Communication Specialist (Editorial & Flagships) P3 - Fixed Term (2 years), UNICEF Global Office of Research & Foresight (GORaF) Florence, Italy

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 74,649 USD and 97,747 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, Research

Job organizational context: UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight (GORaF) was created in September 2022 from the merger of two former UNICEF offices: the Office of Research-Innocenti, and the Office of Global Insight and Policy. The merger brings together the organization’s leading research and foresight expertise to establish a single unified office that will expand UNICEF’s knowledge base and its capability to act on the basis of evidence.

UNICEF Innocenti seeks to build knowledge, produce insights and analysis and use the research and foresight generated with partners and young people themselves to advance the rights and well-being of children globally.

Key priorities and results are organized into the following focus areas: 1. Producing world-class research and analysis 2. Using foresight to set the agenda for children 3. Leading global discourse

This position is in the Editorial and Flagship’s unit of UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight. The unit was created as part of the merger of the two offices and with a focus on achieving result 3: Leading global discourse on children.

The aim of the Editorial and Flagships unit is to position UNICEF and children at the centre of the global conversation by working with colleagues throughout the office to help generate high-quality research and analytical, foresight and advocacy products that shape the global discourse.

The unit achieves this by generating critical organizational assets including commentaries, briefings and major products including The State of the World’s Children, the UNICEF flagship report. In addition, the Editorial and Flagship’s unit facilitates a strategic and coordinated flow of research, advocacy and foresight products that align with the goals and priorities of UNICEF Innocenti and UNICEF, and manages the Innocenti material posted on the UNICEF website.

The position will report to the Chief of Editorial & Flagships, UNICEF Innocenti – Global Office of Research and Foresight.

Purpose of the job: The purpose of this position is to contribute to the drafting, editing, production and dissemination of Innocenti editorial products and web content, and to help maintain the systems that track this work. The Communication Specialist will support the Chief of Editorial and Flagships in knowledge management concerning products and their impact, in coordination with units throughout UNICEF Innocenti.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Major products, including SOWC: UNICEF Innocenti major products help position the office as a leader in global discourse. 2. Strategic partnerships and engagement with relevant partners: Open communication and constructive working relationships exist with authors, researchers, foresight and policy specialists and communication colleagues. 3. Writing and editing: Writing, rewriting, copy-editing of major products are held to the highest standard possible. 4. Editorial and production pipeline: A strategic annual editorial and production pipeline is developed to facilitate a flow of research and foresight products that tell a consistent and cohesive story about UNICEF Innocenti’s work. 5. Website: The research and foresight work undertaken by Innocenti is made available to key audiences through an up-to-date website presence that helps optimize the impact of the work in terms of results for children. 6. Knowledge management: UNICEF Innocenti maintains a record of all its research and foresight products, and the reach and impact of the work is monitored.

Key accountabilities, duties, and tasks:

1. Major products, including SOWC a. Work with the Chief of Editorial and Flagships and UNICEF Innocenti authors, researchers, foresight and policy specialists and communication colleagues to conceptualize themes, narratives and research approaches to major products.

b. Work with Editor-in-Chief of The State of the World’s Children report with tasks that can include conceptualizing the report, editing, researching, coordinating and managing production as needed.

c. Coordinate work streams that allow for the timely production and publishing of UNICEF Innocenti products.

2. Strategic Partnerships and Engagement with Relevant Partners a. Assist Chief of Editorial and Flagships to identify internal and external partners including authors, researchers, foresight and policy specialists and communication colleagues. b. Work with Chief of Editorial and Flagships to manage relationships with internal and external partners.

3. Writing and editing a. Write, rewrite, research, edit, copy-edit and project manage creation of major products as required. b. Supervise researchers, writers, editors and copy editors as necessary.

4. Editorial and production pipeline a. Contribute to the management of the publication pipeline, taking responsibility for coordination of some products or series of products as requested.

5. Website a. Support the sharing of new knowledge, evidence and lessons through managing the the Innocenti website (within UNICEF.org). b. Draft, and coordinate the production by others of web-friendly content that helps highlight the main findings and recommendations arising from Innocenti’s research and foresight work.

6. Knowledge Management a. Work with the Chief, Editorial and Flagships to maintain oversight of Innocenti outputs, including those in production and planned. b. Support the monitoring of the reach and impact of Innocenti products, including data collection concerning Innocenti’s own website and citations in academic journals.

Recruitment Qualifications:

Education: Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations.

Experience: Five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media. International and national work experience Background/familiarity with Emergency situations.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) 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.

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. 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:

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.