Communication Specialist (High Value Partnerships) – P3

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job ? it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

UNICEF’s Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) Division works to deliver income, influence, and brand recognition for UNICEF globally. Within the PFP Division, the Communication for Partnerships (C4P) unit provides communication support, visibility, and recognition to high-value private sector partners. C4P’s role is to design and drive compelling joint communication plans and frameworks from initial engagement and throughout the life of each global partnership in collaboration with National Committees and country offices with high-value fundraising operations. The C4P unit works to mitigate reputational risks and manage communication responses linked to reputational issues for high-value partnerships (businesses, foundations, high net-worth individuals, membership, and faith-based organizations).

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

 

For every child, a Champion

Reporting to the Communication Manager (Partnerships), this role will work closely with PFP’s high-value partnerships teams, due diligence team, the content team as well as teams in the Programme Group, regional and country offices. In addition, this role will work in close collaboration with National Committees from the earliest stages of partnership negotiation to understand and manage partner expectations and goals and take these into account when designing the partnership communication strategy and plan.

 

How can you make a difference? 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Increase visibility and awareness of UNICEF’s private sector partnerships:

Provides strategic direction to communication and visibility linked to global high-value partnerships, ensuring that related activities are in line with PFP’s fundraising, advocacy, and brand positioning objectives as well as UNICEF’s ethical and brand guidelines. Ensures effective profiling of partners through UNICEF external global channels (website, reports, and social media channels) to ensure visibility and recognition of partner investment.

Develop and support implementation of communication activities for partnerships:

In close coordination with high value fundraising teams in PFP and the National Committees, reviews or develops communication materials such as news releases, op-eds, blogs, social media posts, briefing notes, talking points, partnership question & answer (Q&A) documents, partner communication materials referencing UNICEF; coordinates with media/PR specialist (country support and development team) and the Division of Global Communication and Advocacy (DGCA) regarding global media outreach. Sources or facilitates the development of engaging content for partners’ internal and external communication channels. Assists in the planning, coordination, and implementation of launch plans for high value partnerships.

Monitor and manage reputational risk:

Provides communication parameters aligned to due diligence recommendations for sensitive or high-risk partnerships at the initial and launch phase. In close consultation with the National Committees, country offices and other units in the Media and PR Services Section, manages communication around risk issues linked to partner engagement, contributes to the prevention of media/PR crises, and works with internal stakeholders, high-value fundraisers, partners, the National Committees, and PR agencies to successfully manage crisis response when required.

Knowledge sharing:

Creates, maintains, and updates organizational policies to guide global communication around UNICEF’s partnership and engagement with the private sector, in coordination with internal stakeholders, other UNICEF divisions, the National Committees, regional and country offices.

Provide team leadership for partnership communication requirements of new business or existing high value partners:

Under the guidance of the Communication Manager (Partnerships), leads on strategic direction for partnership communication for all new or existing high value partners. Monitors team member performance and ensures appropriate development and training of staff. Provides support and guidance to staff and leadership to foster and maintain staff engagement, motivation, and sound staff-management relations.

 

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have?

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Public Relations, Marketing, Communication, Journalism, Management, or another relevant technical field.
• Alternatively, a first-level university degree in a relevant field combined with two (2) additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five years of experience working in the field of communication, partnership management, or marketing is required.
• Experience in developing and implementing communication and risk mitigation strategies is required.
• Experience in writing news releases, feature stories, social media planning, and execution is required.
• Experience in working with foundations or public and private sector partners and donors on communication and public relations is required.
• Supervisory experience is considered as an asset.
• Experience working in the UN/UNICEF Country Office, Regional Office, or other UNICEF Divisions is considered as an asset.
• Familiarity with the work of UNICEF National Committees is considered as an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.

 

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are?

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility tendersglobal.net UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

 

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

 

How cinfo Can Support You in the Application Process for This Position

• Application and Interview Preparation: Whether you’re preparing your application documents or getting ready for an interview, you can book a Job Application Support session to receive tailored guidance.
• For Swiss nationals invited to the first round of the selection process (e.g., written test, interview, assessment center): Notify us at recruitment@cinfo.ch, and we will inform our HR partners in the respective organization and the Swiss Government to help increase your visibility.