Strategic Communications & Engagement Coordinator

Strategic Communications & Engagement Coordinator

Full-Time 46988 - 54820 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
International Rescue Committee

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support high-stakes meetings, manage communications, and enhance Airbel's digital presence.
  • Company: Join the International Rescue Committee, a leader in humanitarian aid since 1933.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work options, and comprehensive benefits package.
  • Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference by telling impactful stories that resonate globally.
  • Qualifications: Strong communication skills and experience in strategic engagement required.

The predicted salary is between 46988 - 54820 £ per year.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions.

The Airbel Impact Lab is the IRC’s “R&D” unit, working to maximize the impact of every humanitarian aid dollar through rigorous testing, innovative new solutions, and evidence-based scaling. We have led the field in impact measurement and cost analysis, and we drive breakthrough innovations that achieve 10x scale potential, 2x greater impact, and 20% more cost-effectiveness than existing solutions. Our Strategy & Delivery team enables this work by building and delivering the systems, processes, and other infrastructure that help ensure the department is efficient, high-performing, and high-impact.

We are hiring a Communications & Engagement Coordinator to put Airbel's best case in front of its most important audiences. Everything in this role orbits around one through-line: Airbel's narrative and value proposition — from preparing the CRIO for high-stakes internal and external meetings, to managing the Advisory Board's biannual convenings, to maintaining Airbel's public-facing digital presence, to coordinating donor-specific pitch materials. In short, the Coordinator ensures that how Airbel tells its story is consistent, compelling, and current across every channel and audience.

The ideal candidate combines editorial judgment with operational reliability. They are a strong communicator and storyteller, with a particular talent for translating highly technical, specialized work for audiences with no grounding in our content — moving fluidly between a donor pitch deck, a leadership briefing, a LinkedIn post, and a media brief, calibrating tone and framing for each. They can also own the practical logistics that make high-stakes engagement work: coordinating inputs across teams, managing timelines, and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. If this person is great at their job, Airbel's work will be understood, valued, and supported by the audiences that matter most. It is expected that the candidate will expertly use AI tools in this work.

Major Responsibilities

  • CRIO Meeting Support
    • Provide comprehensive support to ensure the CRIO’s high-stakes meetings — both internal (e.g., CEO, Executive Board) and external — are well-prepared, including development of agendas, pre-reads, briefings, talking points, and presentations.
    • Solicit and coordinate inputs from collaborators across the department to ensure meeting materials are accurate, current, and strategically aligned.
    • Track action items and follow-through from key meetings, ensuring commitments are documented and progress is monitored.
  • Advisory Board Support
    • Own holistic management of Airbel’s biannual Advisory Board meetings: agenda-setting and planning, preparation of briefing materials, coordination of logistics, and post-meeting follow-through.
    • Develop clear, decision-ready materials that enable productive Board engagement with Airbel’s strategy and portfolio.
    • Manage ongoing Board communications and ensure timely follow-up on Board-generated action items and commitments.
  • Fundraising Engagement Support
    • Create and maintain a portfolio of pitch materials that showcase Airbel’s topline value proposition to funders, ensuring they compellingly represent current work, impact, and strategic direction.
    • Coordinate donor-specific preparation — tailoring pitch materials, developing briefing documents, and aligning content to donor interests — primarily for the CRIO, with capacity to support other senior leaders and teams as available.
    • Work closely with fundraising counterparts to ensure pitch and reporting materials are aligned and of consistently high quality.
  • Communications & Digital Presence
    • Own Airbel’s public-facing digital presence, ensuring the website and LinkedIn compellingly and accurately represent current work, team, and impact — in line with established brand guidelines.
    • Lead a reboot of Airbel's website as an early priority, ensuring it compellingly reflects current portfolio, impact, and strategic direction.
    • Manage Airbel’s LinkedIn presence: develop a lightweight content calendar, draft and publish posts, and work with subject-matter experts to develop content for specialized areas.
    • Ensure streamlined execution of Airbel’s earned media efforts by managing specialist resources (consultants and internal roles), providing the content and context needed to develop and pitch stories for media placement and speaking engagements.

Job Requirements

  • 4–6 years of experience in communications, strategic engagement, or a related role — ideally in close partnership with senior leaders in a research, policy, innovation, or humanitarian context.
  • Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex, technical content into clear, compelling narratives for non-specialist audiences.
  • Strong writing and editing skills across formats: executive briefings, pitch decks, web copy, social media, and media briefs.
  • Excellent organizational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams, track deliverables across teams, and keep complex processes on schedule.
  • Experience coordinating earned media efforts, including sufficient understanding of how stories are developed, pitched, and placed to effectively manage specialist resources.
  • Experience managing a brand’s digital presence across web and social channels, with comfort using content management systems (e.g., WordPress, Drupal, or similar).
  • Demonstrated use of AI tools in professional communications workflows (e.g., drafting, research, content production), with openness to continued experimentation and adoption.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with senior leaders, subject-matter experts, and cross-functional colleagues across cultures and time zones.

Working Environment: Hybrid or fully in-office is an option.

IRC UK strives to be an equal opportunities employer. IRC UK is committed to equality of opportunity and to non-discrimination for all job applicants and employees, and we seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, nationality, ethnic/national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability.

IRC UK welcomes applications from all candidates, including underrepresented groups and refugees who have the right to work in the UK. IRC UK will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application and/or interview process, and for essential job functions if appointed to a role.

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs.

Strategic Communications & Engagement Coordinator employer: International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises innovation and collaboration in addressing global humanitarian challenges. Employees benefit from comprehensive support for professional growth, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of millions. With a hybrid working environment and a focus on employee wellbeing, IRC fosters a supportive atmosphere where passionate change-makers can thrive.

International Rescue Committee

Contact Details:

International Rescue Committee Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Strategic Communications & Engagement Coordinator

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, especially those connected to the IRC or similar organisations. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that a job description just can't.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by practising your storytelling skills. You want to convey your experiences in a way that resonates with the mission of the IRC. Make sure you can translate your past roles into how they can benefit their work.

Tip Number 3

Showcase your digital savvy! Since the role involves managing online presence, be ready to discuss your experience with social media and content management systems. Bring examples of your work to the table!

Tip Number 4

Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining the team at the IRC and making a difference.

We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Communications & Engagement Coordinator

Exceptional Communication Skills
Storytelling Skills
Writing and Editing Skills
Organisational Skills
Coordination Skills
Experience in Strategic Engagement
Digital Presence Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Strategic Communications & Engagement Coordinator role. Highlight your relevant experience in communications and storytelling, and show how your skills align with what we’re looking for at the IRC.

Showcase Your Storytelling Skills:Since this role is all about compelling narratives, don’t shy away from demonstrating your storytelling prowess. Use examples from your past work where you’ve successfully translated complex information into engaging content for diverse audiences.

Be Organised and Detail-Oriented:We love candidates who can juggle multiple tasks without dropping the ball. In your application, mention specific instances where you’ve managed projects or coordinated teams effectively, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Apply Through Our Website:To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to see your application and get you on the path to joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at International Rescue Committee

Know Your Audience

Before the interview, research the International Rescue Committee and its Airbel Impact Lab. Understand their mission, values, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate how your skills align with their goals.

Showcase Your Storytelling Skills

Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated complex ideas to non-specialist audiences. Be ready to discuss specific instances where your storytelling made a significant impact, especially in a humanitarian or strategic context.

Be Organised and Detail-Oriented

Highlight your organisational skills by discussing how you've managed multiple projects or coordinated logistics for high-stakes meetings. Bring a portfolio of your work, including pitch materials or digital content you've created, to showcase your attention to detail.

Embrace AI Tools

Since the role requires using AI tools, be prepared to discuss your experience with them. Share examples of how you've integrated technology into your communication workflows, whether for drafting, research, or content production, and express your willingness to learn more.