Communications Specialist at UN Women

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

Lead the development and implementation of communication and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans for the region, including for MCOs and COs:


Conduct communication needs assessments for Regional Office, including projects, programmes and corporate change initiatives;
Design, develop, and implement communication and outreach/advocacy strategies, including media strategies; ensure gender perspective;
Integrate communication, advocacy and outreach strategies into proposals for project/programmes and other initiatives;
Participate in UN inter-agency Communications Group meetings and contribute to UN system efforts;
Launch in-country UN Women/ UN system corporate and local/regional campaigns and special events;
Provide advice and guidance to and coordinate with CO/ MCOs in the region.


Lead the development and dissemination of public advocacy materials for the region:


Develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and articles and coordinate its dissemination through effective channels according to UN Women corporate standards;
Identify and leverage opportunities, activities, approaches and platforms and partners;
Provide advice on advocacy materials and coordinate launch of flagship initiatives and publications in the region;
Lead the engagement and supervision of video producers and other communication specialists to produce audio/ visual material on UN Women's regional work;
Develop brochures, factsheets, stories from the field to inform media and general public at the regional level;
Follow guidelines from and report to HQ.


Coordinate regional communication knowledge building and sharing initiatives:


Coordinate with HQ Communications regularly, through meetings, updates and calls to ensure timely adaptation of corporate communications priorities;
Attend trainings hosted by HQ Communications, to stay abreast of corporate policies and workflows;
Ensure leadership and coordination from the Region to communications personnel in MCOs and COs in the region;
Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy as appropriate to MCOs and COs, based on corporate communications policies;
Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned from RO, COs and MCOs ensure exchange of information;
Monitor and analyze media, web and social media and prepare analytical reports.


Manage web, social media and news media relations for the Regional Office:


Ensure media strategies are implemented in line with corporate guidelines to enhance the positioning of UN Women with the media, with a special focus on regional priority areas of concern;
Lead relationship building with press in country; maintain and update database of relevant contact;
Respond timely and clearly to media inquiries and to a variety of inquiries and information requests; identify impactful success stories/ issues, media talking points, news-related development, and coverage of interest;
Facilitate interviews with senior and thematic managers; connect media with UN Women subject experts;
Pitch and write impactful programme stories for corporate platforms: global website, social media channels regularly;
Provide technical and coordination support to the expansion of UN Women's Media Compact in the region;
Organize press conferences, and press briefing sessions with internal experts and external partners.


Build and maintain communications and advocacy focused partnerships:


Identify and develop new communication partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility; manage and nurture existing partnerships;
Liaise with advocacy partners and undertake outreach to civil society organizations, governments, and other groups to ensure that newsworthy information reaches the public and donors;
Guide and collaborate closely with communication colleagues in other offices to ensure consistency with corporate policies, messaging and initiatives;
Provide inputs to resource mobilization leads with programme/ results-oriented communications.


Oversee the RO's web/online presence and social media platforms:


Oversee and maintain (regional) websites, including developing content regularly;
Keep the RO's web-presence updated and in the line with corporate web policy;
Oversee and manage (regional) social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy;
Coordinate the management of regional social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy or provides inputs to global corporate social media accounts.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent will lead a team of two personnel.


Competencies :

Core Values:


Integrity;
Professionalism;
Respect for Diversity.


Core Competencies:


Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
Accountability;
Creative Problem Solving;
Effective Communication;
Inclusive Collaboration;
Stakeholder Engagement;
Leading by Example.


Functional Competencies:


Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively, and creatively across different constituencies;
Strong knowledge of managing web-based knowledge management systems;
Strong understanding of production, graphic design, and photography standards;
Strong knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreach;
Strong oral and written communication and editing skills;
Strong communication, networking, and advocacy skills;
Ability to provide advice and be strategic and analytical;
Good knowledge of local country media landscape;
Knowledge of gender and human rights issues is desirable.


Required Qualifications:

Education and Certification


Master's degree (or equivalent) in communications, public relations, journalism or relevant field is required;
A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.


Experience:


At least 5 years of professional work experience at national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy, including in media relations is required;
Experience in the use of social media is required;
Experience in media relations is desirable.