Department & Location : Regional Communications Manager based in Bangkok, Thailand

Reports to : Regional Director 

Purpose :

The job holder shall provide strategic and technical leadership to Plan’s communication work in the region. S/he ensures that regional. Communication activities support country, regional and global. Communication priorities, media relations, and advocacy campaigns, support Plan’s National Offices, and effectively support Plan’s programme goals. S/he oversees capacity development and quality assurance measures for communication in Asia, leads emergency response communications and represents Plan Asia Regional Office (ARO) in Plan’s goal communication network.

Dimensions of Role:

• A member of the Regional Management Team and leader of the regional network for communications, media relations, online presence, and digital production.

• Provides leadership and supervision to Plan’s regional communication team and fosters strong collaboration with programme, business development, sponsorship, branding and communication activities.
• Facilitates the development of strong internal and external linkages with communication staff, development peer organisations and media outlets within and beyond the region.
• Advises on and manages risks related to Plan’s reputation, communication and media work in/about Asia, including crisis communications and brand management.
• Oversees the implementation of Plan’s brand guidelines and ensures brand management and development.
• Leads emergency response communications, including preparedness work and emergency deployments to disaster-affected areas.
• Develops and oversees execution of regional office communications budget.

Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position: What” is done and “why”, but not “how”; include indicators for success

1- Strategic planning and delivery

A relevant and up-to-date Regional Communication Strategy for Asia is developed, delivered and monitored taking into account global and emerging regional programme and campaign priorities.

• Plan Asia’s regional communication strategy adds value to country operations, regional and global programme, advocacy, campaign, fundraising, and public relations plans and initiatives. Its implementation is monitored and progress adequately documented, shared, and adapted to regional country offices.
• Plan country offices have sound country communication strategies and plans in place that help to efficiently profile child-centred community development and Plan’s programme priorities.
• Plan’s global campaigns have quality communication support in place that support campaign goals and results.
• Plan’s brand roll out and brand implementation priorities are reflected in communications planning across the region.

2 - Ensuring Regional Leadership and Capacity Development

A Regional network for communication exists and country and regional communication staff have the capacity to deliver high quality communication and media work

Indicators will include:

• A regional internal technical network for communication exists, meets or collaborates online regularly and efficiently shares information and knowledge.
• Capacity assessments for communication staff are carried out to determine capacity development measures. 
• Leadership in Plan Asia country offices is consulted on communications and campaigns priorities in the region and the matching capacities of communications teams in the regional and country offices.
• Country communications staff are kept up to date with newest developments from Plan international headquarters, the communication sector and knowledge and information from other organisations is being efficiently shared to promote best practice.
• There is a close collaboration between communication and programme teams to ensure quality media reporting around our work and the communities that we work with.
• There is a fruitful collaboration between ARO and communicators from National Organisations (NOs), International Headquarters (IH)  and other Regional Offices (ROs) 

3- Enhancing Organisational visibility and profile

Plan Asia is known for the quality and reach of its child-centred community development programmes within and beyond Asia , as well as inside the organisation

Indicators will include:

External:

• Country, regional, and international media report positively and regularly about Plan’s work in Asia .
• Strong relationships are developed with regional, national, and international media outlets, journalists, and opinion makers in order to ensure that Plan’s voice and the voices of the communities that we work with are heard in the mainstream media.
• Ability to cultivate high-value coverage with influential and respected media outlets in order to extend Plan’s reach, build Plan’s reputation in the development sector in Asia, and expand public understanding of Plan’s advocacy goals.
• Plan Asia’s social media presence is regularly and growth in reach is reflected through online engagement.
• Plan Asia uses social media effectively and innovatively to engage the public in its work and programme & campaign goals.
• Plan Asia has regularly updated communications collateral material and publications that are being used to inform stakeholders and media about our programme work.
• Plan’s global and regional reports/publications are produced to high quality and adequately promoted to media, development peers and other internal and external audiences.

3- Ensuring internal communication and information

Plan Asia’s staff feels well connected to the global organisation, its vision, mission and objectives

Indicators will include:

• Plan Asia’s internal communication efforts result in increased reporting about our work on IH, and NO websites and efficiently support fundraising efforts, particularly for emergencies.
• Plan staff in Asia feel connected to the organisation through efficient management of the regional and global team briefing process, Planet and other internal communication measures.
• Communications resources from programmes and communities in Plan Asia are well represented on Plan’s internal channels, including the Media Bank library and Planet.

4- Compliance with global standards

Plan’s Global Identity and communication guidelines are consistently applied and respected 

• Plan’s emergency response communication is professionally and efficiently managed responding to organisational and global standards.
• Plan International’s new brand is rolled out in accordance with global guidelines at the RO level and in Plan Asia country offices.
• Brand compliance is monitored and enforced across the region.
• All staff in the regional office are kept informed of the brand roll out and the application of this to their work priorities.
• Plan is a communications first-responder to emergencies in areas that we work.
• Country communications  and RO staff have been adequately trained on Plan’s global identity guidelines and apply it consistently.

Dealing with Problems:

Complexity of problems handled & the degree of investigation, analysis, & creative thinking required to solve them

• The Regional Communications Manager is a pivotal position that has to deal with diverse demands and pressure from different parts of the organisation to often tight deadlines: CO, NO  and IH’s communication needs must be satisfied with a small team. 
  

• Crisis communications are required to deal with emergent issues from the regional office, country offices, IH, and national offices as they pertain to Plan’s work in Asia. The Regional Communications Manager needs to be able to provide strategic, informed advice and messaging to senior staff in Plan which reflect Plan’s organisational and programmatic goals and culture and is mindful of the diverse political conditions and sensitivities in countries across the region.

• Country communication staff tend to be overstretched. The ability to prioritise and maintain focus while still demonstrating high levels of customer orientation are thus key for the regional communications manager.

Communications and Working Relationships:

Working contacts inside and outside the organisation; include the purpose and level (high, medium, low) of the contact

High Level Contact:

Internal:

Regional programme team

Regional Office Management Team

Country Communications staff

IH communications team

National Organisations communication and media staff

External:

Media contacts

Medium Level contact

Internal:

Other Regional Offices’ communication staff
Country Directors

External:

Communication staff from other INGOs / UN in Asia

Contractors and consultants

Suppliers representatives

Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviors Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives:

Gained through education, training, & experience

Knowledge

• In-depth knowledge of current communications issues and trends, particularly in the humanitarian and development sector  (Masters Degree desired)
• Good knowledge of how the media and journalists work nationally, regionally and internationally, and online.
• Demonstrated experience of working as a communication manager with a focus on Asia, preferably at regional level.
• Proven experience to develop and implement communication and media strategies.
• Extensive understanding of media culture, both traditional and online, and experience in how to approach influential media outlets and journalists at a regional and international level and in donor country markets.
• Experience working in field environments, preferably in Asia, including in emergencies.
• Strong understanding of online communications, the value of digital outputs, and social media as it pertains to development and the NGO sector.
• Understanding of and experience with promoting the value of internal communications.
• Good understanding of child rights and development.

Skills

• Exceptional conceptual and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build relationships with colleagues at long distances.
• Strong skills working with colleagues across cultural and national environments, including in the field.
• Experience working with communities in Asia, including among vulnerable and disaster-affected populations.
• Strong English language writing skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation and public speaking.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask.

Behaviours

Performance:

• Creates strong sense of purpose within own part of the business and with stakeholders
• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour

Strategic thinking and delivery

• Sees contribution of own part of the organisation in wider Plan and external context
• Balances future vision with practical delivery
• Provides strategic advice to senior management
• Able to promote Plan’s presence and brand externally

Influencing

• Effectively reaches out and influences large groups of people

• Understand media culture across mediums and national borders

Learning

• Supports learning, sharing and knowledge management

Self Awareness

• Diplomatic and service oriented
• Aware of different levels of capacity and respectful and supportive of local knowledge
• Adherence to child protection policies at all times. 

Physical Environment and Demands:

May be “typical office environment”; note if heavy lifting, climbing, excess travel, etc. 

Frequent traveling within and outside the region, including long distance land and boat-based travel.

Frequent travel to field environments

Travel to disaster-affected areas, including severely affected areas.

Level of Contact with Children: 

Medium contact:     Occasional direct interaction with children

Application Process :

Please send your CV and a covering letter explain why you should be offered this job to PlanAsia.JobVacancies@plan-international.org by 5.00 pm local time Bangkok on Wednesday 08 July 2015. Please state clearly in the subject title of the E-mail the job you are applying for.

All applications are kept as a strictly confidential matter

For more information : Please contact