Social & Behavior Change Specialist (Digital Communication) Polio, P-3, Islamabad, Pakistan

Overview

Lead digital communication strategies to enhance polio eradication efforts in Pakistan.

You have:

• An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Communications, Media Studies, Journalism, Public Relations, Digital Marketing, Social Sciences, International Relations, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in digital communication, social media strategy, digital marketing, or a related area.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing digital and social media strategies at the national or international level, preferably in a public health context.
• Demonstrable experience in managing digital content and social media platforms, including handling misinformation and fostering community engagement.
• Prior experience working in a UN agency or other international development organization is desirable. Experience working in polio-endemic regions or on vaccination programs would be a strong advantage.
• Strong knowledge of digital communication strategies, social media platforms, trends, and digital advertising.
• Ability to understand complex health or scientific information and translate it into clear, concise, and engaging content for various digital platforms.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead projects from conception to completion.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with various stakeholders and partners.
• Solid analytical skills and the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

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 100,478 USD and 131,567 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.

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, Commitment

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among other things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilisers, communities and families, and of course the children and adolescents themselves.

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives -- being in good health, immunized, protected from polio and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

To learn more about UNICEF work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

UNICEF is pivotal in Pakistan's Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), one of the two remaining polio-endemic countries globally. In partnership with local governmental and non-governmental organizations, UNICEF is committed to eradicating polio through persistent immunization efforts, community engagement, and comprehensive health communication strategies.

The Digital Communication Specialist plays a vital role i these endeavors. The focus is to enhance the reach and efficacy of digital communication strategies in response to a dynamic epidemiological landscape. This role is even more critical given the current environment, where digital communication has become a cornerstone of reaching and engaging with communities.

Within Pakistan's unique and challenging context, the Polio Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has proposed strategic shifts in the program, introducing new risk categories. These insights necessitate a robust, sustainable, and inclusive digital engagement strategy focusing on community engagement and mobilization. A consulting firm is envisioned to develop this strategy with active collaboration and support from the Digital Communication Specialist.

The Digital Communication Specialist, in collaboration with UNICEF teams, GPEI partners, local government partners, and the UNICEF headquarters, will implement a comprehensive social media engagement strategy, misinformation management, and digital community engagement strategies. These strategies align with UNICEF's objectives and the broader goals of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. They will also help to synchronize efforts with Afghanistan, the other polio-endemic country, to ensure coordinated and consistent messaging and strategies.

The specialist will help tailor the digital strategy to the unique conditions of Pakistan, prioritizing areas with higher virus threats like South KP, outbreak response districts, risk reduction areas, and maintenance areas. This includes creating tailored messaging for parents and caregivers of at-risk children, community leaders, and youth in various local languages spoken in Pakistan.

Adding the Digital Communication Specialist role will lead to a more streamlined and effective implementation of digital communication strategies across Pakistan. This will strengthen the online presence, foster increased community trust in polio vaccination efforts, and significantly contribute to the global goal of polio eradication.

To make a difference, the incumbent shall be responsible for following key strategic functions, accountabilities and related duties/ tasks;

1. Implement and Refine the Digital Strategy, Social Media, and Digital Technology Platforms:

• Take charge of executing the national digital strategy, providing hands-on technical support and guidance to the Pakistan office in strategy development, planning, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Work closely with provincial and regional Social and Behavior Change (SBC) teams to adapt digital engagement interventions to local contexts.
• Collaborate with UNICEF HQ to align the national digital strategy with global polio work plans and GPEI partners, ensuring digital and social media components of the Country polio SBC programs meet global excellence standards.
• Develop and implement the strategic direction, guidelines, and work plans for digital engagement, leading technical working groups and translating global policies and guidelines into operational frameworks for Pakistan.

2. Lead and Execute the Polio Digital Media Engagement Strategy:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive social media engagement strategy for both national and local levels, providing online communities with updated information about polio eradication efforts, encouraging participation, facilitating dialogue, and bolstering community confidence in the polio program in local languages.
• Take ownership of the social media cell at the National Emergency Operations Center, guiding the team in content creation, managing the social media calendar, operating the WhatsApp helpline, executing SEO strategies, and managing paid promotions for the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme website.
• Collaborate closely with partners and stakeholders to integrate and harmonize polio social media activities with global communication and advocacy activities and intra-UN system development activities and initiatives.
• Set up and manage social listening mechanisms to monitor and mitigate risks associated with misinformation, fake news, and information vacuum around vaccination. Also, engage actively with various groups and influencers in the digital ecosystem to pre-emptively address and debunk myths around vaccines.

3. Manage Misinformation and Build Capacity in Misinformation Management:

• Lead the design and execution of evidence-based strategies to manage polio and vaccine-related misinformation online and offline, in close coordination with the UNICEF NYHQ.
• Collaborate with the Digital Community Engagement (DCE) team at NYHQ to create and test training aids and materials for misinformation management events and learning activities, thereby ensuring high technical capacity to maintain community trust in vaccines and vaccination in Pakistan.
• Establish and maintain active relationships with online media outlets, influencers, researchers, implementing organizations, and strategic partners to contain general rumors, misinformation, and disinformation around the polio vaccine or vaccines.
• Collaborate with regional and provincial SBC teams to align efforts in managing misinformation and fostering community trust in vaccination efforts, equipping them with the necessary training and resources to tackle misinformation effectively.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Pakistan office and UNICEF NYHQ and the social media cell (SMC) at NEOC on matters relating to digital misinformation management, facilitating the exchange of information, strategies, and best practices.

4. Lead Digital Community Engagement Initiatives:

• Develop UNICEF Polio Team's national Digital Community Engagement approach, spearheading social listening, influencer mapping, online media engagement, risk anticipation, content design, and programmatic support to Pakistan.
• Participate in organizational and inter-agency discussions and planning on digital and social media for polio SBC advocacy and resource mobilization initiatives, collaborating with the digital communications team at UNICEF NYHQ.
• Contribute to evidence generation and research initiatives for improved digital community engagement activities, influencing national and local policies and investments in SBC for sustainable results through online communication activities.
• Share best practices and knowledge learned with global and local partners and stakeholders to build capacity of practitioners, local networks, and government partners to actively mobilize online communities to further the goals of the polio program and generate demand for vaccination.

5. Coordination and Collaboration:

• Foster strong collaboration and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including the digital communication teams in provincial and regional SBC units, ensuring alignment of strategies, exchange of innovative ideas, and promoting best practices.
• Participate actively in relevant GPEI and UNICEF meetings and technical working groups, representing the Pakistan Office and sharing local insights and experiences.
• Work closely with the UNICEF Polio Team at HQ and GPEI partners to harmonize the digital engagement strategy with global efforts, including misinformation management.
• Coordinate with the UNICEF Afghanistan Office to share lessons learned, strategize on joint challenges, and ensure coherent cross-border digital efforts.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Communications, Media Studies, Journalism, Public Relations, Digital Marketing, Social Sciences, International Relations, or a related field.

  *A first University Degree (Bachelor's) combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree in the field of Communications, Media Studies, Journalism, Public Relations, Digital Marketing, Social Sciences, International Relations, or a related field.

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in digital communication, social media strategy, digital marketing, or a related area.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing digital and social media strategies at the national or international level, preferably in a public health context.
• Demonstrable experience in managing digital content and social media platforms, including handling misinformation and fostering community engagement.
• Prior experience working in a UN agency or other international development organization is desirable. Experience working in polio-endemic regions or on vaccination programs would be a strong advantage.
• Strong knowledge of digital communication strategies, social media platforms, trends, and digital advertizing.
• Ability to understand complex health or scientific information and translate it into clear, concise, and engaging content for various digital platforms.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead projects from conception to completion.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with various stakeholders and partners.
• Solid analytical skills and the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpins everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values.

UNICEF competencies required for this post are Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness, Works Collaboratively with others, Builds and Maintains Partnerships, Innovates and Embraces Change, Thinks and Acts Strategically, Drive to achieve impactful results, Manages ambiguity and complexity

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

Life at UNICEF

Working at UNICEF is highly rewarding. With an attractive remuneration package encompassing competitive pay and benefits, a culture that helps staff thrive, and diverse opportunities for personal and professional development, we aim to help you maintain a fulfilling life both at and outside the office.

We make sure you and your loved ones receive the resources and care that you need to thrive. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Our contracts, wellbeing policies, and initiatives ensure that you are well equipped to deliver for children such as effectively;

• Tax exemption, family allowances, hardship benefits, 10 UN holidays and annual leave allowance, maternity, paternity, adoption leave, medical and dental insurance, pension, etc.
• Career support, staff wellbeing program, breastfeeding policy, flexible work arrangements, childcare room, family support, policies & initiatives, security etc.
• UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF is here to serve the world's most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to including everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to including everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

• Verified educational certificates/ Degrees are a pre-requisite for employment at UNICEF. During the recruitment process, candidates will be required to present verified degrees/certificates.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• UNICEF's active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to delivering the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates will be prioritized.
• UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met within a reasonable period for any reason.

Potential interview questions