Communication Officer

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 134,636 USD and 173,585 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.

WHO policy for Fast Track Procedures for Emergencies

Successful candidate may be offered Temp or Fixed Term contract

Successful candidate may be offered position at lower level

Background and Justification

*Purpose of the Position

In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies Incident Management System (IMS), the incumbent serves as the focal point for the development and implementation of a communications strategy and advocacy products, in line with WHE global external relations, overseeing the development and targeted distribution of news items to media and networks and nurturing trustful and productive relationships across the full range of public media at the local level to ensure a positive, relevant and up-to-date public image of WHO. The incumbent will be deployed to emergency operations when required.

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate Strategic Objective

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

*Organizational context

The incumbent has the front line responsibility for all communications and advocacy activities related to the work of WHE at the country level. S/he will report directly to the Head of WHO Office, under the overall guidance of Director CRP, s/he will have a functional line to WHE global Communications Lead, and will collaborate with relevant technical officers and communications focal points in the respective Regional Office and HQ. S/he will engage with local subject matter experts to agree on best tactics to advocate WHO’s work, goals and achievements, and feed this information back to regional and headquarter colleagues. As part of WHE’s global External Relations network, the incumbent will contribute to the delivery of WHE global external relations strategy and in this regard s/he will join coordination calls with regional and headquarter communication colleagues. The incumbent will coordinate with a broad range of officials from the press and media, partner organizations and institutions, target audiences, health cluster partners and official representatives from the national authorities to obtain information and, as necessary, provide advice on communication priorities and opportunities.

During deployment, the duty station may change, and duties may be modified, based upon the technical needs of the Programme.

*Summary of Assigned Duties

Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to achieve main

objectives; include main achievements expected):

1. Responsible for the technical efficiency and effectiveness of communications and advocacy priorities, strategies and products pertaining to WHE’s activities at the country level. Advise the emergency team on media outreach priorities and strategies.

2. Design high-quality innovative media tools, including audio-visual, photographic and printed materials, television and radio programmes, multimedia presentations, social media, videos and press releases, etc., to advocate for and promote WHO’s visibility, achievements and success stories.

3. Provide editorial guidance (i.e. copy editing and proofreading) to the technical team and information management officer with regard to the situation report.

4. Represent the emergency team in press conferences, media forums, journalist briefings, etc. Provide early warning to the senior leadership on issues of concern from the media, flag issues requiring communications preparation and response, as well as respond to media queries.

5. Work closely with Communication teams at the three levels of the Organization, on proactive outreach, including media relations, advocacy, and proactive placement of articles and opinion editorial pieces in the external media.

6. Coordinate and manage media visits to the field emergency operations. Coordinate interviews and filming opportunities to support high-visibility of WHO achievements through television, radio and newspapers, etc.

7. Oversee the development, harmonization and establishment of content for the emergency-related websites, in compliance with guidelines and standards used throughout the Organization. Critically review and improve content and liaise with the web team at all levels on the propriate channels for and presentation of messages and materials.

8. Work closely with the Resource Mobilization team to ensure the provision of targeted communications and media strategies and products required to convince and encourage donors to rapidly fund the overall health sector response to affected populations.

9. Build partnerships with all relevant actors, including the health cluster, regional and field offices, other WHO departments, UN agencies, and other partners to identify and create communication opportunities and design communication and advocacy campaigns on specific topics.

Recruitment Profile Competencies: Generic

Describe the core, management or leadership competencies required. (See WHO competency model. List in order of priority, commencing with the most important ones)

Enhanced WHO Global Competency Model:

https://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=1

1. Teamwork;

   2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences;

   3. Communication;

   4. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

   5. Promoting WHO’s position in health leadership

Functional Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to write well in English and produce engaging communication and advocacy material.

• Demonstrated ability in working with all forms of media in all situations

• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure to achieve multiple deadlines.

• Proven skills in the development and implementation of communication/media products and tactics.

• Excellent interpersonal skills complemented by the ability to conceptualize ideas and advocate consensus.

• Ability to "think out of the box" and to make innovative proposals to extend communication reach.

• Knowledge or understanding of WHO mandate and goals in the emergency incident management context.

• Knowledge of public health sector and issues

• Demonstrated ability to work within an emergency context at the country level.

Education Qualifications

*Essential

Master’s degree in communication, journalism, political science, social sciences, international relations or related field from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable

Courses in communication techniques such as graphic design, visual language and the use of social media.

Experience

*Essential

• At least seven years’ relevant experience with proven international exposure in communication and/or advocacy, part of which should include supporting humanitarian emergency or health outbreak response and recovery activities.

• Proven experience in writing advocacy documents and in the production of communication materials and products.

Desirable

• Prior working experience with WHO/UN or with an international nongovernmental organization.

• Experience in organizing advocacy campaigns.

• Experience in managing publishing and clearance processes.

4. Use of Language Skills

Excellent knowledge of English Working knowledge of another WHO official language would be an asset.

Other Skills (e.g. IT)

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office as well as graphic design, visual design, social media, website development and publishing software.

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• In view of the current situation, Sana'a has been declared as a non-family duty station; i.e., dependents are not allowed to visit or reside with the staff member at the duty station.
• Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply on-line. For assessment of your application, please ensure that
  • your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated;
  • all required details regarding your qualifications, education and training are provided;
  • all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.
  • Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are not accessible.