International Consultancy: Communications Officer CST II

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity, and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change. In 2021 WFP supported 652,800 people in Iraq. Through providing food for vulnerable people, skills to build futures, and enhanced social protection, WFP is helping the Government of Iraq build people’s food security and resilience. For more information, see wfp.org/countries/iraq and ar.wfp.org/countries/iraq.

JOB PURPOSE

To develop, plan and implement WFP Iraq Communications Advocacy and Marketing strategy activities that support the overall WFP objectives under the Country Strategic Plan. The role is located in Baghdad within the External Relations Unit under the supervision of the Head of External Relations and with second level accountability to the WFP Iraq Representative/Country Director.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Develop, maintain and update an appropriate work plan for the assigned area, which implements the corporate communications strategy, in order to maintain and enhance the visibility and reputation of WFP, and support fundraising activities, ensuring alignment with WFP strategy.

2. Plan, manage and evaluate communications campaigns that favourably impact the views of the public, opinion leaders, and donors in order to raise WFP’s profile in Iraq and support fundraising activities.

3. Prepare communications products that effectively convey the desired message to targeted audience(s).

4. Maintain and develop a contact list of journalists and media outlets and manage the regular flow of news/information about WFP’s work in Iraq to the media, ensuring reputational risks are identified and managed.

5. Define a social media plan for the assigned area which leverages social media content, platforms, networks and partners to enhance coverage and support of WFP’s activities.

6. Generate and/or facilitate the production of donor specific visibility content including, text, photos, videos and audio for use across a range of integrated online platforms, in order to support global and country fundraising activities, ensuring consistency with corporate messages.

7. Track and analyse traditional and online media, to identify trends and/or issues, and propose solutions and ideas to improve the effectiveness of communication strategy and activities.

8. Manage junior communications officers/team, develop work plans, monitor performance against objectives, and ensure appropriate development to enable high performance.

9. Coordinate and prepare accurate and timely reporting on communications activities that enables informed decision-making, evaluation of objectives and consistency of information presented to stakeholders.

10. Build capacity of WFP staff on all aspects of external relations communication, providing advice, guidance and training to ensure consistent and quality communications activities that deliver the desired impact.

11. Work in close collaboration with counterparts to align activities and ensure a coherent approach to communications within WFP Iraq.

12. Contribute to preparedness actions, providing technical recommendations and guidance and monitoring the management of communications specific risks.

13. Work under the leadership of the Head of External Relations to build a communications strategy to brand WFP in the Iraq region as a leading organization in food security.

14. Provide support on the strategic communications planning for the WFP Iraq Country Office; align communications activities with the Country Office goals and strategic priorities; ensure alignment on External relations team activities on communications strategy for key audiences and channels; communicate processes, strategies and outcomes with the WFP Iraq team, management, and stakeholders.

15. Plan and initiate communications and promotional campaigns; guide measuring the performance of campaign strategies and improving approaches as necessary; lead the different CAM functions into unified campaigns to enhance WFP Iraq positioning around its areas of strategic priorities.

16. Provide data and analysis to measure the effectiveness of communications work in the region; prepare activity-based material and tools for presentations, other materials, and fact sheets.

17. Undertake advocacy work and establish and maintain supportive networks for national and regional level initiatives within the WFP Iraq areas of strategic priorities.

18. Develop improved, streamlined, and harmonized Operational Information Management and Performance Reporting (OIM & PR) including drafting of OIM & PR related normative guidance, as required.

19. Oversee staff in assigned area to ensure that standard Operational Information Management & Performance Reporting procedures and templates are followed to drive the quality, consistency and standardization of information management and performance reporting across WFP.

20. Preparing, organize and provide secretarial support to Operational Task Forces (OTFs) in periods of emergency

21. Other relevant duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Educational Qualifications & Work Experience

Education: Advanced University degree in Journalism, International Relations, Public Relations, Communications, or other relevant fields, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training/courses.

Experience: For holders of an advanced degree, 5 years of relevant work experience and 7 years for holders of a first-level university degree of progressively responsible experience in managing the implementation of communications plans and relationships with various stakeholders including but not limited to donor agencies, government partners, advocacy and faith-based organizations and other stakeholders.

Language: Fluency (level C) in the English language. Intermediate knowledge (level B) of a second official UN language: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish, and/or Portuguese (a WFP working language).

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Utilizes understanding of WFP’s Strategic Objectives to communicate linkages to team objectives and work.

Be a force for positive change: Proactively identifies and develops new methods or improvements for self and immediate team to address work challenges within own work area.

Make the mission inspiring to our team: Identifies opportunities to further align individual contributions with WFP’s mission of making an impact on local communities.

Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Helps colleagues to see the link between their individual tasks and the contributions of their unit’s goals to the broader context of WFP’s mission.

People

Create an inclusive culture: Recognizes the contributions of teammates, and encourages contributions from culturally different team mates to recognise the value of diversity above and beyond just including it in programming for beneficiaries.

Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Provides and solicits ongoing constructive feedback on strengths and development opportunities to help develop individual skills, whilst also helping others identify areas for improvement.

Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Sets clear targets for self and others to focus team efforts in ambiguous situations (e.g., unprecedented issues and/or scenarios).

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Performance

Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Thinks beyond team’s conventional approaches to formulate creative methods for delivering food aid and assistance to beneficiaries.

Focus on getting results: Maintains focus on achieving individual results in the face of obstacles such as volatile or fragile environments and/or organizational roadblocks.

Make commitments and make good on commitments: Takes personal accountability for upholding and delivering upon team’s commitments and provides assurance to stakeholders.

Be Decisive: Demonstrates ability to adjust to team’s plans and priorities to optimize outcomes in light of evolving directives, while also responding quickly in high-pressure environments, such as in emergency settings.

Partnership

Connect and share across WFP units: Demonstrates an understanding of when and how to tactfully engage other units in conversations on impact, timing, or planning.

Build strong external partnerships: Networks regularly with key external partners using formal and informal opportunities to understand each partner’s unique value proposition, and to build and strengthen relationships.

Be politically agile & adaptable: Demonstrates ability to adapt engagement approach in the context of evolving partner circumstances and expectations.

Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Demonstrates ability to articulate to internal and external audiences the value that individual contributions and immediate teams bring to partnerships.

FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

Capability Name Description of the behaviour expected for the proficiency level Media and Influencer Relationship Management Demonstrates ability to formulate and maintain strong relationships with key media and influencers. Leads in implementing identified strategy to raise the profile of WFP, build relationships and further organisational aims. Media and Communication Expertise Provides guidance to team members in facilitating open and informative verbal and written communication between media and influencers. Directs a team in the preparation of tailored written reports, presentations materials. Specialised Knowledge in Communications Uses sound theoretical knowledge of communications concepts to generate or facilitate the generation of effective communication materials across various media. Applies this to define work plans aligned to identified areas of WFP’s communications strategy. Sociopolitical Contextual Understanding Demonstrates deep understanding of the multilateral/interagency environment and the dynamics in which WFP operates which influences approach to working, policy development and decision making. Communication Strategy and Planning Applies advanced understanding of WFP communications strategy and best practice to effectively develop strategies to engage with media and other significant external stakeholders within area of responsibility. Oversees implementation, providing recommendations for improvement.

DESIRED EXPERIENCES FOR ENTRY INTO THE ROLE

• Has gained experience in specialised communications practices and applies this to all activities • Has managed small teams of staff with related areas of expertise in the delivery of innovative communications projects • Has provided support in leading projects and input into function policies

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Position Title: Communications Officer

Contract Type: International Consultancy Contract for a minimum of 6 months, extendable maximum up to 11 months

Duty Station/travel: Baghdad, Iraq

Medical Plan: Medical plan for the employee only

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

14th August 2022