Communication Specialist (Media and Emergencies), P-3, Fixed Term Position, Rome, Italy, Private Fund Raising and Partnerships

Overview

Provide communication support to National Committees and country offices with a private sector fundraising role.

You have:

• An Advanced University Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Media or another relevant technical field is required.
• A minimum of 5 years progressively responsible professional work experience in external communication is required.
• Background and familiarity with strategic communication during high-profile emergencies is required.
• Familiarity with Data asset Management Systems (WeShare) and UNICEF Internal systems is required.
• Experience producing and coordinating production of sensitive media materials such as key messages, talking points, press releases is required.
• Experience in handling media requests and ability to provide media outreach guidance and liaison functions is required.
• Ability to engage strategically with various stakeholders is required.
• Proven writing, rewriting, research, and text editing skills are required.
• Ability to handle multiple assignments with competing deadlines is required.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese or Russian), preferably French or Spanish, or a local language is an asset.
• Experience working in/or supporting UNICEF offices in emergency or humanitarian settings is an asset.
• Country office experience is required; experience in emergency settings is considered an asset.
• Relevant experience at the country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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 142,356 USD and 186,404 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 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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to a Champion

UNICEF's Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) Division based in Itay, Rome works to deliver income, influence, and brand recognition for UNICEF globally. It aims to achieve results for children by maximizing UNlCEF's private sector fundraising, partnerships, and engagement activities, including work with National Committees, regional and country offices. Within PFP, the Private Sector Communication and Engagement Section accelerate income and influence by positioning UNICEF (including National Committees and PSFR Country Offices) as the partner of choice for Private Sector audiences, including during humanitarian crises. It provides bespoke communication support, visibility, and recognition to high-value private sector partners.

How can you make a difference?

This post is to provide communication support to National Committees and country offices with a private sector fundraising role on media relations and emergencies.

Under the supervision of the Chief, Private Sector Communication and Engagement, the position will provide National Committees and country offices with a private sector fundraising role with the requisite information on UNICEF programmes, policies and issues of concern and develop specific strategies for and with them for humanitarian crises. The position acts as liaison between National Committees, UNICEF Country Offices, Regional Offices, Division of Global Communication and Advocacy (DGCA) and the Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) on communication issues related to media and emergencies.

Based in Rome, this role strengthens UNICEF’s private sector income and influence by providing timely, coordinated communication support to National Committees and private sector fundraising country offices—particularly on media relations and during humanitarian emergencies. Working under the Chief, Private Sector Communication and Engagement, the post supports crisis communication planning, ensures partners have accurate information on UNICEF programmes and policies, and serves as a key liaison with Country/Regional Offices, DGCA and EMOPS on media and emergency-related communication.

Responsibilities include: Media Advisory Support, Emergency Content Coordination, Crisis Communications Support, Emergency Surge Deployment, Outreach Effectiveness Review, Field Visit Support, and Spokesperson backup

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD - Communication Specialist (Media and Emergencies)_P3.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An Advanced University Degree in one of the following fields is required: Communications, Public Relations, Media or another relevant technical field. A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) in a relevant area combined with 2 additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 5 years progressively responsible professional work experience in external communication is required.
• Skills: Background and familiarity with strategic communication during high-profile emergencies is required.
• Familiarity with Data asset Management Systems (WeShare) and UNICEF Internal systems to upload, manage, and share up-to-date materials (reports, press releases, key messages, SitReps, appeals, publications) with private sector stakeholders is required.
• Experience producing and coordinating production of sensitive media materials such as key messages, talking points, press releases, briefings in required.
• Experience in handling media requests and ability to provide media outreach guidance and liaison functions for Country Offices and National Committees is required.
• Ability to engage strategically with various stakeholders (e.g., regional offices, country offices, National Committees, PFP income streams, DGCA and EMOPS) to ensure smooth coordination and timely dissemination of emergency-related communication and fundraising materials is required.
• Proven writing, rewriting, research, and text editing skills, particularly in writing for different audiences are required.
• Ability to handle multiple assignments with competing deadlines is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese or Russian), preferably French or Spanish, or a local language is an asset.
• Experience working in/or supporting UNICEF offices in emergency or humanitarian settings, during crises such as conflict, disease outbreaks, or natural disasters is an asset.
• Country office experience is required, with experience in emergency settings considered an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

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.

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

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.

Potential interview questions