Communications Senior Officer

Contract

This is a IICA-1 contract. This kind of contract is known as International Individual Contractor Agreements. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's an external contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about IICA-1 contracts.

Background information- ECR

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

Background Information - Job-specific

SDG Lab at UN Geneva

Led by UN Geneva, the SDG Lab is a multi-stakeholder initiative that aims to create more systemic collaboration within the Geneva SDG Ecosystem and in the international community to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG Lab creates space for interdisciplinary, multisectoral collaboration, and innovation while consistently testing assumptions and asking questions about what is needed to achieve the 2030 Agenda through the paradigms of innovation, integration and collaboration.

Functional Responsibilities

The incumbent will work closely with the Senior Advisor, Communications to achieve the core objectives and strategic priorities of the SDG Lab. The incumbent provides effective communications, policy, logistical, and administrative support to help the Lab advance delivery of the 2030 Agenda.

The personnel should ensure an environment of professionalism and teamwork at all times, setting exemplary standards of conduct for the SDG Lab and external partners.

Social media and community engagement

• Lead and coordinate daily monitoring and updating of the Lab’s social media tools (i.e. Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms). Prepare 1 social media update per working day across the Lab’s tools and monitor trends and community engagement levels; Compile monthly social media statistics; Contribute to the review of social media packages from the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC) and other UN and Geneva Ecosystem partners and prepare relevant SDG content to promote on the Lab’s social media tools; and attend internal and external communication-focused meetings and prepare summary notes with follow-up action items.

Web sites

• Maintain and regularly update the SDG Lab website and related Learning Journey site. Research and write 2-3 web updates per month on the Lab’s activities and post the update, together with relevant assets (e.g. images, videos, links), on the English and French version of the Lab website (where applicable); Add events to the website events calendar; Compile monthly web statistics; Serve as technical focal point to troubleshoot website issues and liaise with external website platform host (Webflow) for support; and propose and implement modifications and updates to the Lab’s sites.

Event communications and coordination

• Prepare event documentation and materials (e.g. flyer, invitation, list of participants, etc.) in accordance with the Lab’s brand guide and existing templates; Draft post-event summaries for posting on the SDG Lab website and disseminating with partners of the Lab. At events, take photographs and prepare social media content (e.g. tweets, LinkedIn posts); Support in the set up and tear down of events (e.g. banners, documentation, ushering, etc.).

Outreach and reporting

• Write, prepare (Mailchimp) and disseminate the SDG Lab News Dispatch newsletter and other email communications, as well as propose topics and items to be featured; Attend SDG Lab meetings and prepare notes for the record and disseminate as appropriate; Support the Lab’s activities around innovation promotion and community building, including providing communications support to the Geneva 2030 Ecosystem and ad hoc initiatives/groups supported by the Lab.

• Support annual reporting activities of the SDG Lab including drafting text and collating articles, visual assets, statistics, etc.; Work with Senior Advisor to coordinate approvals and liaise with internal and external reporting focal points to submit content and serve as focal point for submission and follow ups.

Policy and administrative support

• Prepare briefing materials for appointments, conference calls, meetings and missions, take minutes and ensure relevant follow-up actions.

• Assist with SDG Lab events, workshops and other internal and external events, including corresponding with participants, and providing on-site support, including taking minutes and supporting logistical coordination.

• Support the selection and recruitment of SDG Lab Interns and their onboarding. Serve as first-level supervisor as required.

• Maintain and update the SDG Lab contacts database and distribution lists.

• Assists with other related tasks for the SDG Lab as required

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Advanced university degree in Communications, Journalism, Media Studies, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences, or related field is required.
• A Bachelor’s degree in any of the above-mentioned fields or related subjects will be accepted in lieu of the master's degree with an additional 2 years of relevant experience.

Experience

• A minimum of two years of relevant experience in communications, public information, journalism, social media, international relations, public relations, or a related area is required.
• Experience in drafting and editing communications content, including social media, web stories, newsletters, talking points, and other such material, is required.
• Experience in managing a professional social media presence in an international setting is required.
• Experience in communicating on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs is desirable.
• Experience in supporting project management is desirable.

Languages

• Fluent spoken and written English is required. Fluency in French is desirable.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Contract level: International ICA 1 (ICS-9) Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

**************This position is based in Switzerland (Family Duty Station) and is not exempt from Swiss laws, including but not limited to laws regarding taxation, social security, accident and health insurance**************

Additional Considerations

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.