Communications Assistant Job Description

Communications Assistant
ICMC Headquarters, Geneva
One‐year internship post
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) is an international non‐governmental
organization serving and protecting uprooted people–refugees, internally displaced persons and
migrants–regardless of faith, race, ethnicity or nationality. ICMC advocates for rights‐based
policies and durable solutions directly and through a worldwide network of member Bishops'
Conferences, and alongside government and non‐governmental partners. See:
http://www.icmc.net/
The Communications Assistant will join a diverse, international team at the ICMC Headquarters
in Geneva, Switzerland, and will be tasked with providing administrative, logistical and
substantive support towards efforts to concretely increase and promote the organization’s
credibility to a donor and targeted media public.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & AREAS OF ACTIVITY
Public relations and information
Ensure positive public relations at the first welcoming level:
• Manage incoming phone calls and correspondence by providing prompt, accurate and
courteous responses, and ensuring that pertinent information is forwarded to the
appropriate staff members when needed
• Provide logistical support for meetings and events organized by ICMC and its partners,
including inventory and ordering of meeting materials, compilation of background
documents and related publications, tracking of invitations and registrations where
appropriate, room reservations and set‐up, greeting guests, preparing food and
refreshments, etc.
• Keep abreast of current and upcoming ICMC and ICMC member projects, events and
activities of note; contribute to the drafting and compilation of relevant P.I. materials as
appropriate
• Support the compilation and distribution of the quarterly electronic bulletin, Migration
Matters
• In coordination with the Communications Manager, organize the dissemination and
mailing of communications messages, materials and publications sent via post and by
email, including, among others, the ICMC Annual Report, press releases, and member
fee invoices

Communications tools and services
• Ensure regular, systematic input of new contacts within the central ICMC database, and
the correction any of outdated information
• Promote the active and effective use of the database as a reference tool amongst ICMC
staff, providing training on its use when appropriate
• Assist in updating, promoting and further developing the ICMC website
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of the ICMC photo libraries for
effective use in ICMC publications, donor reports, website, etc.; follow‐up as needed to
ensure that proper permissions have been obtained for all images intended to be used
publicy
• Perform a daily review of press and social media news relating to migration issues of
concern to ICMC and its members, while leveraging targeted Google Alerts and select
daily press sources; develop a mechanism for sharing relevant items with ICMC staff and
members as appropriate
• Monitor trends in social media and perform ongoing research to identify potential ICMC
social media ‘carriers’, i.e. individuals actively blogging, tweeting, commenting, etc.
about ICMC and migration issues of interest to the organization and its members
Other tasks as requested
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & PROFILE
• Ability to commit to entirety of one‐year contract term
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French and/or Spanish;
proficiency in additional languages a plus
• High level of professionalism and ability to work effectively in a diverse international
environment and together with a small team
• Self‐starter with capacity to work autonomously, multi‐task and successfully meet
deadlines
• Experience in communications media and marketing, including web (i.e. writing for the
web, basic web editing and maintenance), social media, compiling and designing
brochures, newsletters and other promotional materials strongly preferred
Interested candidates should submit a detailed résumé (no more than 2 pages) and a letter of
motivation addressed to Mr. Johan Ketelers, Secretary General of the ICMC, to Rowena Muhic‐
Day (muhicr@mcmaster.ca) no later than June 25, 2012.