| position summary: | PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps helps people turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve. Driven by local needs, our programs provide communities in the world’s toughest places – places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Haiti – with the tools and support they need to transform their own lives.
Resource Development (RD) staff work in 3 main areas: 1) raising private funds and cultivating and maintaining relationships with private donors; 2) defining the agency’s brand, raising our public profile and sharing stories about our work by engaging with the media, the public and our supporters and producing a wide range of online and offline communications and 3) teaching Portland Action Center visitors about issues of global poverty and engaging them in efforts to end it.
The RD team includes several dozen dynamic professionals who possess a wide range of skills. We are database managers, web developers, Internet marketers and public relations experts. We are writers, designers, photographers and teachers. We are fundraisers with expertise in direct response, online, community, major gift and corporate giving. We are specialists in fundraising analysis, stewardship, prospecting and customer service. Most of all, we are passionate about Mercy Corps’ mission and dedicated to supporting our worldwide team that’s improving the lives of 19 million people in 36 countries.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Online Content Manager serves as managing editor of the Mercy Corps website. This person is responsible for creating a rich content experience for our online audience. He/she is a content strategist who sets the editorial calendar and conceives and executes multimedia story packages that entertain, engage and educate key constituencies, polishing content from the field and other sources. He/she is an enterprising content producer, who can conceive and produce multimedia stories from first- and second-hand interviews and reporting, as well as a copywriter who can quickly produce spot-on, motivational copy for products ranging from fundraising emails to event invitations.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
• Develop and manage content strategy for mercycorps.org, with the goal of engaging site visitors and social media audiences.
• Conceive and produce content using a variety of online media, including stories, audio/photo essays and videos.
• Solicit and edit content from Mercy Corps staff — assigning and shaping stories, editing copy and visuals, writing headlines, etc.
• Manage day-to-day editorial content on site according to fundraising goals, branding goals and site analytics.
• Fulfill content needs of other marketing team colleagues, including occasional copywriting for emails, ads, social-media channels and offline donor communications.
• Stay abreast of the best practices and trends in online content.
• Take occasional trips to report firsthand on Mercy Corps programs around the world.
• Contribute to overall success of Mercy Corps' marketing team by participating in strategy discussions, sharing ideas, relevant experiences and industry best practices.
Organizational Learning:
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries:
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None
ACCOUNTABILITY: REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Website, Content and Services Team Manager
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Drupal Developer, Senior Interactive Designer, Online Marketing Officer
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
• B.A. or B.S. in a related field required.
• Three years’ experience creating and/or managing online content (journalism, public relations or marketing) required.
• Previous experience reporting and writing firsthand enterprise stories required.
• Editorial experience that includes directing coverage, copy editing and headline writing.
• Working knowledge of technical aspects of online content management, including basic HTML, preferably in a Drupal environment.
• Demonstrated ability to create content that persuades a reader to take action on behalf of a cause or organization.
• Familiarity with using site analytics to inform editorial decisions.
• Ability to occasionally gather content firsthand, in often-challenging locations.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
A successful candidate will have an ability to dig to find and report stories of interest to our audience and produce a variety of compelling multimedia content for online audiences. S/he will have a strong sense of content that’s best suited to engage our audience online, including on social media that will compel people to take action. Demonstration of excellent news judgment as well as collaboration with other writers, designers and developers and marketing colleagues are essential, as is an ability to write and edit a wide variety of content types, from feature stories to ad copy to headlines. A demonstrated attention to detail, ability to meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members will be necessary.
LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
This position is based in Portland, OR with occasional international travel (5-10%). Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues. |
