Communications and Social Media Specialist

International Refugee Assistance Project • New York, NY

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications team at the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is seeking a Communications and Social Media Specialist to provide programmatic and administrative support to IRAP’s strategic communications work. The role will support the communications team in highlighting IRAP’s legal and grassroots advocacy, institutional brand, and marketing priorities in integrated campaigns across IRAP-owned and earned media platforms, with a focus on nontraditional media and social media. They ensure that IRAP’s communications materials are engaging, visually appealing, and accessible, and that the voices of our clients and other impacted people are centered in those campaigns.

The Communications and Social Media Specialist works in close partnership with other IRAP departments, especially litigation, policy, and development, as well as external partner organizations and vendors/consultants.
The Communications and Social Media Specialist reports to the Senior Director, Communications.
Candidates with lived experiences of forced displacement are highly encouraged to apply.
This is a grant-funded, two-year term-limited position, with the possibility to extend depending on available funding. This position will support both the Communications team and a grant-funded project supporting several IRAP programs.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is preferred, or equivalent work experience.
• At least 3 years of experience working in communications/marketing, preferably in a nonprofit/NGO or advocacy setting.
• Proven experience creating engaging audio/visual social media content (graphics, short-form video, GIFs) using Canva and other tools, especially in support of advocacy goals.
• Strong social media skills and strong judgment of what makes for particularly engaging and compelling content on a variety of platforms.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with an emphasis on the ability to distill complex topics into concise, accessible, and persuasive language that resonates with broad audiences.
• Ability to work comfortably with clients, attorneys, and partner organizations with diverse cultural and social backgrounds.
• Must be highly organized and motivated, able to multitask, manage a high-volume workload, and have excellent time management skills.
• Ability to be flexible in a fast-paced and high-pressure work environment.
• Tech-savviness and strong ability to troubleshoot issues with different platforms and softwares.
• Sensitivity to the empowerment of vulnerable populations and experience working with people of all backgrounds, for example, LGBTI refugees or survivors of trauma, in a communications context.
• Interest in refugee/humanitarian issues.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with additional graphic design and/or video editing software, like Adobe InDesign or Premiere Pro, is preferred.
• Photography experience, in particular documenting events or taking headshots using a DSLR camera, is a plus.
• Experience designing content for websites, email marketing software, or other HTML-based platforms is a plus.
• Fluency in languages other than English is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Work with communications staff, other IRAP departments, clients, partner organizations, external vendors, and volunteers to support and further the organization’s communications work and related initiatives, in particular a grant-funded project supporting IRAP’s litigation efforts around family unity.
• Draft and edit communications that spark awareness and action, including social media posts, newsletters and other mailings, calls to action, and other digital-first content.
• Design engaging social media graphics and other digital content using Canva and Adobe products; design and format the layout for reports, fact sheets, and other content.
• Support rapid response strategies with quick turnaround of graphics and other visual/social media content.
• Support the formatting and sending of mass mailings to IRAP supporters.
• Update and maintain content on IRAP’s website.
• Curate, organize, and maintain a library of IRAP-owned digital assets that convey the agency and dignity of displaced people.
• Monitor media and social media for news related to IRAP and our work.
• Provide logistical support, including sending out press releases and media round-ups, scheduling social media, events-related support, meeting scheduling, record-keeping, and note-taking.
• Occasional support with media training and coaching with IRAP staff and individual clients.
• Occasional support for in-person and virtual events (press calls and conferences, webinars, panels), including photography and documenting events for social media.

Benefits

• IRAP’s benefits vary across office locations, and IRAP seeks to offer equitable and generous benefits to all employees.
• Fully paid family health insurance
• Retirement options
• Extensive PTO (20 or more vacation days, 18 and more public/ org-wide holidays)
• Comprehensive leave time for sickness
• Disability and parenting (27.2 weeks of parental leave)
• Reimbursement for work-from-home equipment
• Generous opportunities for professional development

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level