Communication Specialist (Digital Communication and Content) , NOC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, #128082 (Open for Malaysians Only)

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, a voice

Together with the Malaysian government and others who are truly passionate about child rights, UNICEF works in Malaysia to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow; to be healthy and happy; to live safely; and achieve their full potential.

With the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the 12th Malaysia plan as our guides, we endeavor to change minds, change policies, and in turn change the lives of all children in Malaysia.

https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief of Communication, you are accountable for developing, managing, coordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring a content and digital communication strategy and associated products and activities on on-going basis with public audiences, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for children’s and women’s rights, and support for UNICEF’s mission, priorities and programmes in the country office/regional office/media hub, and at a global level and those of the UN Country Team.  

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks:

• Content strategy:  The Country Office has a clear content strategy and associated work plan to get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF’s mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.  
• Digital strategy: The Country Office has a well-managed digital communication team that is responsible for developing and overseeing the execution of digital initiatives (multiplatform/mobile web, social media and multimedia), integrating digital initiatives into the overall communication strategy, developing and managing a coherent and integrated digital content and engagement strategy, as well as monitoring and analysis of digital trends and their impact on UNICEF’s brand. Managing UNICEF brand frontline by securing interaction with supporters in real time on various digital platforms. Ensuring all digital initiatives adhere to UNICEF’s Digital Governance policies, standards, guidelines, especially around monitoring and evaluation.
• Networking and partnerships: The Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the communication objectives. Effective working relationships with the UN Country Team and UN communication counterparts are developed, maintained and enhanced.
• Celebrities and special events: The Country Office has a strong partnership with national ambassadors, celebrities, influencers, and other public figures in a systematic and strategic manner to jointly raise awareness of children’s rights, mobilize public advocacy support for children and strengthen UNICEF’s brand in Malaysia.
• Global priorities and campaigns: The Country Office has an effective process in place for integrating UNICEF’s regional and global communications priorities into the Country Office level initiatives and campaigns, and disseminating these in a locally appropriate way in alignment with the CO’s digital communication initiatives.
• Resource mobilization support: Global and country level fund-raising activities are supported by effective communication strategy and activities.
• Management: Human resources (the digital communication team under the communication section) and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) are both effectively managed and optimally used.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Communication baselines are established against which the objectives of the communication strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy, approach and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis. Leverage digital communication tools and methodologies (such as social media and online monitoring, web analytics, or other digital measurement tools) and lead research efforts that identify and map project stakeholders or intended audiences and develop and analyse digital communications performance indicators.
• Capacity building and support: The country programme team are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of digital communication and campaigns as needed.

Summary of duties and tasks:

1. Content strategy:
Ensure that the Country Office has a clear content strategy and associated work plan to support the country programme objectives and get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF’s mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.

Duties & Tasks

• Develop, maintain and update the content strategy/ies and associated action plan/s. Strategy and action plan include developing theory of change, defining objectives in alignment with office-wide advocacy priorities; audience assessment and insight gathering; messages/tactics; resources; specific actions, activities and products; monitoring and evaluation of impact; success and opportunity for improvement; ongoing refinement of the strategy/ies.
• Maintain close collaboration with senior management, advocacy lead, programme sections, corporate engagement, and PSFR teams, for effective overall coordination and to ensure public advocacy strategy/ies contribute to office-wide advocacy objectives.
• Provide ongoing support to programme teams in a strategic manner in their digital communication needs for achieving programmatic goals (e.g. addressing social norms and behaviours, social mobilization, demand generation through public engagement methods, etc).
• UNICEF’s rights- and results-based programming approach is appropriately reflected in the content strategy, work plan and products.
• Ensure digital content and engagement efforts are sufficiently integrated into the overall strategy.
• Maintain close collaboration with Regional Communication Advisers and HQ Communication Officers for effective overall coordination.

2. Digital strategy:
Ensure that the Country Office has a well-managed country digital communication team that is responsible for developing and overseeing the execution of digital initiatives (multiplatform/mobile, web, social media and multimedia), integrating digital initiatives into the overall communication strategy, developing and managing a coherent and integrated digital content and engagement strategy, as well as monitoring and analysis of digital trends and their impact on UNICEF’s brand. Managing UNICEF brand frontline by securing interaction with supporters in real time on various digital platforms. Ensuring all digital initiatives adhere to UNICEF’s Digital Governance policies, standards, guidelines, especially around monitoring and evaluation.

Duties and Tasks

• Manage a digital communication team that effectively executes a comprehensive digital engagement plan encompassing the elements noted below.
• Provide a vision and plan for the digital communications approach, especially helping identify new opportunities in digital (multiplatform/mobile web, social media and multimedia).
• Conceptualize, design, plan, formulate, execute, monitor and evaluate digital strategies for Country Office’s key audiences. Ensure coordination on strategy, localization and tactics for digital initiatives.
• Conceptualize, execute and evaluate strategies emphasizing interaction and dialogue (interactive web-based spaces around specific issues) and enabling Country Office to convene, to frame and to sustain discussions within and among certain target groups.
• Plan and integrate digital products as part of the communications strategy and advise or lead others in their use to ensure their maximum effectiveness.
• Continually and comprehensively monitor Country Office’s presence on digital platforms to ensure priorities and positioning are well represented.
• Work with Digital Governance team to ensure digital initiatives adhere to policies, standards, guidelines, and reputational risk criteria.
• Work with other sections in the development of joint initiatives that include the use of innovative technology to enhance country’s programmatic work.
• Stay abreast of research related to traditional and new media, and new digital technologies including multiplatform/mobile web, social media and multimedia. Guide the close monitoring of social media for current trends and platforms

3. Networking and partnerships:
Ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora (including Private Sector, Government, UN, and bilateral counterparts), whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the communication objectives of the content and digital strategy.

Duties & Tasks

• The Country Office has a mapping and engagement strategy for strategic partners key actors and stakeholders and invests in appropriate action.
• Develop, maintain and update mapping and engagement plan for strategic partners, key actors and stakeholders in alignment with advocacy initiatives.
• Regular consultation and coordination with UN Country Communication team and the UN Country Team and counterparts keeping in view One UN-One Voice aspects of Public Advocacy.
• Overall monitoring and evaluation of impact that is documented; success and opportunity for improvement; ongoing refinement of the mapping and engagement action plans.
• Develop, maintain and update partners contact list/database.
• Help establish, document, review and refine process of working collaboratively with partners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing etc.
• Ensure or enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of country-specific communication materials, activities, processes and messages shared with partners.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of partners through appropriate advocacy and communication training, access to information, supplies and equipment and through knowledge sharing.
• Monitor, evaluate and share results and findings with partners.

4. Celebrities and special events:
Ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of appropriate, nationally known personalities who have been identified, engaged and support UNICEF’s effort and who actively participate in special events and activities that support country programme goals.

• Support the development of a celebrity and influencer engagement strategy with an annual workplan in support of programme results, public advocacy initiatives, SBC, brand- building, and fundraising.
• Support the development and implementation of SOPs for celebrity engagement, including pre- partnership and ongoing risk assessment and mitigation measures.
• Monitor, document, and evaluate all areas of support received from celebrities and influencers, as well as analyse impact on UNICEF’s work and children’s rights.

5. Global priorities and campaigns:
In addition to local/national campaigns, ensure that the Country Office has an effective process in place for integrating and acting on UNICEF’s global communications priorities and campaigns, both disseminating these elements in a locally- appropriate way, as well as providing/enabling coverage of the work in the country for global use.

• Support UNICEF Malaysia’s programmatic and advocacy objectives and strategies through development of country-level campaigns, materials and activities, and where appropriate, in alignment with regional and global priorities. Digital communication planning and implementation, where possible, should align with global and regional priorities and campaigns.
• Develop and deploy country office communication capacity to gather/facilitate the content and coverage of relevant country efforts in support of global/regional initiatives. Use the opportunity to identify/highlight effective programme activities and results.
• Ensure regular communication and co-ordination with relevant communication focal points in regional offices and headquarters divisions, especially around key digital communication initiatives.

6. Resource mobilization support
Ensure that global and country level fund-raising activities are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities.

Duties & Tasks

• Mobilize country office communication capacity to support/facilitate the gathering of content and coverage of relevant country efforts. Use the opportunity to identify/highlight effective programme activities and results in support of fund-raising.
• Mobilize resources for fund-raising support by regular communication and co-ordination with relevant communication focal points in regional offices and headquarters divisions.

7. Management:

• Develop a work plan for the digital communication team members, monitor compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met.
• Identify, recruit, and supervise staff, technical resources and consultants as necessary. Conduct and implement effective performance planning, monitoring, performance development programme as required.
• Ensure communication effectiveness, efficiency and delivery as well as a rigorous and transparent approach to planning, monitoring and evaluation.

8. Monitoring and evaluation:

• Provide technical support to ensure that a set of digital communication, content and engagement performance indicators are identified and adjusted as necessary, and are incorporated in the Annual Management Plan, Annual Work Plan, etc as appropriate.
• Conduct timely and accurate monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure public advocacy and engagement objectives are met and the strategy is effective.
• Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful public advocacy and engagement experiences and share observations/findings with country, regional and HQ communication colleagues so that best practices benefit UNICEF’s communication work.

9. Capacity building and support:

• Advise UNICEF management and programme colleagues on digital communication and content planning and implementation.
• Provide ongoing support to the communication team members, under the supervision of the Chief of Communication and Advocacy, to ensure all UNICEF platforms and partnerships (e.g., digital platforms, media partnerships, celebrity engagement, are maximized and utilized effectively towards achieving the Country Office’s communication goals).
• Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of digital partners through appropriate trainings.

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

• Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or Social Science (or an undergraduate degree plus at least 7 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations, marketing, advocacy or corporate communications.) 
• At least 5 years’ increasingly senior level experience working particularly in digital communication, digital marketing, preferably in social development area. 
• Proven track record in developing practical strategy and compelling and innovative approach to draw attention and reach communication objectives. In-depth knowledge and understanding of digital communication trends and environment, what works and how. Seasoned and recognized professional with team management and leadership experience in his or her field of expertise – digital communication.
• Strong network and ability to reach out to key actors and influencers to build communication alliance for UNICEF.  Thorough understanding of creative and advance level use of digital media for advancing public advocacy agenda. 
• Experience in developing baseline, scientifically monitoring and measuring digital communication interventions.  
• Previous UNICEF, UN and/or INGO experience in a similar role is an asset.
• General knowledge of Digital Communication and Content management. Knowledge of theories and practices in communication planning and strategy as well as action plan development and implementation.  
• Content panning and production knowledge, including audience segmentation in a non-profit context, insight development. 
• Knowledge of United Nations or other international organizations. 
• Fluency in both written and spoken English is essential. Fluency in both written and spoken Bahasa is an asset. Fluency in another a locally relevant language is an asset.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s compensation, benefits and wellbeing.

(https://www.unicef.org/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing)

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s salary scale & structure.

(https://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salaries/malaysia.htm)

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…

(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 (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework 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.
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 candidate are encouraged to apply.

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.