Communications Manager (interim)

Lääkärit Ilman Rajoja / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Finland established an office in Finland in 2018. In six years, we have grown into a dynamic, vibrant and learning organization that has found its place in the Finnish society. The main tasks of the Finnish office are to report on humanitarian crises and raise funds to help patients in humanitarian crises around the world. Last year, we raised almost seven million euros from individuals, companies and foundations.

MSF Finland is now looking for a passionate, action-oriented Interim Communications Manager to oversee and develop our communication activities. You will need to be an experienced communicator with excellent team management skills. Do not miss this exciting challenge to be part of a small dynamic team increasing MSF’s capacity to provide humanitarian medical assistance to patients all over the world!

The position

We have built a solid foundation for communications. We have a skilled team in place and have increased our brand awareness in a short time. Your role as our communications manager is to maintain and improve our communications focusing especially on brand and positioning, developing engagement in different channels and ensuring internal cooperation with our fundraising team. You will be the supervisor of a team of three communications professionals and make sure they get the support and resources needed to succeed.

Main responsibilities:

• Responsible for implementing the overall communication strategy and plan, including monitoring targets and key performance indicators, and assessing and adapting the communications strategy and approach.
• Oversee branding strategy implementation and MSF communications guidelines. Ensure alignment of communication priorities with the MSF movement.  
• Responsible for the communications budget, monitoring expenditures to ensure cost efficiency, effectiveness and a responsible handling of finances.
• Manage and coach the members of the team and ensure all communications activities are done in a coordinated way, including with fundraising activities and support to HR.
• Responsible for crisis communications preparedness and management.
• Support to the office and movement in advocacy initiatives when relevant.
• Ensure organisation has necessary communications related systems, tools and suppliers
• Overall responsible for communication data protection and privacy processes.
• Focal point for MSF movement communications networks and platforms, and networking in Finland with relevant actors.
• As a member of Management Team, support and develop MSF Finland’s overall strategic goals.

We are looking for someone with:

• Strong commitment to MSF values and principles
• Experience in communications strategies and brand building
• Excellent knowledge in communications and strategic leadership
• Experience in leading others and/or managing a team
• Experience in budget planning and monitoring
• Active participation in maintaining and promoting a healthy work culture
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken
• Academic degree or equivalent work experience in communications, journalism or other relevant areas

We also value:

• Previous MSF or other experience from a non-governmental organisation
• Fluency in Finnish, both written and spoken
• Experience in advocacy and public relations and engagement
• Experience in crisis communications and communications of sensitive contexts
• Knowledge of web publishing and social media

But in the end, what matters is that you are the right person for the job. We believe that means that you have a strong commitment to humanitarian principles and values and that you show good and responsible leadership. You can handle stressful situations and help others through them, you can plan and organise and take pride in delivering good results with high quality.

What we offer you:

• An opportunity to be part of developing a young MSF entity in Finland  
• An exciting job with one of the world's most respected humanitarian organisations
• Flexible working hours and hybrid work opportunities
• A changing work environment characterized by enthusiasm and high intensity
• A workplace that strives for diversity and equality
• A working culture that is based on collective responsibility to bring our work forward
• Support from the global MSF Movement

Conditions of employment:

Employment type: Temporary position for duration of study leave, ideally starting mid-February until mid-January 2025, with six (6) months’ probation or maximum half of the contract

Work hours: 37,5 hours work week (100%)

Salary: 4 448 euro/month

Benefits: Extensive occupational healthcare, freetime accident insurance, wellness contribution benefit (240 eur/year), lunch benefit.

Vacation: According to Annual Leave Act, Saturdays not included

Location: Our office is in Vallila, Helsinki, and we offer a possibility to flexibly combine remote and local work according to your wishes.

Entry date: Mid-February 2025 (negotiable)

Interested? Apply by 8.1.2025 with resume and cover letter in Finnish or English. We do not accept applications via email. 

For questions about the position please contact Country Director Linda Konate, +358 44 724 7387, or Communications Manager Kaisa Väkiparta, +358 44 709 1048, from December 16 to December 20.

Lääkärit Ilman Rajoja / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Finland strives to be diverse and inclusive. We invite candidates with all kind of backgrounds to apply. Our office is accessible.

Apply between 13 December 2024 and 8 January 2025 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)

Employment type: Temporary (study leave cover for 11 months)

Médecins Sans Frontières

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international emergency medical humanitarian organization founded by doctors and journalists in 1971. Our teams go where people’s needs are greatest to provide neutral, impartial, and independent emergency healthcare to people affected by disaster, disease, conflict and exclusion. MSF also bears witness, amplifying patient and staff experiences and speaking out to bring abuses and intolerable situations to the public eye. Today, 69,000 people work for MSF in over 77 countries.