Communications Specialist at United Nations

Host entity: UNWomen
Start date: Immediate
Duration: 6 months

Description of Task
Lead the development and implementation of communication and outreach / advocacy strategies and plans, with a specific focus on media:

• Conduct communication needs assessments for the CO, including projects, programmes and corporate change initiatives;
• Design, develop, and implement gender-responsive communication and outreach / advocacy strategies, including media strategies;
• Integrate communication, advocacy and outreach strategies into proposals for project/programmes and other initiatives;
• Monitor and analyze print and social media on an ongoing basis and prepare reports;
• Launch in-country UN Women / UN system corporate and local / regional campaigns and special events.

Lead the development and dissemination of advocacy materials for Nigeria CO:

• Develop and oversee the procurement and production of communication and advocacy instruments and materials, including briefing materials, press releases, and articles and coordinate its dissemination through effective channels;
• Provide advice on advocacy materials and coordinate the launching of flagship initiatives and publications in Nigeria;
• Lead the engagement and supervision of video producers and other communication specialists to produce audio / visual materials on UN Women’s work;
• Develop brochures, factsheets, stories from the field to inform media and general public at the regional level;
• Follow guidelines from and report to HQ.

Manage media relations for the CO:

• Manage and promote presence and image of UN Women and its leadership in the country
• Lead relationship building with the press in country and maintain and update a database of press contacts;
• Provide timely and clear responses to media inquiries and to a variety of inquiries and information requests; prepare related correspondence; identify topics, background information, news-related developments and coverage of interest;
• Organize roundtable discussions, press conferences, and briefing sessions with the press and other media groups;
• Facilitate interviews with senior managers; connect media with UN Women subject experts;
• Finalize talking points to guide media engagements by the Country Representative

Build and maintain partnerships and maintain relations with donors:

• Identify and develop new communication partnerships and alliances to enhance visibility; manage and nurture existing partnerships;
• Liaise with advocacy partners and undertake outreach to civil society organizations, governments, and other groups to ensure that newsworthy information reaches the public and donors;
• Guide and collaborate closely with communication colleagues in other offices to ensure consistency with corporate policies, messaging and initiatives

Oversee the CO web / online presence:

• Oversee and maintain CO webpage / website, including developing design and content;
• Coordinate COs’ web-presence in the line with corporate web policy;
• Oversee and manage social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy.

Facilitate knowledge building and sharing:

• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned from CO directly linked to programme country goals and activities and ensure exchange of information;
• Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy as appropriate

Qualifications / Requirements

• Required degree level: Master degree or equivalent

Education - Additional Comments:

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or relevant field is required;
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Required experience:

• 60 Months

Experience remark:

• At least 5 years of professional work experience at national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy, including in media relations;

Eligibility criteria:

• Minimum age: 25 years old. Nationals of the country of assignment are not eligible, except the assignments in Headquarters duty stations.

Language skills:

• English (Mandatory), Level - Fluent

Area of expertise:

• Public information and reporting, Journalism, mass media and broadcasting

Area of expertise details:

• Extensive experience in the use of social media;
• Experience in media relations is an asset.

Driving license:

• No

Competencies values:

• Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Communication, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Knowledge Sharing, Planning and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams