Communication Officer (P-2), TA, Port-au-Prince/Haiti #129993

UNICEF Haiti is seeking a Communication Officer with a deep understanding of international media dynamics and interests, as well as expertise in crafting compelling messages, press releases, news notes, op-eds, and pitching stories/angles that would capture the attention of the international media. The objective is to ensure that UNICEF and children’s rights remain central to ongoing media coverage.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, love

Despite the extremely insecure and volatile environment, UNICEF and partners are stepping up efforts to protect children and families and provide the lifesaving support they desperately need, including supporting nutrition and health services, responding to the cholera outbreak, promoting safe learning environments, providing psychosocial support and assisting with disaster recovery and preparedness.

Given the worsening humanitarian situation in Haiti, there is an urgent need to strengthen capacities to shed light on the situation and intensify HCO’s advocacy and resource mobilization efforts. This requires support through an effective communication strategy and plan, including the extensive production of multimedia assets for wide dissemination among donors, the global audience, and the general public.

The scale and complexity of the crisis necessitate specialized expertise to produce high-quality multimedia materials designed for donors and the global audience and to address the growing visibility requirements of donors.

Furthermore, UNICEF Haiti urgently requires dedicated support to effectively manage media relations in the upcoming weeks and months, given the current situation in the country. In recent weeks, there has been a significant increase in media attention and requests from various international outlets. This necessitates both proactive and reactive engagement with the media.

How can you make a difference? 

Reporting to the Chief of Communications, the incumbent will support the team through effective media management and relations in emergency context and by developing high-quality communication materials for donors and partners, coordinating joint communication and advocacy initiatives with HQ, RO, PFP, PPD, and national committees. Additionally, S/He ensure a timely response to increased requirements for donor recognition and visibility.

The key services and tasks to be provided/undertaken during this temporary appointment is as follow:

• Effective multimedia and digital outreach through creative content creation and dissemination

• Enhanced coordination among CO, RO and HQ for effective media engagement.

• Media Management and Relations

• Message Development
• Media Pitching
• Sensitive Issues / Reputational Risk Management

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [attach JD/TOR here]

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

Minimum requirements:

[Include the vacancy requirements aligned to the category and level of the position. You can see examples in the branded VA example.]

• Education:

  A University degree (Bachelor) in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations or another relevant technical field.

• Work Experience:
  • A minimum of 2 years of work experience, of which there is demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations, or corporate communications.
  • Deep understanding of international media dynamics and interests in countries facing emergencies.
  • Expertise in crafting compelling messages, press releases, and pitching stories/angles that would capture the attention of the international media.
  • Work experience in or with UNICEF L3 countries is an asset.
  • Strong background and familiarity with emergency communication is desirable.
  • Skills: Expertise in developing high-end quality multimedia materials – including photography and videography is an asset

• Language Requirements: Fluency in both French and English is required.  Knowledge of the local language is a atrong asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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 measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. 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.

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

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

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

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

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

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

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.