Communications Associate

Terms of Reference

The ideal candidate for the Communications Associate position should be a proactive and independent professional with a strong background in communications and media relations. They should possess excellent writing and editing skills, with a talent for creating compelling and emotive content that aligns with UNHCR’s mission to generate empathy and mobilize action for forcibly displaced and stateless people. The candidate should be adept at monitoring news trends and identifying strategic opportunities for UNHCR messaging. Experience in multimedia content production, social media engagement, and digital fundraising is essential. They should be capable of forging and maintaining strategic partnerships with various stakeholders, including media, NGOs, and civil society actors. Familiarity with UNHCR’s regulatory framework, along with a commitment to the core values of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity, is crucial. The candidate should also be willing to undertake missions and field trips to support UNHCR’s objectives, and continuously seek to improve their communications skills and strategies.

Knowledge of website and database management tools, multimedia editing software such as WordPress, SquareSpace, Drupal and AdobeSuite is desirable.

• The contract holder will also be required to work at UNHCR partner locations in New Delhi.
• Shortlisted candidates will have to participate in a written test and or Interview as part of the selection process.

Standard Job Description 

Communications Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

• The Communications Associate is normally supervised by a Communication Officer or other position as decided by the senior management in the area of responsibility. The supervisor provides the incumbent with regular guidance. The incumbent works quite independently on regular assignments with an oversight from the supervisor. S/he keeps frequent contacts with staff at various levels in the office and occasionally with staff at the same level in other duty stations and/or Headquarters; with media, local suppliers, NGO, implementing partners, embassies and UN agencies.
• The Communications Associates, depending on the organizational structure and location, may also be required to provide support in executing a range of communications activities in the fields of news and media relations, multimedia content production, social media engagement, video production, Goodwill Ambassadors and other influencers, public outreach and campaigns, fundraising, analytics and brand. The incumbents may also be required to help strengthen coordination and editorial planning in the area of responsibility, support advocacy, awareness-raising and digital fundraising efforts as well as strengthening analytics to inform the social media strategies and work plans.
• All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Support the implementation of communications strategies for countries, situations and special projects within the area of responsibility; help identify thematic priorities and target audiences to meet UNHCR’s global, regional and country-level communications objectives of leading the narrative, generating empathy and mobilizing action for forcibly displaced and stateless people.
• Monitor news and popular trends to insert UNHCR’s messaging into ongoing conversations; identify key moments for proactive communications.
• Help forge strategic partnerships with individuals and organizations who can help produce and promote UNHCR content, activities and messaging as well as provide research insights to improve communications; promote the work of engaged businesses and civil society actors.
• Support the development of news-driven and authoritative content to lead the narrative on forced displacement and show UNHCR’s impact (e.g. interviews, press releases, flagship reports, speeches), create emotive storytelling to generate empathy (e.g. stories, multimedia content) and mobilize action by signposting concrete steps people can take to help refugees (e.g. digital diplomacy, action-driven campaigns, fundraising).
• Help ensure that content created reaches maximum impact by supporting the development of strategies for distribution from the outset, boosting the visibility of out content on relevant UNHCR channels and placing it on external channels.
• Help monitor the implementation of communications projects and adjust accordingly.
• Assist in research, preparation, editing and production of professional media and communications materials for target audiences and ensure their timely dissemination via UNHCR’s communications channels, ensuring highest quality standards.
• Continually maintain and upgrade communications skills, keeping abreast of emerging platforms and tools, and systematically reviewing media impact results and other measurement tools for learning purposes.
• May be required to assist in implementation of campaigns, events and other initiatives in support of UNHCR’s strategic objectives, including its need for a leading share of voice on refugee and related matters.
• May be required to undertake missions and field trips with media and other official visitors in support of UNHCR and its work.
• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

• For G6 – 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Certificates and/or Licenses

• Journalism, Social Sciences, Humanities or related fields
• (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

• Excellent computer skills and knowledge of MS Office applications. Excellent drafting skills.

Desirable

• Experience implementing communications strategies. Professional writing and editing skills. Experience working on advocacy campaigns.

Language Requirements

• For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
• For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
• For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Source: https://www.unjobnet.org/jobs/detail/71727621