Communication Specialist - P3 (Fixed Term) - GCA, NYHQ - post number 21643

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 140,639 USD and 184,155 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, hope

The Youth Engagement Specialist reports to the Chief Youth Engagement Section, who is at P5.

How can you make a difference?

This staff member will drive the development of effective, integrated strategies for youth engagement in advocacy and campaigning. They will work collaboratively with colleagues across teams, as well as with external partners, to create meaningful opportunities for young people to take action in support of children’s rights through UNICEF’s campaigns and priority initiatives.

Duties include: 1. Youth Engagement strategy development and implementation:

• Participate in the development and implementation of robust youth engagement strategies, with SMART outcomes, compelling calls to action, and a clear theory of change. Analyze political, economic and cultural trends, conduct audience analysis and market research as relevant and identify potential opportunities and challenges. Propose new approaches and innovative ideas as part of the strategy development process.

2. Youth Communication content development:

• Design and implement effective communication plans that will deliver the aims of key youth engagement strategies that will mobilize young people for the cause of children.

3. Youth Engagement Platform management:

• Provide technical guidance on content moderation, community management, content creation and M&E for youth focused digital platforms/communities.

4. U-Report country coordination:

• Coordination of local U-report programme implementation and design actions and polls, liaising with programme teams, steering committee and country partners.

5. Youth Advocates:

• Lead implementation of a local Youth Advocates programme, including: identifying potential youth advocates; designing and implementing their workplans; developing communication plans; liaising with NYHQ; supporting youth advocates in preparation for events/media; documenting learnings and successes.

6. Safeguarding and participation:

• Ensure adherence to principles of child/youth participation and safeguarding in the development/implementation of all campaigns, communication products and platforms.

7. Youth Engagement M&E:

• Establish baselines against which results are regularly monitored. Liaise with monitoring specialists to identify campaign KPIs and set up tracking systems. Prepare campaign reports, including milestone reports, progress reports and final reports, and liaise with the relevant teams, divisions and partners for report content.

8. Project and budget management:

• Coordinate day-to-day delivery of key projects/ workstreams, reviewing work plans to ensure progress and delivery while addressing obstacles and bottlenecks. Ensure effectiveness and transparent use of budget and resources.

9. Youth Engagement capacity building & Knowledge Management:

• Contribute to building internal UNICEF capacities in youth engagement, through coaching, training and sharing of expertise.

10. Stakeholder engagement:

• Identify, build and maintain formal and informal partnerships and networks through proactive collaboration with strategic internal and external partners. Conduct mappings of key stakeholders on the campaign focus issues; identify the relevant stakeholders for potential partnership with UNICEF; prepare partnership materials and briefs and support partnership management and communication.

11. Others:

• Undertake other key responsibilities as required.

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

Education:

• Advanced University degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, International Relations, International Development, or another related field. or \* A first level university degree with an additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy/ campaigning and communications focused on young people is required.
• Experience in leading the development and implementation of youth engagement strategies, with specific, measurable and timebound objectives and performance indicators.
• Proven experience in deploying a range of advocacy and communication tactics.
• Experience in building and maintaining a network of stakeholders, and in working with coalitions.
• Experience in social and other forms of digital media.
• Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex policy ideas in succinct, engaging ways through campaign narratives and creative tactics.
• Demonstrated experience in design and management of projects, including planning, monitoring, evaluation of results and budget management.
• Knowledge of children’s rights, public policy, international development and humanitarian issues.
• Knowledge of child safeguarding and ethics of working with children and youth.
• 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.

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: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (1)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.