Communications Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in Caracas, Venezuela, and reports to Head of the RC Office. The position maintains a close working relationship with Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team, which sets the communications and advocacy priorities of the UN in the country.

Responsibilities

• Provides guidance on the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the UN Joint Advocacy and Communication Strategy in alignment with and support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UNSDCF in the country.
• Provide substantive support to the Resident Coordinator and UNCT in adapting and localizing UN Global communications and thematic advocacy priorities.
• Provide diverse material (briefing, speeches, questions and answers, etc.), technical and policy advice on highly complex communications issues related to the work in the country to the Resident Coordinator and the UNCT; provide UN Headquarters with media reports regarding highly complex conditions and public attitudes towards the UN in the country.
• Provides advice and expertise to managers, senior officers and other public information staff on a range of public affairs issues, methods, and approaches; anticipates and resolves communications/public relations issues/problems.
• Develops strategic partnerships with key constituencies to elicit support for and maximize impact of promotional objectives; serves as a spokesperson/principal liaison to media organizations, governmental bodies, national groups, private sector organizations, educational organizations, international organizations, etc.
• Prepares or oversees preparation of a diverse range of information/marketing/ communications products in support of major campaign initiatives and strategic communications actions.
• Drafts complex material for UN newsletters, social media, websites, periodicals, reports and books and edits drafts prepared by junior officers.
• Evaluates results and impact of communications activities; reports on developments, trends and attitudes regarding the UN.
• Fulfills speaking engagements and makes presentations to groups on UN activities and advocate issues of concern; organizes media coverage and arranges for media contacts, briefings, interviews; organizes seminars, lectures, conferences, public events on major issues and events concerning the UN.
• Builds information networks; plans and oversees maintenance of publicly accessible information materials on the United Nations, including the UN’s website and social media accounts; plans and develops outreach activities.
• Manages publications programme; produces materials for print/electronic/voice/visual media/social media.
• Assists in the day-to-day operation of the RCO to include participating in coordination of substantive and administrative activities of the RCO, interpreting and disseminating policy, providing procedural advice, improving reporting systems, handling operational and administrative queries, preparing budget submissions, establishing and/or coordinating training programmes and monitoring and evaluating results.
• May coordinate and direct a team of public information staff and/or mentor and supervise the work of junior officers on specific projects.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Senior manages throughout the UN, senior public information officers, operations staff and other specialists and senior managers throughout the UN, and senior officials of organs and agencies of the UN system.
• Translators, designers, printers. Bureau Chiefs, editors, journalists for major news media. Senior officials of international, regional and national organizations, senior officials in government bodies and agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses, academia and other areas of civil society.
• Results Expected: Provides sound advice and services in dealing with substantive matters concerning public information/communication operations. Develops and implements a creative approach to major communications campaigns and ensures effective design and delivery of information/communication products in accordance with overall objectives and policies. Serves as an effective spokesperson, and forms strong partnerships with relevant parties involved to engender support for and advance the institution’s public information agenda.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in development communications and advocacy, public information and/or journalism is required. Experience working in highly politically sensitive context and complex humanitarian settings, providing quality communications advise to senior officials is desired. Working experience in Latin America and the Caribbean region is desired. Previous experience in crisis management communications is desired.

Languages

• Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, (both oral and written) is required. For this position fluency in both English and Spanish is required.

Source: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/248170?language=en