National Media Consultant

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, every right.

Background: UNICEF is present and active in Romania and in 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. In Romania, UNICEF works closely with key stakeholders such as the Government, Parliament, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, national and international partners, and the media to provide all children with access to quality early and school education, to protect adolescents and monitor child rights, to ensure social protection and leverage resources for children.

Justification:

UNICEF is a world leading organisation known for sharing knowledge, best practices and mobilizing resources for children. Over the years, UNICEF in Romania, together with its partners, has developed local models on social protection, education, health and adolescent issues to improve children’s lives. A wide range of materials are developed to communicate with target audiences and to raise funds.

At the same time, UNICEF is developing global initiatives and campaigns to engage online users to understand and take action in the benefit of children and to raise funds. Global materials need to be adapted to the Romanian market and different communication channels and promoted to contribute to global awareness and create engagement at the country level. Media represents a key stakeholder for UNICEF, helping to promote and oversee child rights, putting their issues on top of the political and public agenda.

In this context, UNICEF is looking to hire a consultant to support maximizing the reach and engagement on all UNICEF owned and earned communication platforms and support the developing and placement of communication materials. UNICEF in Romania needs to act quickly and maximize its capacity to promote its activities to achieve results and impact for children.

At the same time, UNICEF in Romania needs support to maintain the relationship with media partners by drafting user-friendly communication materials (press releases, news, human interest stories, Q&As, etc.).

All communication materials must be edited in a user-friendly manner, simple language and easy to understand, considering the target audience. The selected consultant must have the ability to comprehend complex social, health and education issues affecting children, to analyse documents and draft materials adapted to various target groups and communication platforms. The consultant must have the ability to understand the context and maximize the reach of the information at hand to create awareness and engagement.

All materials developed will feed UNICEF in Romania’s platforms (website, blog, and social media) and will be distributed at events with local and central authorities, corporate sector, private individuals and media.

All relevant documents will be shared by UNICEF in Romania to provide a clear view of the situation of children, intervention models and results.

Specific tasks:

The consultant will need to:

• Support the development and maintaining of a solid network of journalists and media representatives that cover topics related to children and child rights.
• Support the development and maintaining of new partnerships with different media outlets, channels, bloggers, influencers, etc.
• Ensure pro-active and re-active responses to media in a clear, consistent and timely manner.
• Support organising UNICEF office’s press conferences, media briefings, inviting journalists to events and organizing press field trips and other types of events.
• Draft, edit or adapt communication materials upon request such as press releases, articles, background documents, position papers, human interest stories, brief resumes for UNICEF team members, Q&A, lessons learnt for different UNICEF platforms.
• Adapt global written materials to local context.
• Contribute to creating materials with high potential for engagement in online media.
• Pitch and organise interviews with senior managers and thematic focal points on a regular basis.
• Support the Communications and Fundraising Team and colleagues in the field, as needed, including for social media, publications, website and related needs.
• Maintain and update database of journalists, bloggers, influencers, media channels, etc.
• Support UNICEF staff members in preparing for interviews and media appearances and assist on the spot.
• Support in follow-up when needed with various suppliers (production houses, photographers, human interest story writers) to ensure that contracted communication materials are produced within deadlines and meeting quality standards.

Expected deliverables:

• Meetings with journalists, media outlets and channels representatives, bloggers and influencers.
• Contribute to generating media coverage for UNICEF initiatives, corporate partnerships, fundraising events and campaigns.
• Organizing press conferences, invitations of journalists to events and press trips and interviews with senior managers.
• Completing media monitoring and press files after events, campaigns and press trips.
• Drafts of communication media plans for UNICEF in Romania events, campaigns and developed communication materials.
• Input and support for all communication materials needed for traditional and online media such as draft press releases, articles, background documents, position papers, human interest stories, brief resumes for UNICEF team members, Q&A and lessons learnt for different UNICEF platforms.
• Inputs to UNICEF integrated communication strategy.
• Inputs on monthly reports on media and communications KPIs.
• Updated database of journalists, bloggers, influencers, media channels, etc.
• Input to UNICEF’s social media and website communication strategy and editorial plan.

Qualifications:

• At least 5 years of experience in a PR agency or in a communication department handling media relations.
• Extensive network of journalists and influencers across different types of media.
• University and/ or master’s degree in PR, Communications, Journalism, Social Sciences, Political Studies or related field.
• Proficiency in spoken and written Romanian and English is a must.
• Experience in documenting social issues in Romania in a sensitive and ethical manner, respecting child rights, is a plus.

Requested skills and abilities:

• Ability to establish and maintain very good relationships with different media outlets, journalists, influencers and bloggers.
• Creativity in placing different types of communication materials in the media.
• Ability to write in a user-friendly manner and to translate/ adapt complex information into accessible communication materials, according to the specific audience.
• Experience in writing/ editing communication materials for traditional, online and social media.
• Ability to analyse complex information and write analytical documents.
• Flexibility to work in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment responding with a positive attitude and high-quality deliverables.
• Credentials (different type of communication materials and proven results in reaching the media agenda) and recommendations are required.
• Experience with international organizations, UN Agencies and knowledge of UNICEF’s work is an asset.

General conditions: procedures and logistics

Consultant will work at UNICEF premises.

Standard procedures in the delivery of the products

Copyright of materials belongs to UNICEF.

All materials in support of the implementation of the task will be provided by UNICEF office upon assignment of the specific tasks.

In case of late delivery of services and unsatisfactory performance on behalf of the Consultant, UNICEF may refuse to accept delivery of all or part of the services and claim liquidated damages as per UNICEF Special Terms and Conditions.

Timeframe and duration of the assignment

The Contract is for a period of 12 months, with possibility of extension, upon evaluation, needs and availability of funds.

Remuneration

Payments will be made monthly after delivery of activity report. If a field trip will need to be undertaken to develop materials, the logistics costs (travel and accommodation) will be covered by UNICEF in Romania.

Monitoring and evaluation of the assignment

The consultant will report to Communication Officer and work in close cooperation with the Communication and Fundraising Manager and Programme Specialists.

Application Procedure:

Applications for the roster should contain:

• A cover letter in English;
• A recent CV in English;
• Sample of communication materials developed;
• Example of dissemination plan carried out for an event, communication material, or campaign with KPIs;
• Financial offer in RON for one-month fee, as per the attached template Financial template_consultant_media.docx. Please state the gross amount.

Selection Procedure:

Awarding of the contract will be made based on a face to face interview. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.