Communications Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Established in December 2012, the UN Women Country Office for Jordan works in close collaboration with the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the UN Country Team and the Civil Society to advance the women’s national agenda, promote women’s empowerment and gender equality. Within this framework, the Communications Unit works on strengthening strategic partnerships at the country level, while ensuring sustained and coherent social mobilization with national stakeholders towards the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment. All these areas of work are supported by extensive internal and external communication, drawing attention to the specific projects and campaigns. As such, the Unit is also leading communication and advocacy efforts to enhance the visibility of gender-related instances at the country level, including the implementation of national, regional, and global advocacy campaigns, such as on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence etc.

International UN Specialist Volunteers in Jordan are entitled to: - Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA); - Annual and learning leaves; - Free life and medical insurance; and - Free access to different learning platforms.

For more information on UN Volunteer benefits, entitlements and support, please visit: https://www.unv.org/volunteer-your-country-conditions-service

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Country Representative or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Communications Officer Volunteer will:

1. Lead the development and implementation of communication and outreach/advocacy strategies and plans, with a specific focus on media • Conduct communication needs assessments for the UN Women Country Office (CO), including projects, programmes and corporate change initiatives; • Design, develop, and implement communication and outreach/advocacy strategies, including media strategies; ensure gender perspective; • Integrate communication, advocacy and outreach strategies into proposals for project/programmes and other initiatives; • Monitor and analyse print and social media and prepare reports; • Manage in-country UN Women/ UN system corporate and local campaigns and special events;

2. Lead the development and dissemination of advocacy materials in the country • Develop and produce communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and articles and coordinate its dissemination through effective channels; • Identify and launch information opportunities, activities, approaches and platforms and partners; • Provide advice on advocacy materials and coordinate launching flagship initiatives and publications in the country; • Lead the engagement and supervision of video producers and other communication specialists to produce audio/ visual material on UN Women’s work; • Develop brochures, factsheets, stories from the field to inform media and general public at the country and regional level; • Follow guidelines from and report to HQ

3. Manage media relations for the Country Office • Lead relationship building with press in the country; maintain and update database of relevant press; • Respond timely and clearly to media inquiries and to a variety of inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence; identify topics, background information, news-related development and coverage of interest; • Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions with press; • Facilitate interviews with the Country Representative; connect media with UN Women subject experts; • Finalize talking points.

4. Build and maintain partnerships and maintain relations with donors • Identify and develop new communication partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility; manage and nurture existing partnerships; • Liaise with advocacy partners and undertake outreach to civil society organizations, governments, and other groups to ensure that newsworthy information reaches the public and donors; • Guide and collaborate closely with communication colleagues in other offices to ensure consistency with corporate policies, messaging and initiatives; • Submit packages for programme initiatives for donor review.

5. Oversee the CO’s web/ online presence • Oversee and maintain websites, including developing design and content; • Coordinate COs’ web-presence in the line with corporate web policy; • Oversee and manage social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy.

6. Facilitate knowledge building and sharing • Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned from CO directly linked to programme country goals and activities and ensure exchange of information; • Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy as appropriate; • Perform any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

• Results/Expected Outputs:

As an active UN Women Jordan team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UN Women Jordan and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: • Quality communications strategy and timely implementation which leads to greater exposure and understanding of UN Women’s work • Quality and relevant advocacy materials and content or the website and social media channels including audio-visual material; • Regular interactions with mass media, as shown by coverage • Quality and timely guidance and support to partners towards the implementation of communication plans and assets; • Design and branding communication content in line with corporate standards;. • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment; • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UN Women; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UN Women procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UN Women in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UN Women’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

at national or international level in communications, public relations, or advocacy, including in media relations. and; • Experience in the use of social media;
• Strong knowledge of managing web-based knowledge management systems; • Strong understanding of production, graphic design and photography standards; • Strong knowledge of social media platforms and experience in social media outreach; • Strong oral and written communication and editing skills; • Experience in media relations is an asset; • Demonstrated interest in gender equality and women’s empowerment is an asset; • experience in the Arab States region will be considered an asset;

Location: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located in the Middle East. Bound by Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, Red Sea to the south and the Palestinian National Authority to the west.

Weather: Jordan’s climate can be classified as semi-arid (Bsh) on the Koeppen-Geiger classification. It features a hot, dry climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The climate is influenced by Jordan's location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the eastern Mediterranean area. January is the coldest month, with temperatures from 5°C to 10°C, and August is the hottest month at 20°C to 35°C. Daily temperatures can be quite hot, especially in the summer; on some days it can be 40°C or more, especially when a hot, dry southerly wind blows. Such winds can sometimes be very strong and can cause sandstorms. About 70 percent of the average rainfall in the country falls between November and March; June through August are often rainless. Rainfall varies from season to season and from year to year. Precipitation is often concentrated in violent storms, causing erosion and local flooding, especially in the winter months.

Safety and Security: Jordan is a relatively stable country. The potentials for internal or external armed conflict are considered very unlikely in the current political environment. Peaceful demonstrations, and sometimes road blockages, do occur in Jordan, motivated by domestic factors such as unemployment, deprivation of resources and development or for regional issues such as solidarity with the Palestinian cause or with the Syrian crises. Most of these events are driven by civil society unions and Islamic parties. Domestic tribal civil unrest sometimes turns violent, especially outside main cities, due to tribal disputes or socio-economic reasons. In all occasions law enforcement agencies usually manage to contain the situation rapidly. Road traffic accidents are the primary threat against UN personnel in Jordan. Poor road conditions and bad driving behaviours are the main reasons for the high rate of traffic accidents. Amman is a category A duty station with security level 1.

Transportation and housing: Taxis as well as ride-hailing services (Uber and Careem) are abundant and affordable in Amman. Medical facilities are generally very good, particularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Public minibuses are the most common form of public transport. They normally only leave when full, so waiting times of an hour or more are inevitable, especially in rural areas. The larger air-con buses offer a speedy and reliable service, departing according to a fixed schedule. Housing is readily available with rents for one- to two-bedroom apartments ranging between 500 and 800 JD (1 JD = 0.708 USD) depending on the location.

Health Services: Medical facilities are generally very good, particularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Almost all doctors (and most pharmacists) speak English; many have studied abroad.

Language: The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken – especially in the cities. Many Jordanians have travelled or have been educated abroad so French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken, but to a lesser extent.

Learn more about Jordan from the Ministry of Tourism’s website: https://www.mota.gov.jo/EN/Pages/Get_to_know_Jordan