Consultancy: External Engagement Specialist, Office of Innovation, remote 9 months

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, innovate...

UNICEF has a 70-year history of innovating for children. We believe that new approaches, partnerships and technologies that support realizing children’s rights are critical to improving their lives.

The Office of Innovation is a creative, interactive, and agile team in UNICEF. We sit at a unique intersection, where an organization that works on huge global issues meets the startup thinking, the technology, and the partners that hold much potential to turn their expertise and energy into scalable solutions.

UNICEF's Office of Innovation creates opportunities for the world's children including by focusing on where new markets can meet their vital needs. We do this by:

• Connecting youth communities (or more broadly -- anyone disconnected or under-served) to decision-makers, and to each other, to deliver informed, relevant and sustained programmes that build better, stronger futures for children.
• Provoking change for children through an entrepreneurial approach -- in a traditionally risk-averse field -- to harness rapidly moving innovations and apply them to serve the needs of all children.
• Creating new models of partnership that leverage core business values across the public, private and academic sectors in order to deliver effective, fast, and lasting results for children.

How can you make a difference?

The External Engagement Specialist will support the Office of Innovation with development and execution of the overall OOI communications strategy and its narrative. This individual will also provide strategic guidance and mentorship to the Venture Fund portfolio companies on brand development, marketing and communications.

Main responsibilities will include but not limited to:

• Contribute to development of brand and communications strategy for OOI
• Develop and execute on social media components of OOI communications strategy
• Provide strategic inputs and content for various digital communications
• Develop technical assistance package for Venture Fund portfolio companies focused on brand development, marketing and communications
• Deliver mentorship and workshop sessions to portfolio based on priorities identified in collaboration with Venture Fund portfolio management team

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in relevant field (Communication, Journalism, Public Relations or related areas) *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in a relevant field. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A strong track record of delivering products for external engagement and visibility
• Experience of working with Private Sector PR and communications teams and driving communications activity that delivers business benefit
• Significant experience working with print and broadcast media, preferably with a tech/innovation perspective
• Solid understanding of the role technology plays in the development and humanitarian sectors, as well as the UN system
• Understanding of UNICEF Innovation operating environment and priority partners
• Good management skills and the ability to deliver against multiple priorities and deadlines
• Knowledge of UNICEF Office of Innovation’s key messaging and focus areas (including urbanization, data science, working with start-ups and a range of other partners, mobile tech and real-time information, and others)
• Ability to work with a diverse team in a rapidly-changing work environment and adapt to unforeseen changes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to see the big picture and connect multiple story threads into one greater narrative
• Capacity to prioritize and manage a diverse range of partners, projects and activities
• Great interpersonal skills and the ability to unite fragmented, and occasionally opposing, teams and ideas
• Project management skills including task prioritization, budget monitoring, and results-driven strategies
• Experience working in the social impact space
• Good understanding of the media landscape and the multiple ways we can engage media partners
• Ability to quickly create reports/presentations in standard office software (Microsoft Office suite, Google docs, Keynote, etc.)
• Demonstrates a solution-focused approach to overcoming the challenges of working with multiple stakeholders and is able to find shared and mutual outcomes
• Consults others and shares expertise, know-how and ideas with colleagues for best results and proactively contributes ideas, approaches and insights that enable innovation
• Makes decisions within agreed parameters and is accountable for own actions

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The competencies required for this post are….

• Communication (II)
• Creating and innovating (II)
• Relating and Networking (II)
• Persuading and Influencing (II)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Payment details and further considerations

• Monthly payment, based on monthly tasks and progress reports, approved upon monthly review with supervisor.
• Consultant is responsible for his/her own health and travel insurance
• Consultant is eligible for standard DSA for all work-related travel.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.