Local Communication and Advocacy Consultant, in Riyadh/ KSA for one year

The UNICEF Gulf Area Office (UNICEF GAO) is unique in its mandate. It is accountable for providing programmatic support to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. In addition, it identifies, cultivates and sustains partnerships with Gulf-based partners to generate resources for the organization globally. UNICEF has a role to play in ensuring rapid development in the Gulf is child sensitive and child focused and that children remain at the heart of the national development dialogue.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, Education

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the Communication Manager and KSA Partnership Manager of the UNICEF Gulf Area Office , the Communication and Advocacy Consultant is accountable for leading the communication and advocacy efforts for the key partnerships in Saudi Arabia, working closely with the donor public relations and marketing team, UNICEF HQ, UNICEF Gulf partnership and communication team.

The Communications Officer based in Riyadh will play a pivotal role in managing communication with partners, coordinating with colleagues in different offices, and ensuring effective storytelling through various channels. This position requires close collaboration with internal teams, proactive engagement with external partners, and innovative approaches to communication strategies.

Key responsibilities include advising on and supporting the creation of digital content and campaigns, coordinating with internal and external partners to maximize fundraising efforts, and developing partnerships with influencers to amplify UNICEF’s message.

Scope of Work:

To enhance UNICEF’s presence, engagement, and fundraising capabilities in the Saudi Arabia , aligning with the organization’s  objectives and leveraging global and local best practices to maximize impact through the following responsibilities:

Planning and oversight:

• Develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies to effectively engage partners and stakeholders, aligning with organizational goals and objectives.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for communication with partners in Riyadh, ensuring timely and clear communication, and fostering strong relationships.
• Coordinate closely with Communications colleagues in different offices to ensure consistency and alignment in messaging and activities.
• Lead media engagement by building compelling media pitches and timely responding to media asks.
• Organize field missions, events and activations as related to the engagements with partners.
• Identify international days and milestone to plan for visibility activities around them.

Management

• Lead the communication operation, planning and implementation of key partnerships guiding and supporting team members and regularly monitoring the implementation of activities.
• Review and evaluation of visibility activities visa vis donor requirements and agreed upon guidelines.
• Collaborate with other colleagues to identify and develop compelling stories and content that showcase the organization’s impact and achievements.
• Lead the coordination and implementation of communication campaigns in Riyadh, including planning, execution, and evaluation, to drive awareness and support for key initiatives.
• Conduct media mapping, network with journalists and engage with media outlets to secure coverage, interviews, and features that amplify the organization’s message and reach.
• Identifying key influencers aligned with our mission and values, fostering strategic partnerships for impactful collaboration.
• Stay informed about industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in communications and media relations, and integrate relevant innovations into activities.

Digital Engagement and Multimedia Production

• Oversee the planning, development, and production of multimedia assets and narratives.
• Liaise with donors, social media focal points for content creation as needed.
• Develop communication campaigns focusing on UNICEF key partnerships in KSA and spearhead innovative digital activations that related Sports and Gaming industries.
• Support social media focal points in utilizing social listening insights.
• Develop creative approaches and multimedia content to cover key events and campaigns on social media platforms.

Other:

• Other tasks may be performed as directed by the supervisor.

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

• Master’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or related field.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Arabic, with the ability to tailor messages for different audiences and channels.
• Proven experience in communications, media relations, or digital media.
• Strong proficiency in campaigns, social media, and audio/video production is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to think creatively, develop compelling narratives, and generate innovative ideas to engage audiences and achieve communication goals.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate with colleagues across different teams and offices, as well as build and maintain relationships with external partners.
• Knowledge and skills graphics design and/or video production is an asset.
• Excellent writing, research and analysis skills.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is essential.  

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.