Communications Assistant

Mid Senior

Contract

This is a NPSA-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about NPSA-5 contracts.

Background

UNDP in Cyprus works to support the ongoing peace and confidence building process between the communities of Cyprus. Since 2001, the UNDP programme in Cyprus has been delivering mainly EU funded interventions, to support Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, encouraging dialogue and cooperation, and supporting the development of environmental, economic and social infrastructure on the island.

As such UNDP in Cyprus provides a diverse package of programmatic services to a range of partners which contribute

to building a conducive environment for the peace process. In particular, the implementation of confidence building measures contributes to the building of trust between the two communities while demonstrating to the public at large that the communities can work together on critical issues that are of importance to all inhabitants of Cyprus across three focus areas:

- Empowering communities to protect cultural heritage

- Strengthening inter-communal mechanisms

- Improving environmental, social and economic infrastructure

Within this context, UNDP is seeking a Communications Assistant who is responsible for the overall support of implementation of communications strategies and activities for the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH) to ensure effective and efficient communication of UNDP with its partners, the media and targeted audiences under the direct supervision of the Head of Office

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of this position is to support a variety of communications activities within the project framework ensuring high quality and accuracy of work. She/he works in close collaboration with Programme and Operations staff to ensure relevant requirements are fulfilled and reported against in a timely manner with required quality, following the highest standards in line with UNDP guidelines and procedures.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Supporting implementation of the communications strategy and plans by conducting various communications-related activities, producing communications products and quality assurance;
• Supporting implementation of Digital Heritage project activities of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH);
• Supporting the design and implementation of Community Engagement Activities with a particular focus on Women and Youth;
• Supporting facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing;
• Contributing to implementation of appropriate administrative tasks;

Supporting implementation of the communications strategy and plans by conducting various communications-related activities, producing communications products and quality assurance control including:

• Identifying and proposing communications activities in line with the Communications Strategy and work plans;
• Developing appropriate communications products and conducting activities that ensure effective communication with targeted audience(s);
• Prepare media advisories and press-releases on the activities of the programme/project in English and oversee and quality assure translation into local languages;
• Disseminating communications products to appropriate recipients, drafting and reviewing of speeches delivered by Senior Management;
• Drafting success stories (human interest stories) and other communications products for distribution to external audiences;
• Maintaining close contact with the media representatives, providing support to building partnership with the media;
• Ensuring all communications activities are in accordance with EU visibility guidelines and coordination with EU partners for dissemination including EU Infopoint;
• Pitch stories about the projects and impact of activities to targeted audiences;
• Monitoring media and inform designate staff on issues of relevance to UNDP and the EU;
• Providing background information and briefing materials per request;
• Producing periodical and ad hoc reports on communications activities, including media analysis;
• Supporting implementation of events and campaigns by developing and implementing specified communications plans;
• Prepare information material/guidelines on the projects structure and functioning and deliver information sessions for the local communities;
• Ensuring regular updates of digital communications channels including preparation of information, drafting of posts and regular updates of the projects website and social media accounts;
• Support beneficiaries to showcase their work and further develop good practices with peers;
• Coordinate the work of production and printing agencies involved in creation of audio/video/animation/print products on the request of the programme/project;
• Organize press-conferences other Media related events as part of the programme/project activities;

Supporting implementation of Digital Heritage project activities of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH) by focusing on the following results:

• Ensure to support the management and implementation of project activities under digital heritage components for the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH) as outlined in the project document;
• Oversee the production and dissemination of digital heritage products ensuring consultation with stakeholders and quality assurance
• Preparation of terms of reference and specifications for the goods and services required;
• Lliase with the procurement unit for the preparation of solicitations documents;
• Taking part in evaluation processes, when appointed;
• Administering contracts of suppliers and consultants as assigned;
• Ensure compliance with contract conditions, rules, regulations, policies, and internal control mechanisms;
• Checking and providing feedback on submissions of suppliers;
• Ensuring that all necessary documents of each contract are filed according to requirements.

Supporting the design and implementation of Community Engagement Activities with a particular focus on Women and Youth

• Conducts field visits as well as focus group discussions and individual interviews with relevant stakeholders, with particular focus on women’s and youth organizations from both communities;
• Assesses the level of knowledge communities have on the work of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and local heritage;
• Provides recommendations for how to effectively increase inter-communal exchanges around cultural heritage and increase women’s and youth participation and awareness of the work of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage;
• Undertakes research into best practices in the field of community engagement in the protection of cultural heritage;
• Designs a community engagement plan which includes an awareness raising component and specific activities aiming at increased youth and women’s participation.
• Organize and facilitate series of online and offline workshops, trainings and other community engagement activities for the raising of awareness for the maintenance of the completed TCCH projects.
• Organize and coordinate community engagement activities with through consultaion and participation of all Heritage Youth Ambassadors (HYA) and act as focal point.

Supporting facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

• Supporting the team in identifying, documenting and drafting of best practices and lessons learned;
• Organizing annual training for the team on effective communications and advocacy;
• Assisting in systematic capturing of key achievements and lessons learnt of UNDP activities for knowledge sharing.

Contributing to implementation of appropriate administrative tasks:

• Conducting tasks related to administrative support of daily operations of the Communications Unit.

The Communications Assistant will be based at the UNDP Cyprus Office in Nicosia. He/She will be reporting to, and working under the supervision of the UNDP Cyprus Head of Office.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area

Name

Definition

Communications

Campaign management

Ability to produce and implement communications and advocacy campaigns which lead to impactful change

Communications

Creative direction and copywriting

Ability to creatively communicate concepts in an engaging and simple way

Communications

Digital strategy

Ability to plan the use of resources through digital channels to reach and engage target audiences effectively and to achieve particular objectives

Communications

Writing and editing

Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages.

Communications

Media Relations

Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages

Communications

Marketing research and data analysis

Ability to create actionable marketing intelligence based on primary and secondary research and data analysis

Business Management

Communication

Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience

Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

• Secondary Education with training in communications.
• Bachelor’s Level Degree in Social Sciences, Communication, International Relations, Cultural Management, English Literature, Social Anthropology, Urban Sociology or equivalent would be desired, but it is not a requirement.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

• Minimum five years (with secondary education) or 2 years (with Bachelor’s degree) experience in delivering communication services to promote the activities of international development organization and or NGO at the national or international level

Required skills

• Experience in website administration (including content management system) and administering social networks
• Proven experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc), experience in office and collaboration software packages and knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is required (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Teams, Outlook and SharePoint).

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Previous work experience in UNDP is an asset
• Experience in facilitating and designing community engagement, confidence-building and awareness raising activities is an asset.
• Previous experience in working in bi-communal projects
• Knowledge of the Cypriot cultural heritage, civil society context is an asset

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Greek and/or Turkish is required.

Professional Certificates

• Certification on communications is an asset.

Other

• Nationals or permanent residents in Cyprus are eligible.
• Valid driving license is required for the use of office cars for the official purposes
• Women candidates are encouraged to apply.

Travel:

a) Include any official travel expected to be associated with performing the functions

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Annexes to the TOR

• UNDP Cyprus Website: https://www.cy.undp.org/

Apply now

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org