Individual Contractor - Communications Specialist

Result of Service The ultimate result of services include: supporting the UN Resident Coordinator, UN Country Team and UN Communication Group in the implementation of the UN Azerbaijan Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) communications strategy; producing print, multimedia and digital communication media products and organizing activities to celebrate international days and observances, as well as to promote UN Azerbaijan’s work; maintaining the UN Azerbaijan website and social media channels; and producing daily media monitoring reports.

Work Location Baku

Expected duration Three months.

Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the UN Resident Coordinator, the IC’s duties are as follows: - Provides substantive support to the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), UN Country Team (UNCT) and UN Communication Group (UNCG) in implementing and monitoring the UNSDCF communications strategy; - Takes a leading role in communications issues within the UNCT by serving as the Secretariat for the UNCG at the country level in consultation with the Department of Global Communications at the UN Headquarters (DGC UNHQ) and the Resident Coordinator’s Office; - Maintains the UN Azerbaijan website and social media accounts in English and Azerbaijani, in line with UN Secretariat governance mechanisms, including those related to information security and using up-to-date social media platforms and web practices; - In support of the RC, drafts, at a high-quality level, in English and local languages, various print and digital communications products, as well as engages in public speaking with media, partners and local interlocutors; - Monitors and analyses current events, public opinion and press coverage, identifying issues and trends, advising DGC UNHQ, the RC and the UNCT on appropriate action/responses; - Conducts media outreach; disseminates information materials to the media, drafts or places op-eds and arranges interviews, organises press conferences and briefings, monitors press coverage of UN issues; - Assumes responsibilities for the day-to-day running of UNO Baku; assumes overall responsibility for the administration of the UNO by overseeing the planning and management of UNO’s overall activities and its operational requirements, including its budget and equipment; - Performs other functions and special duties as required by the Director of UNIS Vienna and the UN Resident Coordinator, including providing crisis communications support; coordinating and drafting op-eds, speeches and interviews including for the UN Resident Coordinator.

Qualifications/special skills - An advanced university degree (Master's or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in communications, journalism, public information or a related field is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. - A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience, including experience in managing contacts and networking with the media, non-governmental organizations, government officials, international and national organizations, business groups, civil society, etc. in Azerbaijan is required. - Experience in crisis communications or reputational risk management is required. - Experience working across multimedia platforms with traditional and digital media is desirable. - Experience working with the United Nations or a comparable international organization is desirable.

Languages Fluency in English and Azerbaijani are required.

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.