Sr Medias and Communications Assistant

Context:

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Director for West and Central Africa and the direct supervision of the Regional Media and Communications Lead, the incumbent Media and Communications Assistant will assist with aspects of the implementation of internal and external communication, media-related activities and graphic design product for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in West and Central Africa. This role involves strategic planning, support media relations, content development, and enhancing the visibility and understanding of IOM’s work in the region.

Responsibilities and accountabilities

• Contribute to the implementation ofthe regional communication strategy in alignment with IOM’s global communication objectives.
• Support media relations efforts, including press releases, media briefings and human-interest stories
• In coordination with the Regional Media and Communication Lead and Regional Director, liaise with the media and draft responses to press requests for regional publications.
• With the support of the Regional Media & Communication Unit, participate in the development of and implement social media campaign concepts around international days and events to strengthen IOM’s brand recognition in the region.
• Support in implementing the regional social media strategy, including content planning, analytics review, and engagement strategies to increase visibility of IOM’s work in the region.
• Support the coordination with country offices to ensure consistency and effectiveness of regional communication efforts.
• Assist the Regional Media and Communication Lead and Regional Thematic Specialists in ensuring appropriate visibility of the project donors.
• Provide graphic design support, assisting with the formatting of information materials and products such as factsheets and infographics.
• Support the liaison with partners, UN agencies, and other external entities to enhance collaboration and cohesiveness in communication efforts.
• Prepare Power Point presentations and other digital and printed documents necessary for meetings or external presentation.
• Perform any other tasks as required.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.

or,

• Master’s degree in the above fields will be an advantage.

Experience:

• Minimum of five years of professional experience in media and communications, with at least two years in a supervisory or management role, preferably within the UN system or other international organizations.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful communication strategies and campaigns.
• Extensive experience in media relations, social media management, and content production.

Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in French; proficiency in English or another UN language is highly desirable.
• High level of competency in digital communications, including content management systems, social media platforms, and email marketing tools.
• Ability to produce clear and engaging content for various audiences and platforms.
• Competence in the use of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign) or other graphic design software.
• Knowledge of current trends in digital media, social media analytics, and search engine optimization (SEO).
• Strong organizational skills, including prioritizing and working efficiently under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team environment and to maintain professionalism and poise in high-pressure situations.

Languages

Required

Fluency in French and English (oral and written).

Desirables

Proficiency in any other language is considered an additional asset.

Required Competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.

Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.

Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.

Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.

Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes

responsibility for own action and delegated work.

Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring, and motivational way.