Communications Specialist

Overview

Support UPOV's communication strategy and develop digital content

You have:

• First-level university degree in journalism, communications, international relations, digital marketing, or other relevant fields such as social sciences or humanities.
• At least three years of professional experience in communications, preferably in an international setting, including planning and delivering digital communications.
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.
• Working knowledge of French, German or Spanish.
• Strong judgment and ability to anticipate potential sensitivities.
• Extensive knowledge of digital communications trends, platforms, tools, metrics and best practices.
• Excellent creative writing and oral communication skills in English.
• Ability to familiarize with and understand complex or technical subjects, and to apply new knowledge.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and to deliver a high volume of time-sensitive outputs while ensuring meticulous attention to detail.
• Adaptable to new environments, skills, tasks and demands.
• Strong interpersonal and team working skills, and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Good understanding of the work of UPOV and intellectual property.
• Ability to create and edit visuals (such as with Photoshop, Canva, etc.).
• Knowledge on web publishing (CMS and/or HTML).
• Ability to adapt quickly to new software.

Contract

This is a P-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 107,711 USD and 146,298 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

1. Organizational Context

a. Organizational Setting

The position is located in the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

In accordance with the UPOV Convention, the main objectives of UPOV are (i) to provide and develop the legal, administrative and technical basis for international cooperation in plant variety protection; (ii) to assist States and organizations in the development of legislation and the implementation of an effective plant variety protection system; and (iii) to enhance public awareness and understanding of the UPOV system of plant variety protection. UPOV's Secretariat is the Office of the Union which carries out all the duties and tasks entrusted by its governing body: the UPOV Council.

b. Purpose Statement

The incumbent supports the execution of UPOV’s communication strategy, develops content and provides technical expertise, including web sites and social media presences.

c. Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Director of Global Development and Technical Affairs of UPOV and the overall supervision of the Vice Secretary-General.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will perform the following principal duties:

a. Contribute to implementing UPOV’s communication strategy to strengthen engagement with target audiences; assist in refining and optimizing the strategy and operations, including mapping of audiences, content strategy, implementing digital tools and performance evaluation;

b. Carry out research and create content on UPOV-related topics, including speeches, online and offline articles, newsletters, photos, videos, infographics, quote cards, GIFs and other forms of digital outputs;

c. Handle UPOV’s social media presence and any other corporate distribution platforms, including the Vice Secretary-General’s social media accounts in coordination with the supervisor;

d. Compile and analyze social media and web analytics, as well as qualitative data, and incorporate in activity and performance reports;

e. Assist in media outreach, including drafting of press releases and other outputs; and

f. Perform other related duties, as required.

3. Requirements

Education (Essential)

First-level university degree in journalism, communications, international relations, digital marketing, or other relevant fields such as social sciences or humanities.

Experience (Essential)

At least three years of professional experience in communications, preferably in an international setting, including planning and delivering digital communications.

Content planning, creation and management, community management of social media presences, including management of applications and analytics for reporting.

Experience (Desirable)

Production of audio-visual content such as photos, videos, infographics, quote cards, etc.

Language (Essential)

Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.

Language (Desirable)

Working knowledge of French, German or Spanish.

Job Related Competencies (Essential)

Strong judgment and ability to anticipate potential sensitivities.

Extensive knowledge of digital communications trends, platforms, tools, metrics and best practices.

Excellent creative writing and oral communication skills in English.

Ability to familiarize with and understand complex or technical subjects, and to apply new knowledge.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Ability to manage competing priorities and to deliver a high volume of time-sensitive outputs while ensuring meticulous attention to detail.

Adaptable to new environments, skills, tasks and demands.

Strong interpersonal and team working skills, and ability to maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Job Related Competencies (Desirable)

Good understanding of the work of UPOV and intellectual property.

Ability to create and edit visuals (such as with Photoshop, Canva, etc.).

Knowledge on web publishing (CMS and/or HTML).

Ability to adapt quickly to new software.

4. Organizational Competencies

1. Communicating effectively.

2. Showing team spirit.

3. Demonstrating integrity.

4. Valuing diversity.

5. Producing results.

6. Showing service orientation.

7. Seeing the big picture.

8. Seeking change and innovation.

9. Developing yourself and others.

5. Information

Annual salary****:

Total annual salary consists of a net annual salary (net of taxes and before medical insurance and pension fund deductions) in US dollars and a post adjustment. Please note that this estimate is for information only. The post adjustment multiplier (cost of living allowance) is variable and subject to change (increase or decrease) without notice. The figures quoted below are based on the August 2024 rate of 93.5%

P2

Annual salary

$50,377

Post adjustment

$47,102

Total Salary

$97,479

Currency USD

Salaries and allowances are paid in Swiss francs at the official rate of exchange of the United Nations.

Please refer to WIPO’s Staff Regulation and Rules for detailed information concerning salaries, benefits and allowances.

Additional Information

WIPO assists UPOV in recruitment procedures.

Candidates are invited to apply through WIPO’s online recruitment system.

Temporary appointments are renewable, subject to continuing needs, availability of budget and satisfactory performance with a maximum cumulative length of two years.

UPOV reserves the right to make an appointment at a grade lower than that advertised.

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By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to UPOV during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with UPOV at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of an identification and of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. UPOV 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 these will be reviewed individually.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening. Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.

Additional background checks may be required.

Potential interview questions