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Communications Consultant

WFP Innovation Accelerator, INKA, Munich, Germany

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We are currently seeking to fill an Innovation Accelerator Events Project Manager position in the INKA division, based in Munich, Germany.

Brief description of WFP Innovation Accelerator, INKA:

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the United Nations frontline agency fighting hunger. WFP reaches more than 100 million people every day, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with smallholder farmers, communities, and governments to improve nutrition and build resilience.

The WFP Innovation Accelerator was named by Fast Company as Most Innovative Non-Profit Organization 2021 for its work in identifying, nurturing, and scaling disruptive start-ups and innovations to end global hunger. Based in Munich, Germany, the WFP Innovation Accelerator provides WFP employees, entrepreneurs and start-ups with funding, hands-on support, and access to WFP’s global operations. Through the Innovation Accelerator, WFP is leveraging unprecedented advances in digital innovation - such as mobile technology, artificial intelligence and blockchain - and new business models to transform the way it serves vulnerable communities across the world. In 2020, Accelerator supported innovations that positively impacted the lives of 3.7 million people globally. Most recently, the Accelerator runs programmes for external partners such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others.

More information here: http://innovation.wfp.org and https://youtu.be/OnKkQlRdh2c.

General Information:

• Title of Post: Communications Consultant
• Unit: Innovation Accelerator, Innovation and Knowledge Management Division (INKA)
• Country: Germany
• Duty Station: Munich
• Initial contract duration: 5 months
• Expected Start Date: 01.10.2021

Duties and responsibilities:

The Communications Consultant will report to the Communications and Marketing Lead (INKA), and will work in close coordination with the Communications, Advocacy and Marketing Division (CAM). The Communications Consultant is expected to:

1. Support development & implementation of a yearly communication strategy for the Innovation Accelerator:

2. Carry out external communication on innovation and technology; develop and guide corporate and Accelerator-level communications priorities;

3. Produce and maintain up-to-date communication material for the Innovation Accelerator, specific to audiences, and both online and traditional channels;
4. Develop media relations plan with proactive media outreach and pitching of stories to strategic news/information outlets;
5. Liaise and support media relations for both the Accelerator and Accelerator-supported innovations;
6. Attract high-potential social innovations from within WFP and external networks through events, PR and digital marketing activities;
7. Position the WFP Innovation Accelerator as industry/sector leaders by drafting and editing articles, blogs, press releases to promote Innovation Accelerator;

8. Liaise with the Innovation and Knowledge Management Division’s Communications Officer, the Communications, Advocacy and Marketing Division (CAM) and the Government and Private Sector Partnerships Divisions as required.

9. Support communication content creation for innovation projects which take part in the Innovation Accelerator:

10. Identify stories and major communications moments; lead content gathering, creation and marketing;

11. Support the production of content and visual assets (e.g. blog content, social media content, website content, graphics, audio/video materials, presentations, etc.) with writing, graphic design, video editing and/or audio editing, as applicable, in coordination with the Marketing and Communications team;
12. Assist with project reporting requirements and information management between the Accelerator, project leads and external parties;

13. Support innovation projects with communication advice and prepare communication material as required.

14. Support other partnerships, communications and events needs as required:

15. Provide input into communication and fundraising elements as required;

16. Prepare input, talking points, briefings for WFP senior management, inter-agency opportunities and donor communications;
17. Support the Accelerator’s fundraising activities and participation at external events;
18. Liaise with the Innovation and Knowledge Management Division’s Communications Officer, the Communications Division and the Government and Private Sector Partnerships Divisions as required;
19. Support core processes of the Accelerator (e.g. innovation challenge; bootcamps; sprint programme; thought leadership; innovation fund) as required;
20. Execute any other task required to support the activities of the Head of the WFP Innovation Accelerator and the Director of Innovation and Knowledge Management.

Required qualifications and experience:

Education:

The candidate must have an undergraduate degree; a degree in business, communications or international development preferred.

Experience:

At least 3 years of progressively responsible national and/or international experience in communications, reporting, marketing and/or business-related positions. Experience in innovation is beneficial.

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Experience in communications within a global organization required; preferably experience in media relations.
• Strong conceptual thinking to develop new communication strategies and coordinate projects.
• Ability to produce high-quality written materials, including graphically-based presentations as well as text documents.
• Ability to interact with leaders and external audiences with maturity and tact.
• Collaborative spirit able to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures and to act with credibility and diplomacy.
• Strong time management skills with an ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, problems and obstacles, and an ability to juggle competing priorities successfully and to work to tight deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy.
• Sets a high-level of ambition for the project and their own work to achieve impact for people facing hunger whom we serve; and
• Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the UN World Food Programme.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in oral and written English is mandatory. Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish), Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages) or German is beneficial.

Terms and Conditions:

WFP offers a competitive compensation package which will be determined by the contract type and selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Please visit the following website for detailed information on working with WFP: http://www.wfp.org

Click on: “Our work” and “Countries” to learn more about WFP’s operations.

VA Reference no: 147441

Closing Date: 8 September 2021

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply. WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

Fighting Hunger Worldwide