Regional Chief of Communication, P-5, FT, #00017335, LACRO, Panama City

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, a champion

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the job:

Accountable for developing, implementing, managing and monitoring a regional advocacy and communication strategy and associated products, partnerships and activities. Support resource mobilization, global priority and campaign initiatives, especially those of importance to the work of the National Committees. Advise, provide guidance and build communication capacity of staff and others throughout the region. Co-ordinate and guide regional monitoring and evaluation of communication. Provide recommendations on global, regional and country communication policy development, support and advocacy and communication activities.  

Advice on the articulation of policies and strategies, with an emphasis on those that promote gender equality and equity.  

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES and DUTIES & TASKS 

1. Communication strategy:

The Regional Office has a clear, regional communication strategy to get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF’s mission and objectives; Awareness, understanding, support and respect for children’s and women’s rights are effectively promoted; UNICEF’s work for children’s rights are kept on the policy agenda; and the organization’s credibility and brand are enhanced.

2. Capacity building and support:

Regional policy guidance, advice and technical support are provided to country offices in the area of communication on an ongoing basis. Opportunities to build communication capacity among country communication staff, other colleagues, media and other relevant partners are regularly identified and addressed.

3. Resource mobilization support:

Regional support and response to global and country level fund-raising activities are effectively provided and co-ordinated, ensuring DOC, GRO, National Committees and country offices receive required advice and support.

4. Monitoring and evaluation:

Effective advice is provided to country communication teams for monitoring and evaluating their communication activities; regional communication strategies and activities are monitored and evaluated; regional results and lessons learned are identified, collated and shared with communication colleagues in the region and DOC in a timely manner. Opportunities for continuous improvement in communication efforts are identified and shared.

5. Networking and partnerships:

New ways are identified to increase positive exposure and leverage that achieve prominence to new opportunities for UNICEF among a range of organizations, media and high-profile individuals whose recognition level/influence extends beyond national borders. Close coordination and partnership are maintained with DOC, GRO, National Committees and country offices to extend their impact and use in a sub-region, region or globally. Effective participation is made in the planning, implementation, materials and logistics of visits of Goodwill Ambassadors, National Committees etc.

6. Global priorities and campaigns:

Opportunities are identified for the region to support UNICEF’s global communications priorities, campaigns and partnerships.

7. Management:

The human resources (the communication team) and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) for the region’s communication are both effectively managed and optimally used.

8. Advisory support and communication for strategic results:

Develops communication approaches and guidelines, including those most effective for gender mainstreaming across all programmes.

9. Emergency preparedness and response plans addresses gender issues that may be expected to intensify during emergencies.

The full details of expected activities can be found here:  GJP Regional Chief of Communication Level 5.pdf

 

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

The following minimum requirements:

• Education:

• Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations or other related fields of disciplines.

• Work Experience:

• Ten years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience.
• International and national work experience in both developed and developing countries.
• Professional experience in communication, print, broadcast, new media.
• Background/familiarity with Emergency situations.

• Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Spanish is required.

The following desirables:

• Knowledge of French and Portuguese 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

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 (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.