Communications Specialist

Implement the communications strategy for the GEF LAC Cities Project.

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UNEP - United Nations Environment Programme

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Application deadline 9 months ago: Thursday 2 Oct 2025 at 03:59 UTC

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Overview

Implement the communications strategy for the GEF LAC Cities Project.

You have:

  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, marketing, international relations, or other related discipline.
  • A first-level university degree in communication, marketing, international relations and other related discipline (bachelor’s degree) in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu.
  • Three (3) years of experience in Multimedia Communications, including experience with at least two of the specified areas is required: web and digital communications, social media production, photo and video production, journalism, international relations, public administration or related areas.
  • Experience working with a UN entity or international organization would be desirable.
  • Experience communicating to diverse audiences in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • Experience in strategic communications for diverse, bilingual audiences.
  • Proficiency in both oral and written English and Spanish is required.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

Implementation of the communications strategy for the GEF LAC Cities Project and provision of tailored support to project stakeholders at the regional, national and city levels; ensuring alignment and synergy with the broader UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat's communication strategy and its communications products.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

6.5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background The GEF LAC Cities project (Reduce marine plastics and plastic pollution in Latin American and Caribbean cities through a circular economy approach) will facilitate circular actions at the city level to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, in line with government and business commitments on addressing marine plastics and plastic pollution. The Project’s objectives are: 1. Support city authorities to set up regulatory frameworks and test key policy instruments to provide enabling conditions for developing a more circular plastic economy. 2. Address the lack of business innovation in target LAC cities, by stimulating circular design on products, service, business models, and collection and recycling systems, with value chain cooperation. 3. Tackle the lack of a common vision, approaches, and leadership for LAC cities by setting up an inter-city network to align regional strategy and actions to stimulate cities to cooperate at the regional level. 4. Develop various knowledge products, capacity-building activities, and monitoring schemes, to enable stakeholders to adopt best practices in more LAC cities. Scope of Assignment: This consultancy is for a Communications Specialist for the GEF LAC Cities project. The aim of this consultancy is to provide specialized support to the Cartagena Convention Secretariat and its GEF-funded project, “Reduce marine plastics and plastic pollution in Latin American and Caribbean cities through a circular economy approach” (GEF LAC Cities), by implementing a communications strategy for the regional project to increase public visibility and raise awareness of the project and plastic pollution in Jamaica, Colombia and Panama and the wider Caribbean. The consultancy entails supporting the implementation of a communications plan to: a. Raise awareness of all related stakeholders, facilitating the implementation of the objectives, approaches and targets for stakeholder outreach at country and city-level; b. Support country and city level stakeholders to deliver educational and awareness-raising activities targeting critical issues; and c. Support country and city level stakeholders to implement consumer campaigns and facilitate partnerships to encourage behavior and attitude change towards the circular economy of plastics, (such as increasing the acceptance of refillable solutions, organizing large scale multi-channel campaigns aimed at motivating citizens to reduce plastic consumption, separating plastics waste from sources and disposing through responsible channels, etc.). This consultancy is under the direct supervision of the Project Management Officer (PMO) for the Assessment and Management of Environmental Pollution. The successful candidate will work remotely to provide support to the project and the Cartagena Convention Secretariat.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, marketing, international relations, other related discipline, is required. A first-level university degree in communication, marketing, internal relations and other related discipline (bachelor’s degree) in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Three (3) years of experience in Multimedia Communications, including experience with at least two of the following areas is required: web and digital communications, social media production, photo and video production, journalism, international relations, public administration or related areas. Experience working with a UN entity or international organization would be desirable. Experience communicating to diverse audiences in Latin America and the Caribbean. Experience in strategic communications for diverse, bilingual audiences. Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing. Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.

Languages

English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, proficiency in both oral and written English and Spanish is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe a time when you implemented a successful communications strategy? This question helps assess your practical experience with strategic communications. Share a specific example, detailing your role and the results achieved.
How have you engaged stakeholders in a project or initiative previously? The interviewer wants to understand your approach to stakeholder engagement. Pro members can see the explanation.
What experience do you have with multimedia communications? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a challenge you faced while working with a diverse audience and how you overcame it. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you ensure accuracy and professionalism in your documentation? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of a successful awareness-raising campaign you've conducted? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What techniques do you use to adapt your message for bilingual audiences? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What role do social media play in your communications strategy? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 10 months ago - Updated 9 months ago - Source: careers.un.org