global media, social media, and brand coverage for ActionAid’s humanitarian work.


Please see further information in the job description.

 

Who we're looking for: 

You should have substantial experience in media relations within a humanitarian context, along with a proven ability to identify compelling humanitarian stories that will connect with the federation’s digital audiences. This includes creating strong digital assets from humanitarian content and stories, and working closely with an external network of journalists, editors, and media colleagues from other international humanitarian organisations. A strong knowledge of and experience in developing humanitarian media strategies is essential, as is a thorough understanding of humanitarian principles, the rights of women and young people in emergencies, and effective humanitarian campaigning. You should also have experience living and working in fast-paced emergency or humanitarian contexts.

You will need excellent decision-making skills, demonstrated experience in crisis management, and a collaborative working style. A proven ability to navigate differing perspectives with sensitivity and to work effectively within a complex organisation is also key.

You must be an excellent writer and editor, capable of producing press releases, features, opinion pieces, letters to the editor, and blogs – particularly under tight deadlines.

You should also be committed to working outside of regular hours, including across time zones and during weekends or public holidays, and be prepared to take part in out-of-office media cover as needed.

You should also have strong commitment to ActionAid’s values and ethos, including ActionAid’s feminist leadership principles.

 

What we offer:

ActionAid is committed to providing a welcoming, supportive workplace where we recognise a job well done, encourage close collaboration and sharing power, and where safeguarding standards and feminist leadership are exemplified everywhere. At ActionAid, you can look forward to a fair compensation package and a flexible working environment, including

 

  • A workplace that embraces intersectional feminist principles 
  • Generous maternity, paternity and adoption pay 

 

How to apply: 

Please click on the "apply” button to start the application process: 

Applications close on 23 May 2025 at 5.00pm Johannesburg Time. Please upload an up-to-date curriculum vitae and a covering letter, clearly explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile. 

 

Please check your application and make sure you meet all the essential criteria listed in the person specification. In addition, your application will be stronger if you meet at least some of the desirable criteria. If you do not meet at least all the essential criteria, please do not apply as we only consider candidates if they meet the essential criteria listed on the job description. We will only consider candidates who have the right to work in the specified locations.

Due to high volumes of applications received, we can only correspond with short listed applicants. Should you not have received feedback on your application within two weeks of the closing date, please consider your application as unsuccessful.

ActionAid International will not consider unsolicited candidates from recruitment agencies. We reserve the right to withdraw any of our vacancies at any time.

 

About us: 

ActionAid is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice. We want to see a just, fair and sustainable world, in which everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity, and freedom from poverty and oppression.  We work to achieve social justice and gender equality, and to eradicate poverty. 

All our work is underpinned by a set of feminist leadership principles:  Self-awareness, Self-care and caring for others, Dismantling bias, Inclusion, Sharing power, Responsible & transparent use of power, Accountable collaboration, Respectful feedback, Courage and Zero tolerance against discrimination and abuse of power.  

ActionAid International welcomes applications from all sections of the community and promotes diversity. 

 

Our commitment to Safeguarding

ActionAid is committed to recruiting candidates who promote ActionAid’s SHEA and Safeguarding policies and values.

ActionAid will only recruit candidates who are committed to SHEA and Safeguarding and ActionAid’s values, thereby helping to create safer working cultures. As a deterrence measure ActionAid is also committed to deterring candidates who are intending to cause harm from joining ActionAid.

 

GDPR Privacy notice

ActionAid International collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants as part of any recruitment process. ActionAid International is committed to being transparent about how we collect and use that data and to meeting our data protection obligations. Please visit our website https://actionaid.org/privacy-and-cookies  or click the link Privacy notices to view our GDPR Privacy notice.