Digital Communication Specialist

How can you make a difference?

As more people join U-Report through digital channels, it is increasingly important that UNICEF can utilize data collected through the U-Report platform to support advocacy efforts and inform strategic platform developments and growth. The Digital Communication Specialist is expected to work with internal and external partners and stakeholders to maximize the use of data to deliver on goals and objectives, and to integrate latest technological developments to enhance the U-Report platform.

U-Report product development

Manage and oversee the RapidPro platform for U-Report, including creating and maintaining chatbots and polls.

• Collaborate with UNICEF teams and U-Reporters to design interactive and user-friendly chat flows and polls and ensure U-Report user experience is regularly updated and optimized.
• Continuously analyze and optimize user interactions, improving efficiency and satisfaction.

Architect solutions to common digital problems faced by U-Report projects and leading the productization of those solutions for digital reliability and scalability at the country office level.

• Further develop functionality and sophistication of U-Report technology to better serve young people based on their feedback and demands. In close collaboration with ICTD, identify business and functional requirements in the product development and roadmap for key systems components including but not limited to RapidPro, supporting messaging platforms, the U-Report Mobile App, data dashboards etc.
• Work with internal and external partners to integrate up to date technology into the U-Report platform, including use of Artificial Intelligence solutions.
• Work with ICTD-RapidPro, RapidPro vendors and country offices to ensure that CO RapidPro workspaces are optimized and compliant with U-Report privacy policy and UNICEF safeguarding guidelines.
• Maintain platform documentation and ensure all workflows are properly documented.

Lead on the technical development and delivery of U-Report Global Coordinated actions and responses to emergencies – and providing support to country office and regional office-led actions.

Data analysis and evidence generation

• Lead on data analytics functionality and actual data synthesis, analysis and presentation for specific assigned purposes, overseeing the work of the Data Digital Communications Officer;
• Coordinate contributions to the data work, application and integration within UNICEF’s broader data work (with DAPM) and programme work (with PD and EMOPS).
• Increase U-Report’s ability to evaluate trends in engagement and identify the positive and negative outcomes of changes in the U-Report platform.
• Contribute to developing business requirements for the required data architecture, infrastructure, warehousing and dashboard development, with ICTD.
• Build, manage and evaluate campaign performance using advanced RapidPro techniques.
• Support the Digital Communications Specialist with dissemination of U-Reports results delivered/accelerated by and with young people through UReport internally and externally.

Support country office scale and delivery

• Support the Digital Communications Specialist – Country Support to proactively expand digital scale support offering into new territories through technical support and guidance.
• Assist countries by responding to technical support requests.

Knowledge management and capacity building

• Globally consolidate technical learnings from U-Report to inform capacity building.
• Document best practices and lessons learned in working with COs and developing training materials based on digital and data learnings.

Impact of Results:

The expected results are:

• Enhanced understanding of U-Report data and analytics which can be used for advocacy and to inform strategic decisions for the development and growth of the platform; as well as more effective utilization of the platform at country level.
• Improved technical usage of the U-Report platform by countries – while ensuring adherence to privacy and safeguarding policies – to deliver results for programmes who operate U-Report and the programmes and partners with which they collaborate.
• Growth in the technical functionality of U-Report and scale in number of participants (U-Reporters).

This in turn contributes to maintaining/enhancing the credibility and ability of UNICEF to engage young people in sustainable, scalable and meaningful activities to advance children’s rights.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education requirements:

• An advanced university degree in Communications, Marketing, Business, Computer Science, Journalism, International Relations, International Development, or another related field is required.
• or A first level university degree with an additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience required:

• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience in digital communications focused on young people, mobile messaging products including chatbots, using data analysis, and data-driven strategy development is highly desired.
• Experience conducting statistical analysis of raw data, data sets utilizing multiple languages, and data sets collected from multiple differently designed surveys.
• Experience in data protection and user privacy – including development of and operational adherence to privacy policies and data protection laws.
• Experience working with RapidPro and proficiency with advanced features like expressions, variables, functions, and the API is highly desirable.
• Experience in building and maintaining a network of stakeholders, and in working with coalitions.
• Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex ideas in succinct, engaging ways through campaign narratives and creative tactics.
• Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including monitoring and evaluation of results.
• Knowledge of children’s rights, public policy, international development and humanitarian issues.
• Knowledge of child safeguarding and ethics of working with children and youth.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with experience in consensus building and in motivating cross-functional teams to meet ambitious project goals and timelines;
• Ability to work independently, has sound judgment and strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships.

Language Requirements:

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

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/576492