Director, Communications & Media Division, D2

Director, Communications & Media Division, D2

WFP – World Food Programme

Rome, Italy

JOB PURPOSE

As the Director of COM, you will report to the Chief of Staff and you will work under the purview of the Executive Director. You will be charged with the strategic leadership and overall direction to COM Officers working in HQ, Global Offices positioned in donor capitals, WFP’s six regional bureaux (RBs) and more than one hundred twenty country offices (COs). The Director of COM works closely with the Deputy Executive Director (DED), Assistant Executive Directors (AEDs), RBs and COs to position WFP as a trusted, efficient, effective, and innovative partner institution in the global action to end hunger and malnutrition.

In setting the strategic direction, the Director of COM will:

• POSITION – WFP as a thought leader and partner, addressing the root causes related to hunger, from a humanitarian and developmental perspective raising understanding and support among key stakeholders and constituencies of the agency’s mission;
• MOBILIZE – partners and other key stakeholders to increase resourcing for programmes that address the immediate and underlying causes of hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity;
• COMMUNICATE – WFP’s effort, led by the executive management (ED, DED, AEDs), as well as Country and Regional directors, to advocate with partners on behalf of those furthest behind to ensure hunger-related issues are a top-level priority on political agendas globally.

The Director of COM also serves as a principal advisor to senior management on a wide range of communications’ topics including brand-building and reputational risk management.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

• Formulate, manage and implement global communications and media strategic and operational planning to support WFP’s 2022-2025Strategic Plan;
• Support the Executive Director and Leadership Group in setting WFP’s corporate communications agenda, underpinned by strategic political analysis;
• Develop clarity and focus on WFP’s messaging, image and branding to strategically position the organization amongst key stakeholders and audiences;
• Drive excellence in digital communications, aligning closely with WFP’s efforts to protect and manage the organization’s reputation, drive public engagement, develop, oversee strong brand awareness and recognition, support integrated public campaigns and leverage executive voices;
• Effectively guide the management of issues impacting WFP’s reputation, including providing leadership in crisis situations and prepare proactive communication strategies to address them;
• Build broad internal communications strategies that are aligned with corporate priorities and ensure effective engagement with employees on critical topics;
• Lead on WFP’s news and media relations work ensuring a clear, consistent and unified strategic messaging about WFP operations;
• Provide effective leadership to the COM division to ensure the continued development and coaching of a cohesive and high performing team;
• Promote and ensure strategic relationships and effective engagement between COM and key external stakeholders including the media, UN organizations and key NGOs partners;
• Create business value and continually seek to improve satisfaction levels for internal stakeholders;
• Manage Financial resources ensuring an optimal budget and cost management strategy for the COM Division.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Advanced university degree in communications, journalism, international relations or a relevant field, or first university degree with additional years of related work experience or trainings/courses.

Experience:

• Proven track record of at least 15 years (of which at least 6 international) of senior-level experience and leadership deploying a broad range of communications and media strategies and translating message across a variety of mediums to target various audiences;
• Experience with use of a range of communications tools, including publications, Internet and public relations and proven ability to create successful interface among these tools for global communications initiatives;
• Senior level management experience and ability to work well with decision makers;
• Demonstrated business acumen, and ability to stay abreast of industry and organizational trends; Demonstrated political awareness and sound judgment in resolving issues and managing reputational risk.

Language:

• Fluency (level C) in English;
• Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language).

OTHER SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to strengthen WFP’s positioning among stakeholders and the general public to increase brand awareness and engagement;
• A strong public speaker and writer, able to articulate complex problems while generating support among target audiences;
• Strong interest in WFP’s mission;
• Ability to provide leadership to a large, multicultural workforce with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills to effectively work with colleagues across the organization at different levels. Proven ability to develop and empower staff;
• Outstanding strategic planning skills and ability to guide development of policies, as well as to direct change processes at the senior management level;
• Capacity in building strong partnerships and fostering collaborations in a demanding working environment;
• Ability to identify the key issues in a complex situation and make decisions on the basis of facts and analysis;
• Excellent communication and representation skills. Strong networking and strategic partnership-building capability.

Apply Now