Advocacy & Communication Manager, P-4, Caracas, Venezuela

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 144,460 USD and 186,252 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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, an advocate

Following eight consecutive years of economic contraction in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, since 2021 there has been some macroeconomic stabilization, with moderate economic growth expected until the end of 2022. Despite this positive economic outlook, the simultaneous impacts of chronic inflation, global economic instability, sociopolitical tensions and natural hazards aggravated by climate change continue to disproportionally affect children’s lives and their futures.

UNICEF Venezuela Country Office (VCO) has been working to respond to the most pressing needs while taking strategic steps to strengthen a sustainable and development approach in its activities in the country. The communication strategy requires a common thread throughout the CPD. Specifically, communicate in relation to three axes: a) communicate about the situation of children, the drivers of disparities, and the urgency of acting, b) communicate about solutions for implementation in the country based on collective efforts between government and civil society, c) communicate on progress in results and good practices with potential for scaling up, including voices from communities (Most Significant Change). Here it is important to articulate different strategies that must work as a gear: a) evidence and analysis of the scenarios (positioning of UNICEF in these scenarios), b) alliances with relevant and well-positioned actors (who can be credible messengers with the UNICEF narrative), c) communication strategies, advocacy, risk mitigation.

Advocacy and Communication are at the center of UNICEF’s mandate. We advocate to decision makers for ‘the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential’. We communicate to key public and private audiences to build support for the cause of children. The Advocacy and Communication Manager reports to the Representative, who is at Level D1.

How can you make a difference?

The P4 Advocacy and Communication Manager 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

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/.tasks

The staff member 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

For a more details regarding the functions of the Advocacy and Communications Manager please review the job profile: Job Profile Advocacy and Communication Manager.pdf

For more information related to the work or our organization in Venezuela, please visit our website: UNICEF Venezuela and our Country Programme Document

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

• 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 University Degree (Bachelor's) in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 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 clear theories of change, specific, measurable and timebound objectives, and performance indicators.
• A track record of achieving or contributing to tangible policy change.
• Proven experience in deploying a range of advocacy and communication tactics based on a clear theory of change.
• Experience in building strong relationships with traditional and social media entities and using media relations and channels to engage public audiences.
• Experience in leading the development, implementation and monitoring of digital strategies.
• Experienced and current in digital and social media content and audience trends as well as in managing online platforms and channels.
• Experience in building and maintaining a network of stakeholders, and in working with coalitions.
• Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct, engaging ways through campaign narratives and creative tactics.
• Experience in managing a team is a requirement, along with a proven commitment to diverse and inclusive recruiting process.
• Experience managing a multicultural team is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including budget management and monitoring and evaluation of results.
• Knowledge of children’s rights, public policy, international development and humanitarian issues.
• Experience in advocacy at the international level is an asset.
• Experience in training and facilitation is an asset.
• Experience working in a developing and emergency environment is an asset. Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) or a local language 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…

(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. Venezuela is a family duty station. 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. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:

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

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 are encouraged to apply.

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

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). 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.