Country Communication Manager Full Time NEW

About Mercy Corps 

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

About Mercy Corps Ethiopia 

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. Our vision is to enhance the resilience of climate and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. Our strategy focuses on the four outcome areas of: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently we operate in the regional states of Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, Tigray and Addis Ababa city administration working with a diverse base of donors that includes the U.S. Department of State, the European Union (EU), the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the United Nations (UN), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN), Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA), and a range of other institutional and private foundations.

Position Title: Country Communication Manager  

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Open Position: 1

Risk Level: Level 3

Programme / Department Summary

The Country Communications Manager leads strategic communications across Mercy Corps Ethiopia’s programme portfolio, strengthening organizational positioning, evidence-based storytelling, knowledge management, donor engagement and fundraising communications.

A substantial component of the position supports the Border Security Programme. Responsibilities include strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, donor-facing products, learning and visibility, and the safe communication of sensitive programme work.The manager will also lead communications planning for the Prosper Global transition and support communications quality and compliance across the country portfolio.

General Position Summary

The manager develops and implements the country communications strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, programme objectives, donor commitments and the Prosper Global transition. The role translates programme evidence into credible communications, supports resource mobilization, advises leadership on stakeholder engagement and reputational risk, and strengthens staff capacity to communicate programme progress and learning.

The position reports to the Director of Programs, directly supervises the Communications Intern, and provides functional supervision to the ER CAP Communications Specialist through a dotted-line reporting relationship. The manager works closely with country leadership, programme teams, regional and global communications colleagues, and relevant technical and support functions.

Essential Job Responsibilities 

1. Country Communications Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and implement the country communications strategy, annual workplan and editorial priorities, aligned with organizational and programme objectives.
• Advise leadership on organizational positioning, stakeholder engagement, communications opportunities and reputational risks.
• Maintain communications standards, approved messaging and core organizational materials, coordinating with regional and global teams.

1. Border Security Programme Communications

• Lead strategic communications and stakeholder engagement in line with programme objectives, donor requirements and the country communications strategy.
• Develop audience-specific messaging and donor-facing products, and communicate programme evidence, progress and learning in collaboration with programme and monitoring, evaluation and learning teams.
• Coordinate communications campaigns, partner engagement, briefings and learning events.
• Ensure communications reflect the programme’s political and security sensitivities, with appropriate confidentiality, approvals, conflict sensitivity and risk management.

1. Prosper Global Transition Communications

• Lead the Ethiopia communications plan for the transition to Prosper Global, coordinating with country leadership and regional and global teams.
• Manage approved messaging, stakeholder communications and updates to branding, templates, publications and digital channels.
• Support internal engagement, maintain external communications continuity and escalate transition-related communications risks.

1. Portfolio Storytelling, Evidence and Knowledge Management

• Work with programme and monitoring, evaluation and learning teams to identify, validate and communicate programme evidence, emerging systems changes, lessons and promising practices.
• Produce or coordinate stories, case studies, briefs and multimedia products that translate technical information into clear, credible and engaging communications.
• Maintain an organized repository of approved stories, evidence and knowledge products for learning, reporting, donor engagement and external communications.
• Build staff capacity in documentation, evidence-based storytelling and ethical content production.

1. Marketing, Fundraising and Donor Compliance

• Support country leadership and business development colleagues with organizational positioning, fundraising communications, proposals and partnership opportunities.
• Develop capability statements, donor presentations, programme briefs and other materials that communicate programme relevance and evidence.
• Track and coordinate donor communications requirements, including branding, visibility, acknowledgements, disclaimers, approvals and reporting commitments.
• Support donor visits and briefings in coordination with programme, grants and business development teams.

1. Internal and External Communications, Media and Events

• Oversee the production, quality assurance and dissemination of communications products across relevant internal and external channels, including digital platforms and social media.
• Develop media relationships, coordinate inquiries and identify opportunities to share programme evidence and organizational perspectives, following approved protocols.
• Coordinate communications for programme launches, workshops, learning forums and other strategic events.
• Ensure products are accurate, accessible, audience-appropriate and consistent with organizational and donor standards.

1. Advocacy, Influence and Strategic Partnerships

• Work with leadership and programme teams to identify evidence and communications opportunities that support policy dialogue and programme objectives.
• Develop briefs and messages that communicate programme learning and inform advocacy and influencing efforts in line with approved organizational positions.
• Build relationships with government, donors, private sector actors, civil society and peer organizations to support responsible dissemination of evidence and learning.

1. Team Management and Coordination

• Directly supervise the Communications Intern, including work planning, performance management, coaching and professional development.
• Provide functional supervision and communications coordination to the ER CAP Communications Specialist through the agreed dotted-line arrangement.
• Coordinate communications requests, priorities, deliverables and quality standards across programmes.
• Strengthen staff and partner capacity through mentoring, training and practical guidance; coordinate consultants and service providers as required.

1. Risk Management, Safeguarding and Accountability

• Apply safeguarding, informed consent, confidentiality, data protection and conflict sensitivity standards across communications activities.
• Ensure stories and images represent participants respectfully and accurately, without unsupported claims or inappropriate disclosure of sensitive information.
• Seek appropriate review for sensitive content and escalate potential safeguarding, security or reputational risks through established channels.
• Uphold organizational policies, accountability commitments and ethical communications standards.

Other duties: Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor, consistent with the purpose and level of the position.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Communications Intern: Direct supervision.
• ER CAP Communications Specialist: Dotted-line functional supervision.

Accountability and Reporting

Reports to: Director of Programs.

Works closely with: Country leadership, programme teams, Border Security Programme leadership and partners, monitoring, evaluation and learning, business development, grants and compliance teams, safeguarding and security focal points, regional and global communications teams, donors, media and external service providers.

Minimum Qualifications, Experience and Transferable Skills

• Master’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, international development, social sciences or a related field.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations or strategic communications, preferably in international development or humanitarian programming.
• Demonstrated experience developing communications strategies, producing high-quality content and communicating technical evidence to diverse audiences.
• Experience in donor communications, fundraising materials, organizational transitions or rebranding is an advantage.
• Strong writing, editing, stakeholder engagement, coordination and team management skills.
• Experience communicating about politically sensitive or security-related programmes, with sound judgment on confidentiality and reputational risk.
• Knowledge of storytelling, knowledge management, advocacy, digital communications and multimedia production; experience with Adobe or equivalent tools is an advantage.
• Strong computer literacy, including Microsoft Office and digital collaboration platforms.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic.
• Ability and willingness to travel to programme locations, including remote and hardship areas, as required.
• Demonstrated commitment to organizational values, safeguarding, ethical communications, accountability and inclusion.

Success Factors

The successful candidate combines strategic communications leadership with strong writing, sound judgment and effective execution. They can manage competing priorities, communicate complex evidence clearly, support fundraising and donor compliance, navigate sensitive contexts and build productive relationships across teams and stakeholders. They are proactive, adaptable and committed to credible, ethical and evidence-based communications.

Living and Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Addis Ababa, with travel to programme locations across Ethiopia, including remote and hardship areas, as required. Team members must comply with organizational policies, procedures and values during official travel and at all times.

Ongoing Learning

Mercy Corps empowers team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that support professional development and organizational effectiveness.

Team Engagement and Effectiveness

Team members are expected to foster trust, respect, inclusion, collaboration and continuous learning.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair employment practices and equal opportunity for all qualified applicants and employees, in accordance with applicable law.

Safeguarding and Ethics

Risk Level 3: Frequent contact with participants, direct contact with children, access to sensitive data and/or a high level of accountability.

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline (integrityhotline@mercycorps.org).