Regional Communication Manager

PURPPOSE
- The Regional Communication Manager (RCM) ensures that the operational communication needs and strategies of Operational Centre Brussels (OCB) Operations in Southern Africa linked to Regional Support Team 7 (RST7) are defined, developed and achieved in-line with policies and quality standards._

BACKGROUND:

- Within the Field Recentralization Project of OCB the Communications platform seeks ways to effectively integrate operational communication in field recentralized contexts and operational contexts where there is an institutional entity (Partner Section)
- The MSF Southern Africa Partner Section’s remit has evolved and engages with audiences in the region beyond South Africa, including countries where MSF has operations (Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Eswatini). The Section’s Communication Department has the capacity for communication production and dissemination with dedicated resources and commitment to support Operational Communications and the social mission at 20% of team’s resources
- MSF Southern Africa Partner Section takes charge of supporting and implementing the operational communication for the projects in Southern Africa. The Regional Communication Manager is part of the MSF Southern Africa Comms Department, and is in direct contact with operational decision makers (RST 7 Operations Manager) and is supported technically by a Senior Communication Advisor in OCB.

MANAGEMENT LINES
- RCM and Field Communication Managers all fall under management responsibility of the MSF Southern Africa section. The Section in charge of providing an operational communication service, to the OCB operations.
- The RCM is responsible for the line-management and supervision of the 3 Field Communication Managers (FCM) in South Africa, Zimbabwe & Mozambique based on medium term operational communication strategies developed by the FCMs and operations counterparts
- RCM links directly with RST7 while FCMs link with Country Representatives and Project Coordinators to inform operational communication priorities and strategies.
- A senior OCB Comms Advisor (CA) supports the RCM on request and ensures coherence with OCB the overall operational communication agenda
- The RST 7 Operations Manager and senior OCB CA define the RCM’s objectives and conducts evaluations, basing these on operational communication needs.
- The MSF Southern Africa DirCom develops and tracks the indicators for the RCM objectives on an ongoing basis.
- The DirCom and OCB Ops Comms Coordinator evaluate the results of the collaborations and performance on objectives at 6-month intervals.

ACCOUNTABILITIES
- The RCM is responsible for **building relations** with the RST7 and the country Operations teams with the FCMs to **identify, develop operational communication priorities and support their implementation of communications outputs** that seek to bear witness to the realities of MSF’s patients, informing and influencing a range of stakeholders at national and regional level within agreed Country Communication Frameworks.
- The RCM in collaboration with the RST7, FCMs and Project Coordinators as well as the Analysis Department **develop and implement specific strategies for public communication to support advocacy efforts** on topics/issues at stake in the countries and region.
- The RCM **manages and supports the daily activities of the FCMs**, supervising their performance to ensure the country projects are adequately supported. This includes: maintaining Country Communication Frameworks with a context/risk analysis, clear mid and long-term operational communication objectives, annual action plans with clear initiatives and timeframes.
- As a member of the MSF Southern Africa Comms Dept the RCM interacts and collaborates with fellow managers and team members to **provide operational tactics, products and tools to meet the needs and objectives the FCMs in 3 countries and for the region** regarding communications with medium and low stakes or consequences. The RCM ensures that the FCMs **access the required technical support from the Southern Africa Comms Dept** (content production and dissemination) and **acts in a rescue role capacity for FCMs**. The RCM is **responsible for developing and managing a budget** which includes travel and production costs.
- The RCM ensures with the support of the Senior OCB CA that communication outputs (strategies, tactics and tools) **align with MSF OCB global quality standards and policies** of operational communication for coherence OCB’s international positioning. The Senior OCB CA acts in a rescue role capacity for RCM in case of high expected consequences communications that require the direction of OCB to intervene.
- The RCM **oversees content production** and **ensures accesses to support from the MSF Southern Africa team** and can also request via the Senior OCB CA the services of the Combo Creative Content Unit.
- The RCM **signals issues** and advises Operations on public p