Head of Communications East and Central Europe

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 80 countries.

The Opportunity

Plan International responded to the Ukraine Crisis since March 2022, starting in countries hosting Ukrainian refugees (Moldova, Romania, Poland) and thereafter expanding humanitarian operations inside Ukraine since August 2022. Since July-August 2022, Plan International has been duly registered in Poland and Romania as national Foundations and in Moldova as a branch office of Plan International Inc, In October 2022, Plan International has also been duly registered in Ukraine as a representative office of Plan International Inc.

The post of the Head of Communications is an integral part of the Ukraine response hub, leading all strategic communications for the response and supporting Plan International to communicate effectively with key stakeholders including the media, supporters, and donors. The post holder will develop public messaging, build a strong regional communications network within the response (Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Moldova), and create high-quality comms materials for use across our network of National Organisations and in Plan International’s global channels to facilitate fundraising initiatives as well as profiling the impact of our programming and influencing.

As a member of the East and Central Europe Ukraine Crisis Response Leadership Team, you will have shared accountability, with the Heads of Mission of Poland, Romania, Moldova and the Country Director of Ukraine, the Ukraine Crisis Response Director and Ukraine Crisis Response Hub’s Head of Programme Operations, Head of Finance and Operations, and Head of People & Culture, to contribute to the overall learning and strategic direction of Plan International in the East and Central Europe region with a total budget to grow to approximately €100 million and a staff complement of about 100 people.

The Individual

You are a values-based and feminist leader, deeply comfortable with purpose driven communications, and with a demonstrable commitment to gender equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion. You understand and drive efforts to deliver positive change for girls in crisis through advocating, campaigning, and communicating at a national and international level.

You lead by example in ensuring gender equality is evident in everything we do throughout all aspects of internal and external communications and through adequate ways of working. You know how to lead your team to bring about the right culture that ensures we are champions for girls and gender equality.

You have a degree or equivalent substantial experience working in journalism, media relations or PR at an international level. Strong and effective communicator, fluent in English with ability to quickly turn around complex information into strong messages and compelling content.

Strong understanding of international humanitarian and development issues and rights-based work. You also possess practical experience of working in complex emergency settings. Good understanding of humanitarian values, principles, the Humanitarian Charter and Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

Fluency in Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, or Polish is highly desirable but not essential for the role.

Please follow this link for the full role profile: Head of Communications_ECE Jul2023.docx

Fluent written and spoken English is required in this role and therefore we would greatly appreciate CV’s and cover letters in English. 

Location: The location of this role can be flexible where Plan International has an office* that can employ on behalf of the Global Hub and you have the pre-existing right to work and live. If you are based in the UK this will be according to our hybrid working policy which we are happy to share. 

Type of Role: 1 year  Fixed term contract 

Reports to: Director Ukraine Crisis Response

Closing Date: 15 Aug 2023

*Applicable locations include: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International’s Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please note that Plan International will never send unsolicited emails requesting payment from candidates.