Risk Communications Officer, P-3, Fixed-Term, Suva, Fiji

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 110,481 USD and 144,666 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) is to build the capacity of Member States to manage health emergency risks and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain outbreaks and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. WHE brings together and enhances WHO's operational, technical and normative capacity in outbreaks, emergencies and risk analysis to address all health hazards across the risk management cycle in a predictable, capable, dependable, adaptable and accountable manner. It is designed to operate within the broader humanitarian and emergency management architecture in support of people at risk of, or affected by, outbreaks and emergencies, consistent with ways that strengthen local and national capabilities. The Risk Communications Officer assists the WHO South Pacific/Division of Pacific Technical Support, and WHO country offices in the Pacific with multi-hazard risk communications preparedness and response under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005), in particular helping to operationalize risk communications capacity strengthening within WHO and Pacific Island countries and areas.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Support the development and implementation of multi-hazard risk communications plans, with specific focus on pandemic and epidemic preparedness, and risk communication needs following disasters and other health emergencies.

2. Participate in emergency morning meetings, identify events with risk communications needs and gather, distil and organize information as appropriate to support internal and external risk communications.

3. Support Pacific country offices and Pacific health authorities in public communications during health crises including:

• Acting as media entry point, developing and maintaining a database of journalists and organizing interviews with national and international media, proactively reaching out to and engage with media and journalists
• Developing talking points, press releases, press statements and other media products
• Developing web stories and engaging on social media in collaboration with RO and HQ
• Ensuring that photographic and audiovisual material are developed and made available for communications at country, regional and headquarters levels, especially from emergency-affected areas
• Representing WHO on the Pacific Humanitarian Team's communications working group
• Supporting donor outreach for emergency risk communications.

4. Work with the Pacific Health Security Coordination Plan partnership comprised of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Pacific Community, the Pacific Island Health Officers' Association, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Pacific and the World Bank, and other technical agencies working in health security in the Pacific, on advocacy and communications products.

5. Support risk communications capacity strengthening in priority countries in the Pacific region including through trainings, workshops, mentoring programmes in close collaboration with DPS technical staff (IHR, emergencies, influenza, vector borne diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases, health and environment etc.), with a focus on supporting countries to meet the risk communications requirements articulated in the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) tool.6. Perform any other duties as required by supervisors.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• University degree in communications, development, social sciences, public relations, journalism or related fields or related fields from an institution or university recognized in the International Association of Universities' Worldwide Database of Higher Education Institutions, Systems and Credentials.

Desirable:

• Professional qualification/certification in public health or emergency management.

Experience

Essential:

• Minimum five years' relevant experience in communications, preferably in a health-related field at the national and international level, with a minimum of two years at the international level.
• Experience with implementing and coordinating risk communication strategies.
• Experience with working in a coordinated manner and in support of government officials.

Desirable:

• Experience in the field of public health emergencies and/or humanitarian response with WHO/UN, health clusters partners, recognized humanitarian organizations or with an international nongovernmental organization.
• Experience with donor outreach.

Skills

• Skilled in all aspects of the development and implementation of risk communications including effective communications with media and humanitarian stakeholders
• Ability to work in coordination with partners and to outreach for media and donors
• Ability to design, manage, analyses and coordinate production of communications materials
• Good knowledge of advocacy, public and media relations, communications techniques and tools
• Good knowledge of web, social media and audiovisuals
• Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Knowledge in any other UN Language will be an asset.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 62,692 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 2,518 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

A written test may be used as a form of screening.

In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment, and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/ Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.