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.

UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide.

For every child, a voice

UNICEF Syria was established in 1970 and has been working with partners to help empower children to fully claim and enjoy their rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

UNICEF works with partners across Syria to deliver supplies, services, and expertise in areas of Child Protection, Education, Health, Nutrition, Water, Hygiene and Sanitation for every child. UNICEF also provides humanitarian assistance when needed.

Syria continues to face one of the most complex emergencies in the world. Unprecedented humanitarian needs are compounded by displacement inside the country and across its borders, extensive destruction of civilian and social services infrastructure, devastating impacts on the economy, and most importantly, the breakdown of the social fabric that stitched the country together for decades.

Today, 90% of people in Syria live in poverty, most are unable to make ends meet or bring food to the table. Families have had their resources depleted, with limited employment opportunities, skyrocketing prices, and shortage of basic supplies. For most people, the current socio-economic challenges represent some of the harshest and most challenging circumstances they have faced since the beginning of the crisis in 2011.

For information of the work of our organization, please visit our website: UNICEF Syria  

How can you make a difference?

The Chief Advocacy and Communication reports to the Representative for general guidance and direction, and is accountable for managing the advocacy and communication strategies and implementation. This includes:

• the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of integrated advocacy and communication strategies to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people
• the effective deployment of public channels and private relationships to mobilize public and private resources for children, including through UNICEF
• using traditional and digital media and key partnerships to build awareness of and support for child rights and UNICEF’s mission, priorities and programmes
• working with children and young people to empower them as agents of change responding to major communication risks and challenges.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

The Chief Advocacy and Communications will lead and manage a team to design and coordinate effective, integrated advocacy and communication strategies, through the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages. S/he will work collaboratively with colleagues across UNICEF at country, regional and global level, as well build alliances or coalitions with external partners to drive changes in policy and practice, and secure political and financial commitments for children. Duties include:

1. Advocacy strategy development
2. Advocacy strategy implementation
3. Communication strategy development and implementation
4. Digital strategy
5. Media relations
6. Advocacy and communication M&E
7. Team building, project and budget management
8. Advocacy and communication capacity building
9. Stakeholder engagement
10. Others

To view the complete Key Functions, accountabilities, and related duties/ tasks, please click here  Chief Advocacy and Communication Manager Level 4.docx

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

Education:

An Advanced University degree is required in one of the following fields: International Relations, Political Science, International Development, Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics, Communication or related fields. A first level university degree (Bachelor’s) in a relevant field, in conjunction with two additional years of relevant work experience in advocacy, campaigning or a related field may be taken in lieu of an Advanced University degree.

Experience:

• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy/ campaigning and communication is required.
• Experience in leading the development and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies, with specific, measurable and timebound objectives, and performance indicators is required.
• Experience in leading the development, implementation and monitoring of digital strategies, as well as in managing online platforms and channels is a requirement.
• Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including budget management and monitoring and evaluation of results is required
• Knowledge of children’s rights, public policy, international development and humanitarian issues is required
• Experience in managing a team. Experience managing a multicultural team is an asset.
• Experience in advocacy at the international level is an asset.

 Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

 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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2), Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2), Works Collaboratively with others (2), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2), Innovates and Embraces Change (2), Thinks and Acts Strategically (2), Drive to achieve impactful results (2), Manages ambiguity and complexity (2).

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: UNICEF Competency Framework.

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates from industrial countries are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

This is required for all posts requiring a higher education degree. “UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”  

The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates)

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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 cancelled.

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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

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

Syria in a non-family duty station with E hardship classification.