Job Title: Documentaries and Features Manager
Department: Communications
Hours: 40 hours full time
Reports to: Media Manager
Location: London
Duration: Permanent
Salary Grade: 3.1
Salary: £35,003.56 per annum


MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES/DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS (MSF)

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is an independent and international medical humanitarian organisation. In over 60 countries worldwide, we provide life-saving emergency relief, including epidemic control, war surgery, nutritional assistance and primary healthcare.

MSF offers impartial assistance, based on need alone, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, creed or political affiliation. To maintain its independence from political interference, MSF relies on donations from private individuals for the majority of its income. This private funding gives us the freedom to respond to the greatest needs as quickly and independently as possible.

MSF UK/IE is one of 24 offices in Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Australasia, pooling funding, expertise and staff for field operations. MSF UK/IE works predominantly as part of Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA), a partnership between MSF Holland, MSF UK and MSF Germany. Around 3,000 people volunteer their skills every year to work as international staff and the organisation also employs around 27,000 locally in the project locations.

MSF UK's mandate is to provide technical, medical, human resources, financial and communications support to field operations. A team of around 110 is based in London with a smaller team in Dublin.

COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

The department's purpose is to raise the profile of the organisation and its causes amongst British and international audiences via increasingly diverse media to support MSF's advocacy, recruitment and fundraising activities.

The media has long been essential to MSF's advocacy and fundraising, so our policy is one of openness and cooperation with the media. Communications staff are highly valued within the organisation and are expected to contribute actively to strategic and communication decisions.

The documentary and features manager will work very closely with all members of the communications team, but especially the other positions with direct media contact, particularly the two press officers and the media manager.

JOB PURPOSE

To raise awareness of the work and concerns of MSF with core target audiences via documentaries and features coverage in UK and international radio, print, TV and online media, with the aim of supporting the recruitment of UK field staff, increasing awareness of MSF's work and international humanitarian and/or medical issues.

Position in the organisation

Works very closely with the press team members, other members of the wider communications team and the departments in the MSF UK office such as fundraising, HR, Programmes and the Manson Unit
Alternates recruitment and supervision of the communications intern with the press officers
Reports to the Media Manager, and works closely with the wider MSF movement to source stories and develop opportunities

Scope of job

Implements, in collaboration with the media manager and other members of the UK press team, a media plan to maximise positive coverage of MSF's work and values, and related humanitarian and medical issues
Develop and maintain relationships with international and UK documentary makers, commissioners and distributors to maximise coverage of issues important to MSF
Develop and maintain a list of feature stories suitable for documentary and other features use
Acts as one of the first points of contact for UK-based media enquiries, including 24-hour 'on-call' as part of press team rota
Coordinates the flow of features-based information between the international movement, the UK office and relevant media in the UK
Maintains and develops UK press office systems and structures

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Proactively pitch story ideas to appropriate broadcast, online and print media, with a view to increasing feature coverage of MSF stories from international and UK media outlets
Lead in the development and project management of documentary projects and other A/V or TV collaborations. When required, commission cameramen and liaise with film-makers and media agencies.
Research story ideas for public communications use across the MSF teams
Maintain up to date and useful list of suitable feature stories, including identifying key protagonists and newsworthy angles.
Manage the development of particularly strong stories from the field into documentary or feature format through sourcing and co-ordinating of sub-contractors and/or journalists and MSF stakeholders
Maintains and pro-actively develops journalist contacts with UK (national, regional and local) and international media, including identifying opportunities to build new relationships with key producer contacts to secure coverage of MSF's work and related issues
Sources appropriate content from within MSF through building relationships and planning visits in order to generate media opportunities and support journalists who wish to cover our work, and disseminates resulting materials within the movement for use internally or externally
Maintains a database of active documentary and feature pitches
Contributes to and updates media contacts database of relevant documentary and feature producer/editor contacts for print, TV, online and radio
Maintains, in conjunction with the rest of the press team, press office systems and structures, including: daily media monitoring activity (of MSF's media coverage in the UK, and also of wider media interests and reporting); preparation and dissemination of weekly media planning information, both for the UK press office and for the wider MSF network; recording of updated press contacts lists and any other press office systems and structures
Maintains commitment to the aims and values of MSF through proactive involvement in and attendance at ongoing MSF UK activities and wider movement and operational activities

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential:

Substantial and significant experience in a role which involves pitching and delivering on features as well as the production or distribution of broadcast footage
Project management skills
Experience in documentary/feature research and development for documentaries, print, radio, TV and online
Good knowledge of world affairs and a demonstrable understanding of and commitment to humanitarian issues
Demonstrable experience in press office work or international journalism, including substantial understanding of, and contacts in, UK media.
Excellent verbal and written communications skills; ability to adapt style to suit a wide range of audiences; accessible, friendly telephone manner
Strong organisational skills with experience of managing multiple tasks

Desirable:

Demonstrable network of contacts within the broadcast arena, including production houses, broadcast channels, online outlets, and distribution agencies
Previous work experience with MSF or a similar medical or humanitarian organisation
Previous work experience in developing countries or unstable environments an advantage
Knowledge/experience of audio visual editing packages and industry standards
Ability to speak other languages such as French and/or Arabic


Candidates must hold an appropriate passport or permit to work in the UK