Public Relations Liaison
• CDD
• Dakar, Sénégal
• Publiée le 20 mars 2019
• Humanitaire & Bénévolat

Africa Mercy (Hospital Ship)
The Africa Mercy (Hospital Ship) is recruiting a Public Relations Liaison
• Minimum commitment : 12 months
• Typical Service commitment : 12-24 months
• Starting in June 2019
• Summary Description

As a unique non-profit, Mercy Ships is constantly facilitating relationships with international media and corporate/private donors for the purpose of marketing what we do and fundraising. One of the ways we develop these relationships is through inviting people to visit the ship so they can see/experience our hospital, programs, patients and crew first-hand. These trips are referred to as Media Teams (MT’s) or Vision Trips (VT’s). Media Liaisons are responsible for planning, hosting and facilitating visiting MT’s and VT’s while they stay on board which can last anywhere from 1-7 days or longer depending on the team’s needs.
Additionally, Media Liaisons are responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with in-country media as they visit the ship and off-site locations for various functions like arrivals ceremonies, Presidential/diplomatic visits, etc…

Essential Duties and Responsibilities of the Public Relations Liaison
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily:

Primary Role
Media Liaisons act as the primary point of contact for ship department heads in relation to meeting the needs of visiting teams as they experience life on board and the work we do. This entails the complete planning, coordinating, hosting, and managing of international media teams and vision trip guests (corporate and high profile donors, board members and national office directors) onboard the vessel. These responsibilities include but are not limited to:
1. Liaise with the International Media Relations Manager and the Executive Assistant to Mercy Ships Global Director on all up and coming media visits and vision trips onboard a Mercy Ships vessel
2. Planning/confirming schedules both ahead of time via email/Skype meetings as well as throughout the visiting teams’ stay on board
3. Securing permissions and meeting set ups between vision/media team guests and crew as well as scheduling patient visits/interviews in the hospital adhering to patient privacy policies and procedures on board
4. Complete feedback reports and submit them to the International Media Relations Manager and the Executive Assistant to Mercy Ships Global Director

Secondary Role:
• Build up and maintain a network with media of the host country
• Conduct ship tours with local and international media groups as well as other VIP guests
• Attend Mercy Ships functions (both on and off ship) where media are expected in order to provide press materials/hosting/translations
• Keep up with the local press reporting on MS activities, plan/assist at press gatherings, write statements/releases for the press, Managing Director, etc.

Additional:
• Attend 2-3 weekly team meetings
• Assist the Communications Director and/or Executive Team as needed
• Provide additional support to the Communications Team (e.g.- going on patient home visits, driving, translating, etc.)
• Due to the ever changing staffing levels and field service rotations, all staff may be re-assigned to temporarily fill roles in other departments in a time of Need

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Requirements)

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required:
• Supportive of Mercy Ships mission and vision, and committed to its core values
• Understand and apply servant leadership, work collaboratively with integrity and demonstrate accountability
• Able to live in and contribute to community life, requiring stable and healthy interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate in a clear, responsive, and professional manner (verbally and in written correspondence) as most of your job is about maintaining good rapport with the crew and teams that you serve via face to face interactions, skype calls, and email
• Flexible and adaptable attitude required as teams’ schedules and requests change frequently and often with little-to-no notice
• Excellent organizational and multitask management skills in order to keep up-to-date with guests schedules, a high volume of emails, and other job duties.
• Must be a quick study on Mercy Ships history and ongoing work/programs so that you can represent who we are to the local media and the teams you host with professionalism and accuracy
• Ability to adjust to a flexible work schedule (one week with longer hours, one week with shorter hours and occasionally on the weekends)
• Exhibit a friendly/approachable demeanor and enjoy meeting new people
• Ability to maintain and build up professional relationships with visiting guests and ship management
• Demonstrate interpersonal maturity, tact, a professional demeanor, and grace under pressure as you will host VIP/High Profile guests as well as media team directors, journalists, etc.
• Ability to work on projects independently as well as be a team player
Act as a ship’s driver which requires a valid driver’s license, IDP (International Driver’s Permit), and ability to drive a manual transmission (stick shift) vehicle

Education and Experience

The requirements listed below are representative of the education and / or experience required:
• Successful completion of On Boarding Program is required
• Some completed college education preferred.
• Minimum High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) and; one year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Knowledge of and ability to speak conversational French preferred