Communications Specialist

Volunteering

Overview

Lead communication, outreach, and advocacy strategies focusing on media.

You have:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in communications, public relations, journalism or relevant field is required.
• At least 5 years of professional work experience at national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy, including in media relations.
• Fluent in English.
• Extensive experience in the use of social media is necessary.
• Experience in media relations is an asset.

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.

Eligibility criteria

Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Description of task

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 CO, including projects, programmes and corporate change initiatives;
• Design, develop, and implement gender-responsive communication and outreach/advocacy strategies, including media strategies;
• Integrate communication, advocacy and outreach strategies into proposals for project/programmes and other initiatives;
• Monitor and analyze print and social media on an ongoing basis and prepare reports;
• Launch in-country UN Women/ UN system corporate and local/regional campaigns and special events.

Lead the development and dissemination of advocacy materials for Nigeria CO

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

Manage media relations for the CO

• Manage and promote presence and image of UN Women and its leadership in the country

• Lead relationship building with the press in country and maintain and update a database of press contacts;

• Provide timely and clear responses to media inquiries and to a variety of inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence; identify topics, background information, news-related developments and coverage of interest;
• Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions with the press and other media groups;
• Facilitate interviews with senior managers; connect media with UN Women subject experts;
• Finalize talking points to guide media engagements by the Country Representative

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

Oversee the CO web / online presence

• Oversee and maintain CO webpage/website, 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.

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

Qualifications/Requirements

Required degree level:

Master degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in communications, public relations, journalism or relevant field is required;
  • A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Required experience:

60 Months

Experience remark:

• At least 5 years of professional work experience at national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy, including in media relations;

Language skills:

• English(Mandatory), Level - Fluent

Area of expertise:

Public information and reporting, Journalism, mass media and broadcasting

Area of expertise details:

• Extensive experience in the use of social media;
• Experience in media relations is an asset.

Driving license:

No

Competencies values:

Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Knowledge Sharing, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

Application procedure:

* Not yet registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First register your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/signup.

Important: After creating your account, complete all sections of your profile and submit it. Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink. Lastly, select the special call to which you would like to apply.

* Already registered in the UNV Talent Pool?

First update your profile at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/profile.

Then go to ‘My Page’ at https://vmam.unv.org/candidate/mypage and click on the ‘Special Calls’ hyperlink to select the special call to which you would like to apply.

Application deadline: 20 December 2020

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 5 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org