Head of Advocacy, Communications, Media, & External Engagement

World Vision•Lebanon, PA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

World Vision Lebanon seeks a skilled professional to shape its efforts to influence policy; increase its national, regional, and global profile; strengthen its key stakeholder engagement and enhance its traditional and digital storytelling as its new Head of Advocacy, Communications, Media, & External Engagement. In this new role, you will have a unique opportunity to provide strategic leadership and oversight of integrated efforts for one of the largest humanitarian, recovery, and transitional development responses one of the most complex, high-profile contexts in the region. Building on WV Lebanon’s esteemed communications and media foundation, you will be expert at providing strategic thought-leadership that leverages the intersection of advocacy, communications, media, and stakeholder engagement. Represent WV Lebanon with government ministers and lead donors and lead staff to write provocative prose, capture fieldwork, and provide media interviews to influence and further awareness and action for child wellbeing and ensure protection for those most in need of our support. This role is a key advisor to the National Director and works closely with a senior leadership team to advance the organization’s strategic priorities. Reporting to the ND with a matrix reporting to the regional office, this role will manage a team of experienced communications professionals while reimagining the potential and possibility of WV Lebanon’s advocacy, communications, media, and external engagement efforts.

Requirements

Minimum bachelor’s degree in public policy, journalism, political science or related field
A minimum of 7 to 10 years of proven experience in advocacy, communications, campaigns, and/or external engagement within humanitarian or transformational development contexts.
Demonstrated experience in designing and leading integrated advocacy and communications strategies that influence policy, leverage high-impact campaigns, and cultivate and deepen complex stakeholder relationships.
Proven track record in strategic leadership roles, including advising national directors and senior staff to advance and strengthen organizational positioning.
Senior advocacy role in conflict or post-conflict, complex humanitarian response in a minimum of two countries.
Knowledge of global advocacy and policy contexts, including in the European Union, League of Arab Nations, and the United States.
Spoken, written, and reading fluency in English and Arabic is required
Availability to respond to humanitarian emergencies and operate in high-pressure contexts
Extensive experience with international NGOs, UN agencies, or multilateral organizations
Strong expertise in campaign strategy, public mobilization, and digital engagement
Experience in media relations, crisis communications, and reputational risk management
Deep understanding of Lebanon’s socio-political, economic, and policy environment
Experience working across regional and global structures in complex organizations
Familiarity with child protection, humanitarian advocacy, and rights-based approaches

Nice To Haves

preferred advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in international development, public policy, journalism, political science, or a related field

Responsibilities

Lead the design and delivery of integrated advocacy, communications, and external engagement strategy to influence policy and deliver on Our Promise for the protection and wellbeing of children.
Ensure country strategy also reflects clear advocacy, communications and external engagement objectives as well as clear OIOS indicators in line with programming priorities.
Advise the National Director and senior management team on external positioning, advocacy risks and opportunities, and effective storytelling across the humanitarian–development–peace nexus
Foster an accountable, inclusive, high-performing team grounded in humanitarian principles, child safeguarding, and security standards.
Ensure a coherent, integrated, proactive strategy for Advocacy, Communications, Media, & External Engagement across emergency response, humanitarian coordination, child protection, and development programming
Provide strategic direction for long-term context-specific policy influence and system change, developing evidence-based advocacy and research products.
Conduct situational and needs analyses to inform humanitarian policy briefs and advocacy materials on protection, education, and accountability.
Monitor policy developments, coordination mechanisms, and donor priorities to identify advocacy opportunities and risks.
Collaborate closely with PDQ, OPS and GAM departments to ensure integration of field evidence and lessons learned into donor and policy advocacy, communications, and programme design, to achieve sustainable impact.
Align country advocacy with global and regional campaign priorities and deliver relevant components of the National Strategic Plan through evidence-based policy and advocacy.
Build and maintain strategic alliances with advocacy networks, child protection forums, and humanitarian fora to ensure timely and effective advocacy.
Oversee implementation of global and national campaigns, designing agile tactics and monitoring impact to demonstrate best-in-class implementation.
Lead emergency advocacy and communications, ensuring rapid-response messaging, safe participation, and principled representation.
Ensure consistent application of branding and communication standards and oversee production of high-quality materials—policy briefs, reports, donor communications, and storytelling—to reflect WV Lebanon’s child-centred priorities through amplifying children’s voices.
Ensure quality and effective donor communications in close collaboration with GAM department and in line with donor standards and requests.
Lead and manage crisis communications effectively, in addition to timely management of risk and reputation cases in close collaboration with the comms and advocacy team, as well as safeguarding focal points.
Lead timely production of digital communications, social media, press releases, and other child-focused humanitarian narratives, ensuring rapid, coordinated internal and external communications.
Lead and maintain strong media relations, at the local, regional and global levels with support from the wider World Vision partnership, to enhance visibility.
Support National Director and other senior leadership team members, as needed, in high-level diplomacy, crisis communications, and strategic advocacy with key stakeholders.
Coordinate with global and regional advocacy teams to ensure strategic priorities are aligned and evidence and data are leveraged to support child protection and wellbeing.
Design and collaborate with senior management team colleagues to cultivate partnerships with government, donors, UN agencies, civil society, and media through a principled, strategic engagement.
Lead and manage the team with clear strategic direction, measurable objectives, and active performance management.
Establish a culture of professional development and opportunity, building staff capacity through coaching, mentoring, and tailored development plans.
Foster a culture of motivation, resilience, and wellbeing, upholding protocols for staff care and flexibility.
Attend and participate in capacity building trainings locally and internationally.
Attend and participate in WVL’s spiritual nurture and other organizational events.
Responsible of own security and that of the team, and actively contribute to a positive security culture that places staff, partner, and beneficiary security and safety above all else.
Abide by the security policies and procedures and report any incidents or breaches to security director and national director.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Line Manager.