Communications Officer

Innovative Human Rights NGO Seeks Communications Officer

About Asylum Access

We are human rights advocates who support forcibly displaced individuals and communities as they reclaim their rights, agency, and power. Our unique combination of legal empowerment, policy advocacy, and global systems change creates conditions in which refugees can live safely, move freely, work legally, and go to school. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian handouts to a sustainable solution that honors refugees’ freedom, dignity, and autonomy, and equips them to make choices about their own lives.

Asylum Access’ global team and family of local civil society organizations advocate making human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Our national organizations are led and staffed primarily by community members in those countries, and there is strong mutual trust and respect between us and our clients. On the international stage, we work with established institutions to shift the global system to better uphold and promote refugees’ human rights. We can help catalyze and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance.

Position Responsibilities:

The Communications Officer role will spend approximately time allocated as below. Duties may include but are not limited to:

Communications (70%): 

• Collaborate with AAM’s Executive Director to develop and Implement AAM’s Communications Strategy

• Manage AAM partnership email & responding to inquiries

• Liaise and coordinate with different partners on social media campaigns

• Liaise with HQ communications team to provide information about AAM’s work

• Foster relationships with the media including journalists

• Oversee the collection and storage of information about our work in the form of success stories, photos, quotes by clients, partners and other stakeholders for use in AAM’s advocacy work, reporting and general communications

• Liaise with AAM interpreters on materials translations

• Coordinate AAM external engagement activities related to communications and campaigns with external stakeholders

• Collaborate with other departments (Legal Services and Community Outreach) to write client success stories and other social media contents

• Write blogs, fact sheets, and other materials amplifying the experiences of refugees and human rights advocates to global and Malaysian audiences.

• Help conceive, create, and edit videos, including video-based training materials for refugees

• Photograph and film events

• Assist in communications work to raise awareness of and gain assistance from the general public in the country of operations on refugee situations and refugee rights

• Assist with awareness raising activities, which includes training, meetings, or webinars, to enhance knowledge of refugee issues for the diplomatic missions and relevant government officials

• Design institutional print and digital materials for AAM, such as research reports, fact sheets, annual reports, fundraising appeals, brochures, business cards, branded promotional materials, and other collateral.

• Undertake other responsibilities related to communications as assigned by the Executive Director

• Digital Content Management

• Maintain AAM’s social media accounts including but not limited to: Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and Youtube;

• Manage and generate regular content posts on all platforms such as content writing, media graphics, infographics, data visualizations, blog, article, and other creative assets on AAM’s social media;

• Communicate ideas and information via media platforms by sharing updates from other Asylum Access offices and sharing relevant articles to any respective audiences;

• Manage AAM’s Intranet page and AA blog including creating, writing articles and publishing contents;

• Manage and answer comments posted and messages sent to the AAM’s social media account;

Miscellaneous (30%):

• Work closely with the Special Projects Officer on ad-hoc projects such as digital security, internal systems, Shared Drive and surveys.

• Maintain data security and data management throughout all stages of AAM’s programs and activities.

• Produce creative designs and written content for a wide variety of print and digital projects, including but not limited to digital newsletters, e-blasts, event collateral as needed, etc

• As needed, create and edit content related to fundraising campaigns, such as annual appeals.

Reports to: Executive Director of AAM

Minimum Qualifications

• Fluency in English and Malay (both written and verbal skills);
• Communication Skills: Effective verbal and written communication skills, with ability to collaborate with prospective stakeholders
• Proven experience in communications, multimedia, and graphic design for digital content;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the local context in the area of migration and refugee rights
• Good knowledge of Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar, Docs) and Microsoft Office
• Excellent knowledge of graphic design softwares such as Canva, Adobe Illustrator, etc
• Good video editing skills
• Interest in international human rights and/or refugee rights and/or related issues
• Motivation towards Asylum Access Malaysia's mission, vision and approach to work
• Ability to organize and work with diverse and multicultural teams

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 1 year of experience in communications and media
• Proven experience in building communications plans and strategies
• Notable initiative and ability to take ownership of projects, manage multiple deadlines, and work effectively, independently and in a team environment.
• Photography Equipment Ownership: While owning a camera is not mandatory, it is considered a valuable bonus for this position;
• Multimedia Skills: Experience with videography, audio recording, or other multimedia skills can be advantageous;
• Digital Marketing Knowledge: Familiarity with digital marketing concepts, including social media platforms and content creation, can be beneficial.

Start Date: As soon as possible.

Salary and Benefits

The position comes with a competitive non-profit salary, and a robust benefits package including paid time off.

Hours and Location of Work

We anticipate this position will require 40 working hours per week, with the occasional requirement to work outside of normal business hours for events, meetings, and other work-related commitments. This is a full-time position based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Instructions to Apply

Upload a cover letter, resume, and portfolios. In your cover letter, please describe your reasons for applying, relevant qualifications, and how this position with AAM fits into your career plans. 

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the recruitment process.

Asylum Access is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value the expense of those who have experienced displacement and encourage people with such lived experiences to apply. For more information about our organization, visit www.asylumaccess.org.