Communications Officer

Contract

This is a NO-B contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about NO-B contracts.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of the Regional Director (RDD) provides the visionary leadership and, together with BOS, supports the Country Offices and all the other Divisions in the efficient delivery of the EPW through agile transformation and implementing WHO Value Charter. RDD has the overall responsibility for the planning, execution and evaluation of WHO programmes at the regional and country levels and in strengthening the alignment and joint work across the three levels of the organization. It is the safeguard of the WHO Values Charter. It encompasses the enabling functions of resource mobilization and alliances, external relations and communications, and support to governing bodies of the European Region, in addition to organization development, staff development and learning, and transformation. It also specifically includes the representative function of WHO with the institutions of the European Union., the EURO Ombudsman who reports directly and independently to the Regional Director, and the committee on staff health and wellbeing.

The Communications, Identity and Publications (COM) unit will support the Regional Director and the work of the Regional Office by strategically leading, coordinating and overseeing the communications activities within the Regional Office and by generating visibility for RD's public interventions. It will be responsible for the planning and coordination of all communications, media relations and publications, for capacity building in communications across the office, for guiding and coordinating the divisional and Country Office communications work, for internal communications (in collaboration with RDO organization development), EPW branding and identity, for liaising and contributing to risk communications, and for providing strategic communications advice to senior management, EURO Divisions, Country Offices, GDOs, networks and partners on communication issues. The Unit also ensures the implementation of the communication strategy and its implementation and monitoring. As part of providing and maintaining the various communications platforms, it will responsible for the development, functioning and sustainability of the EURO web site, the EURO intranet and various social media channels.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The purpose of the position is to communicate results and advocate for health at national level, and to promote communications on national health issues and developments, including the work of the WHO Country Office, at regional and global levels. This will be achieved through actively supporting the country work and BCA (Biennial Collaborative Agreement) through the implementation of the core and project related activities - including preparatory processes and gathering background information from country, supporting missions and other means to deliver results, follow-up on agreements, changes and developments and actively participate in WHO related country level activities.

Key duties:

1. Develop, implement, coordinate and support an EPW communications action-plan for the WHO Country Office.

2. Plan and develop, with support from Country Office (CO) and RO (Regional Office) staff when necessary, communications messages and products on country work for public and professional groups (policy-makers and health professionals, media, web and social media audiences, and the public).

3. Develop and implement selected public health and health care campaigns (e.g. emergency/risk communication, non-communicable diseases (tobacco-control, air pollution), immunization, health sector reforms, mental health, digital health, health equity, international standards in health) including messages, written and multimedia materials, dissemination and follow-up.

4. Contribute to Regional communications strategies and plans, and coordinate/share information with the Regional communications team on key communications activities including capacity-building.

5. Review the national social media landscape, identify appropriate platform(s) to build a WHO country office presence, and maintain this presence through regular postings and engagement on such accounts/platforms.

6. Ensure proper visibility of the various initiatives managed by WHO and the broad collaboration (including development partners and donors) in these areas of work (e.g. provide input to appropriate newsletters, arrange press briefings and conferences, utilize appropriately the emblems of organizations in all project communications, etc.).

7. Support the implementation of the WHO corporate (Global and Regional) communication strategy in Serbia and support WHO Country Office (teams and individuals) on communication-related matters.

8. Network, coordinate and manage the contacts of main communication counterparts among various authorities and communication channels at national level, including UN partners, as well ensure regular media monitoring.

9. Maintain an up-to-date media database for media in the country and liaise with them on a regular basis to ensure positive and optimal coverage for the WHO work.

10. Support the WR on strategic external and internal communications.

11. Carry out other tasks as required to support the internal and external communication of the organization.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Bachelor's level) in communications, public relations, journalism, psychology, public health or related social science. Desirable: University degree (Master's level) in any of the above disciplines.

Experience

Essential: At least two years of national professional experience in arranging and coordinating information sharing, communication activities, medial relations and message development. Demonstrated experience with online communications, including web and social media. Desirable: Experience organizing press conferences and briefings. Demonstrated relevant work experience with(in) WHO and/or UN agencies or other international organizations or entities active in the health sector.

Skills

Demonstrated knowledge of WHO's mission and work in the country. Proficiency in standard text, spreadsheet and presentation software applications. Computer, IT and multimedia skills (including use of internet, social media, Web, power point, and experience with photographs and videos).Emotional intelligence; Ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Moving forward in a changing environment Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Serbian. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French,RussianGerman.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at EUR 40,788 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.