Communication Specialist: Media Liaison, Special Projects

**Communication Specialist: Media Liaison, Special Projects at Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Southern Africa**

**About Us**

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Southern Africa is a vital part of a global network of compassionate professionals dedicated to medical humanitarian work. Guided by medical ethics and a shared commitment to humanity, our teams-both small and large-deliver critical healthcare to people affected by conflict, disasters, epidemics, and exclusion from medical services. Operating in over 70 countries, MSF’s doctors, nurses, logisticians, and specialists not only provide care but also bear witness to the challenges faced by communities, raising awareness and advocating for change to address crises and healthcare inequities.

**The Opportunity: Communication Specialist: Media Liaison, Special Projects**
- Are you a dynamic communicator with a flair for media relations and a passion for humanitarian storytelling? As a Communication Specialist: Media Liaison, Special Projects at MSF Southern Africa, you’ll drive high-impact media strategies to amplify our work, build key relationships with journalists, and support recruitment efforts.
- This role offers the chance to shape public discourse on medical humanitarian issues, innovate creative campaigns, and contribute to mobilizing resources and influence for life-saving missions across Africa and beyond.

**What You’ll Do**
- **Media Liaison**: Actively build and maintain networks with journalists, producers, and editors focused on health, Africa, and international affairs; implement content selection and adaptation tactics aligned with MSF’s positioning; relay press releases, briefings, and multimedia content to media, pitching stories and arranging interviews; source insights from media professionals to inform pitches; supervise interns on media database updates; coordinate journalist visits to field projects; arrange background briefings on priority topics.

**Regular Responsibilities**
- **Media Relations**: Develop and implement bi-weekly media pitch schedules; handle bi-weekly media on-call duties, coordinating responses and interviews; produce reports on media coverage achieved.
- **HR Recruitment Support**: Develop annual targeted digital recruitment and paid media strategies for medical journals, defining KPIs and delivering progress reports; collaborate on content creation for visibility and engagement with medical audiences.
- **Coordination, Collaborations, Synergies & Support**: Lead efforts to elevate MSF’s media profile for awareness and recruitment, including material dissemination and pitching; proactively pitch MSF international staff to niche media; coordinate outreach with regional press officers; accept delegated tasks and provide ad hoc field support as needed.
- **Messaging, Briefings, Training & Public Engagement**: Collaborate on cohesive messaging and spokespeople briefings; develop training materials for media sessions with key staff; support staff preparation for public engagements.
- **Monitoring, Analysis & Strategic Insight**: Alternate monthly compilation of media reports against KPIs, supervising intern monitoring; collaborate on quarterly analyses of media strategy progress.

**Who We’re Looking For**

We’re seeking an experienced, strategic communicator with strong media savvy, a commitment to humanitarian values, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

**Here’s what you bring**:
**Qualifications & Skills**
- **Bachelor’s degree or post-graduate qualification in Public Relations, Journalism, or Corporate Communication.**:

- A minimum of 5 years in media as a journalist or communication professional in corporate or NGO settings.
- Proven strategy development and writing abilities across formats (e.g., social copy, reports, press releases).
- Experience in digital media, mobile journalism, or marketing; basic to intermediate proficiency in LinkedIn Campaign Manager and Figma/Canva/Adobe Creative Suite.
- Demonstrable oral and written communication, storytelling, and ethical judgment skills.
- Fluency in written and spoken English; high computer literacy in MS Office.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects.
- **Desirable**: Established South African media networks; good digital development literacy; availability for 1-2 months international travel annually.

**Personal Qualities**
- Committed & passionate: You align with MSF’s principles and have a deep interest in humanitarian issues, world news, and international affairs.
- Results-oriented: You focus on quality outcomes, analyzing landscapes to craft compelling pitches.
- Team player: You collaborate effectively, nurturing networks and probing for clarity on objectives.
- Innovative & proactive: You bring initiative, creativity, and networking skills to build relationships.
- Organized: You excel in planning, managing deadlines, and multitasking.
- Values-driven: You embody MSF’s princ