Head Communications

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

Duties:

• Responsible for the technical efficiency and effectiveness of communications and advocacy priorities, strategies and products pertaining to WHE’s activities at the country level. Advise the emergency team on media outreach priorities and strategies.
• Design high-quality innovative media tools, including audio-visual, photographic and printed materials, television and radio programmes, multimedia presentations, social media, videos and press releases, etc., to advocate for and promote WHO’s visibility, achievements and success stories.
• Provide editorial guidance (i.e. copy editing and proofreading) to the technical team and information management officer with regard to the situation report.
• Represent the emergency team in press conferences, media forums, journalist briefings, etc. Provide early warning to the senior leadership on issues of concern from the media, flag issues requiring communications preparation and response, as well as respond to media queries.
• Work closely with Communication teams at the three levels of the Organization, on proactive outreach, including media relations, advocacy, and proactive placement of articles and opinion editorial pieces in the external media.
• Coordinate and manage media visits to the field emergency operations. Coordinate interviews and filming opportunities to support high-visibility of WHO achievements through television, radio and newspapers ,etc.
• Oversee the development, harmonization and establishment of content for the emergency-related websites, in compliance with guidelines and standards used through out the Organization. Critically review and improve content and liaise with the web team at all levels on the propriate channels for and presentation of messages and materials.
• Work closely with the Resource Mobilization team to ensure the provision of targeted communications and media strategies and products required to convince and encourage donors to rapidly fund the overall health sector response to affected populations.
• Build partnerships with all relevant actors, including the health cluster, regional and field offices, other WHO departments, UN agencies, and other partners to identify and create communication opportunities and design communication and advocacy campaigns on specific topics.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

Essential:

• Master’s degree in communication, journalism, political science, social sciences, international relations or related field from an accredited/recognized institute.

Experience:

Essential: 

• At least seven years’ relevant experience with proven international exposure in communication and/or advocacy, part of which should include supporting humanitarian emergency or health outbreak response and recovery activities.
• Proven experience in writing advocacy documents and in the production of communication materials and products.

Skills:

• Ability to write well in English and produce engaging communication and advocacy material.
• Demonstrated ability in working with all forms of media in all situations.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure to achieve multiple deadlines.
• Proven skills in the development and implementation of communication/media products and tactics.
• Excellent interpersonal skills complemented by the ability to conceptualize ideas and advocate consensus.
• Ability to “think out of the box” and to make innovative proposals to extend communication reach.
• Knowledge or understanding of WHO mandate and goals in the emergency incident management context.
• Knowledge of public health sector and issues. • Demonstrated ability to work within an emergency context at the country level.

Language Skills:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Source:  https://careers.who.int/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=2404104