Communications Manager

UN-Water is the United Nations (UN) inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater related issues. The High-Level Committee on Programmes (HLCP) established UN-Water in its meeting held on 18 and 19 September 2003 in response to the need for strengthened coordination of the United Nations’ work on water and sanitation related issues. The Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) endorsed this decision at its fall 2003 session in New York. UN-Water currently counts 36 Members (UN entities) and 48 Partners (non-UN system actors).

UN-Water promotes coherence in, and coordination of, water-related UN system actions aimed at the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other relevant policy frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development and the New Urban Agenda. In so doing, UN-Water complements and adds value to existing UN initiatives by facilitating synergies and joint efforts among the implementing entities and by fostering greater co-operation and information-sharing within its constituency. UN-Water supports Member States through its three main lines of work: 1. Informing policy processes and addressing emerging issues; 2. Supporting monitoring and reporting on water and sanitation; and 3. Building knowledge and inspiring people to take action.

Role of the UN-Water Communications Manager

The UN-Water Communications Manager supports all corporate media and communications activities of UN-Water with the objective to improve the capacity of the UN system to communicate with one voice on all water- and sanitation-related matters. This is particularly important also in the context of the UN system-wide strategy for water and sanitation.

The UN-Water Communications Manager reports to the UN-Water Chief Technical Adviser and is a member of the UN-Water Technical Advisory Unit (TAU) in the UN-Water Management Team. For further information on UN-Water: www.unwater.org .

Within delegated authority, the Communications Manager will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Ensure effective corporate communications

1.1 Provide strategic input to and management of UN-Water’s corporate communications in line with the UN system-wide strategy for water and sanitation, and develop related communications plans.

1.2 Implement communication related recommendations and decisions made at the UN-Water Meetings and in the UN-Water Work Programme, in close collaboration with UN-Water Members and Partners. Serve as the UN-Water Management Team’s focal person for UN-Water’s corporate communications activities and assist the organization of UN-Water Meetings and related meetings.

1.3 With input from substantive leads, develop narrative and key messages for internal and external stakeholders to promote the work of UN-Water. Oversee the preparation of a diverse range of information and communications activities and products, evaluating results and impact, and reporting on developments, trends and attitudes.

1.4 Represent UN-Water in meetings and conferences as directed by the supervisor; fulfil speaking engagements and make presentations on UN-Water activities and advocate issues of concern. Organize media coverage and arrange for media contacts, briefings, interviews. Serve as principal liaison and, when directed, as a spokesperson to media organizations and as the UN-Water communications representative in the UN Communications Group. Liaise with the UN Department of Global Communications to ensure coherent communications.

1.5 Identify opportunities for and support UN-Water’s involvement and presence at relevant international events and processes. Ensure collaboration, planning, preparation and implementation of side events at relevant international events.

1.6 Provide advice and expertise to the UN-Water Chief Technical Adviser on a range of strategic communications issues, methods, and approaches. Anticipate and resolve communications/public relations issues/problems as required.

1.7 Manage the communications resources (e.g., consultants and budget) in areas such as digital development; social media, web development; copy editing, writing, illustrations and layout and audio-visual communication.

1.8 Research, write, edit and coordinate UN-Water Management Team’s speeches, UN-Water press releases, articles, features, opinion editorials and other information products on a broad range of issues, and for a variety of media and channels.

1.9 Direct the curation of digital solutions and innovation support efforts to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Translate digital technology into informative, digestible content and promote on relevant platforms as required.

1.10 Coordinate and maintain the UN-Water communications network. Contribute to the implementation of communication activities that are part of the UN-Water’s internal knowledge management practice to encourage collaboration and engagement across geographic boundaries.

2. Strengthen UN-Water branding and coordinate publications

2.1 Manage and coordinate UN-Water’s publications planning.

2.2 Lead the development and implementation of communications strategies, develop narratives, key messages and dissemination plans for UN-Water reports and publications.

2.3 Strengthen UN-Water branding, including providing guidance as recommended in the UN-Water publications policy. Ensure visual consistency in products.

2.4 Oversee layout, editing and translation of UN-Water corporate products and some UN-Water technical and thematic products presenting the UN-Water visual identifier alone.

2.5 Oversee the production of publication related promotional materials for print/electronic/voice/visual media.

3. Coordinate relevant engagement campaigns and international observances

3.1 Manage the strategic and operational coordination of the global communications campaigns World Water Day, World Toilet Day and Water Action Decade by working closely with relevant UN-Water Task Forces and Expert Groups.

3.2 Coordinate with UN-Water Members and Partners and other stakeholders to implement system-wide campaigns and to incorporate the campaign message and themes into all relevant events and products. Contribute to UN system campaigns to counter mis-and disinformation and hate speech.

3.3 Supervise and coordinate the production of print, audio and visual campaign products and their dissemination on social media and other platforms.

3.4 Form strategic partnerships to gain support and amplify campaign impact. Develop relationships with influencers, ambassadors, and stakeholders. Evaluate effectiveness and adjust strategies as required.

3.5 Identify sources and, when directed, seek funding and other assistance for major campaigns.

4. Build knowledge through digital activities

4.1 Manage UN-Water’s digital platforms, including websites and social media channels. Collaborate with the UN Department of Global Communications on World Water Day and World Toilet Day websites. Provide guidance on digital tool development and security updates and conduct ongoing monitoring and assessment as needed.

4.2 Develop and regularly align digital outreach strategy to fit public needs and new technologies. Use digital technologies to amplify UN-Water online outreach.

4.3 Make digital information available to relevant networks through strategic partnerships as directed.

4.4 Supervise relationships with expert vendors for social media analysis and web development.

5. General

Perform other related duties as required, including a variety of tasks necessary for the final delivery of UN-Water services.