Digital Communication Specialist, (P-4), Bangkok, Thailand, East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, # 129103

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.

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

For every child, an advocate

This post sits within the Communication and Advocacy Section of the East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO). In supporting Country Offices to progress on UNICEF vision, mandate and commitment, the Communication and Advocacy section of EAPRO serves as the centre of excellence in advocacy, communication and brand. 

EAP region is home to over 40 per cent of the world’s social media users and to some of the world’s leading social media platforms. Across the region, an increasing number of people – particularly youth – are connecting to the internet, joining social media networks and spending a growing amount of time online. 

To keep up with this fast-changing digital environment and identify and seize the opportunities that it presents, EAPRO developed the Digital Communication Strategy 2022–2025. The Digital Communications Specialist will be responsible for implementing the strategy as a means of reaching and engaging a huge and expanding audience around child rights issues.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the guidance of the Regional Chief of Advocacy and Communication, this position is responsible for leading the strategic approach to, and implementation of UNICEF’s digital communication strategy across regional digital platforms and supporting country offices in digital communication capacity. The position is also responsible for leading digital partnerships with strategic digital platforms and providing analytical insights around performance on those platforms. The role’s objectives cover increasing supporter engagement and partner support through major digital advocacy priorities and ongoing digital dialogue.

A key responsibility of the role is to support country offices (COs) in the development and execution of their digital strategies and integration with digital fundraising efforts. The post will regularly provide strategic guidance, advice and direct support to COs, especially those with limited staffing and/or experiencing complex crises or rapid onset emergencies. The post will provide regular capacity building sessions to the regional network.

Since East Asia and the Pacific is home to some of UNICEF’s most demanding and advanced fundraising markets, this position is also responsible for ensuring close integration between UNICEF’s digital communications and fundraising activities. 

Other responsibilities include advancing EAPRO’s work on emerging digital platforms, and leading the strengthening of internal digital communication skills, dexterity and culture within divisions and offices in the region to promote the use of recent technologies and innovative approaches and ensure the organization stays relevant for a new generation of supporters. This position will also work closely with colleagues leading the web and editorial functions to create user journeys, ensure a seamless digital experience for followers and supporters, and boost traffic and retention across all regional online platforms.

The position will also contribute to efforts to strength recognition of the UNICEF brand in middle and high middle income countries in EAP. Recent barometers show a dip in brand recognition and affinity in some key countries in EAP, which will need to be addressed, particularly through stepped up and better integrated digital and youth engagement strategies, for UNICEF to stay relevant over the long term.

The post actively identifies and maintains relationships and partnerships with key actors in the private sector digital space, including Meta, Google, X, TikTok and many others. These partnerships contribute to the development and implementation of the section’s various initiatives across digital platforms, including social media.

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

• Digital Strategy Implementation
• Capacity Building and Support to Country Offices
• Digital Content Creation and Quality Control
• Marketing Strategy Lead for Advocacy Priority Campaigns
• Monitoring and Evaluation of Marketing Strategies
• Influencer Engagement
• Management of Digital Unit

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in Communications, Marketing, Digital Media, International Relations or related fields.  (A first-level university degree in above fields plus at least two years of additional demonstrated professional experience in digital communications or digital editorial fields may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree).

• Work Experience, Skills and Knowledge:
  • Minimum eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience (or ten years of experience with an undergraduate university degree) in communications or social media field, including at least five years involving online media and digital communications.
  • Extensive knowledge of digital communications, social media engagement, digital marketing and civic engagement.
  • In-depth knowledge of the global digital landscape.
  • Demonstrated ability to monitor, rapidly identify, and strategically mitigate and manage digital risk.
  • Ability to think strategically and analyze the impact of global and regional current affairs on digital trends and on UNICEF’s broader positioning in the region.
  • Experienced and current in digital content and audience trends.  Ability to relate to traditional and new media.
  • Experience using software and applications relevant to the position, including digital and social media marketing and management tools, social listening tools and analytics platforms
  • Knowledge of current best practices in digital communication strategy and engagement and knowledge of best-in-class digital media platforms.
  • Strong ability to write and edit external communication materials in English; ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and concisely in written and oral form.

• Language Requirements: Excellent written and oral English is required. Working knowledge of language spoken in the East Asia & Pacific Region would be an asset.

Desirables:

• 2 years International and/or international field experience preferred.  Experience in humanitarian contexts is an asset.
• Experience in digital fundraising or business to business communication is an asset.
• Experience of United Nations or other international development agencies or NGOs is highly desirable.
• Ability to supervise and direct a unit of professional and support personnel.  At least 2 years of people management experience preferred.
• Knowledge of the regional digital landscape is highly desirable.

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…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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.