Communication Officer

Volunteering Communications & PR

Overview

Create, coordinate, and disseminate compelling digital content for UNICEF South Sudan.

You have:

• 3 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, journalism, broadcast, and/or digital media is required.
• International and national work experience is required.
• Familiarity with emergency situations and inclusive storytelling methodologies is an asset.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, and reporting skills.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet.

Contract

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The Communication Specialist (Digital Content) is technical lead for the creation, coordination, and dissemination of compelling digital content that strengthens UNICEF South Sudan’s visibility and influence, including emergency context. The role ensures that high quality storytelling, multimedia production, and digital engagement to effectively highlight the situation of women and children, demonstrate programme impact, acknowledge donor contributions, and support advocacy and fundraising priorities. Central to this role is the planning and delivery of impactful content across UNICEF South Sudan’s digital platforms, including social media, the website, and media channels. The specialist ensures that all digital outputs are timely, on brand and aligned with communication and advocacy objectives.

Reporting to the Chief of Advocacy and Communications, the incumbent is accountable for implementation of the office’s digital communication strategy and driving innovative online campaigns. This includes overseeing the content plan, ensuring brand consistency, optimizing audience engagement, and monitoring digital performance to strengthen outreach and stakeholder engagement.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief of Communication or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Communication Officer will:

Digital Planning. • Implement a plan of digital content for all UNICEF South Sudan platforms • Develop a robust monitoring framework to track digital analytics • Ensure the content planner is developed and updated each week • Support online reputation management • Continuously reinforce UNICEF's inclusive storytelling approaches, representing children and parents with dignity and full consent

Content Production: • Working closely with the Chief of Communication/Advocacy and Programme teams, identify and develop compelling programme impact stories • Ensure timely, wide dissemination and cross-promotion of UNICEF South Sudan's digital content • Support production of multimedia content (e.g., infographics, videos, photo galleries, social media packages, factsheets) for broadcast media and digital platforms, in line with UNICEF brand and guidance • Undertake visits to UNICEF programmes to capture key assets and content • Draft and edit content for the website and social media in line with the country communication strategy and global brand • Oversee the maintenance of the online digital asset management system (DAM, We Share) , making sure South Sudan content is uploaded regularly • Manage the adaptation of existing stories to meet specific needs of diverse stakeholders and media outlets • Share relevant material with UNICEF's internal and external partners through the partnerships' focal points in the office

Website management: • Working closely with the Communication Officer (Media / Advocacy) and the Communication Associate, ensure UNICEF South Sudan website is regularly updated with high-quality content to address communication objectives of the office (fundraising, advocacy, donor visibility) • Draft content for custom web pages and microsites for UNICEF campaigns as needed • Regularly monitor audience reach and engagement in line with targets

Digital Campaigns: • Develop and implement local digital campaigns to advance the country advocacy strategy as well as Social and Behavior Change (SBC), donor recognition, and fundraising objectives • Connect with and amplify global advocacy campaigns as relevant and needed Resource Mobilization and Donor Recognition • Create and gather content to fulfill obligations to donor visibility and recognition plans • With guidance and direction from the partnerships team, organize content and coverage of key priority donor activities • Keep a record of all donor posts and content to input into donor reports as required

Capacity Building and Support: • Advise UNICEF colleagues and staff on social media and reinforce global and local guidance • Identify opportunities to strengthen the capacity of partners through appropriate brand, advocacy, and communication training.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV (United Nations Volunteers) and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day) • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country • Provide annual and end-of-assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs • As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of his/her functions, including: • Providing compelling, engaging content, in line with UNICEF brand, to increase audiences connected through UNICEF South Sudan digital platforms • Guiding staff and consultants on digital content and social media • Reducing the risk to UNICEF's reputation through content on UNICEF's and other digital platforms in South Sudan • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated, and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed.

Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF, technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviors while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behavior; does not abuse power or authority;

Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues

Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;

Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

3 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, journalism, broadcast, and/or digital media is required. International and national work experience is require; Familiarity with emergency situations and inclusive storytelling methodologies is an asset; Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, and reporting skills; Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communication for development; Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management and office technology equipment; Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; Have affinity with or interest in putting children’s voices at the center of content, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the United Nations System.

Juba is the capital city of South Sudan and is home to the main political parties and national Government Line Ministries. Embassy of countries represented in South Sudan/country offices of the Humanitarian community, including the UN, resides in Juba. Juba is also the capital of the Central Equatorian State. Accommodation for UNICEF international personnel in Juba is limited to two locations – Classique and Naivasha compounds. Both locations are cleared by the UN Security Management System and follow mandated measures defined under the Security Risk Management (SRM) Area documentation. South Sudan is a unique country with a unique humanitarian operation. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

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Added 2 days ago - Updated 3 hours ago - Source: unv.org