The Associate Communications Officersfunctions, working relationships and skills specializations differ depending on language, location, grade, and whether they sit within a country operation, a regional bureau or the Global Communications Service. UNHCR primary target audiences include public, media and policymakers, while our main partners and influencers include peers and private sector, trusted figures and our own workforce. Some communicators will focus mainly on news and media relations, for example, while others will produce multimedia content, manage social media accounts or lead advocacy campaigns. Forging partnerships with media outlets that reach target audiences is a central role for all Associate Communications Officers. All Associate Communications Officers are expected to work strategically in support of UNHCR operational and communications objectives for their geographic area of responsibility (AoR) as well as global priorities. Communications approaches should reflect our core values as an organization that is caring, trustworthy, proactive, outcome-focused and responsive. This will reinforce UNHCRs role as the lead agency that protects refugees, internally displaced and stateless people and mobilizes action to provide solutions.
Duties
Support the implementation of communications strategies for countries, situations and special projects; identify thematic priorities and target audiences to meet UNHCRs global communications objectives.
Monitor news and popular trends to insert UNHCRs messaging into ongoing conversations; identify key moments for proactive communications.
Forge strategic partnerships with individuals and organizations who can help produce and promote UNHCR content, activities and messaging as well as provide research insights to improve communications; promote the work of engaged businesses and civil society actors.
Contribute to the development of news-driven and authoritative content to lead the narrative on forced displacement and show UNHCRs impact (e.g. interviews, press releases, flagship reports, speeches), create emotive storytelling to generate empathy (e.g. stories, multimedia content) and mobilize action by signposting concrete steps people can take to help refugees (e.g. digital diplomacy, action-driven campaigns, fundraising).
Support the supervisor in ensuring content created reaches maximum impact by developing strategies for distribution from the outset, boosting the visibility of our content on relevant UNHCR channels and placing it on external channels.
Closely monitor the implementation of communications projects and adjust accordingly. Benchmark the results of communications projects against set success indicators; build on communications successes.
Additional duties for news and media roles:
Implement communications strategies, campaigns, events and other initiatives in support of UNHCR’s strategic objectives, including its need for leading share of voice on refugee and related matters, and ensure coverage of refugee situations in their country or region in global and domestic media.
Research, prepare, fact-check, edit and produce professional media and communications materials for target audiences and ensure their timely dissemination via UNHCR’s communications channels, ensuring highest quality standards.
Draft media releases, statements and media briefing notes, and secure clearances, working in conjunction with relevant focal points and keeping sensitive to needs of both internal and external audiences.
Act as a spokesperson for UNHCR, organizing press events, handling interviews requests and providing responses to requests from media relating to UNHCR and its work.
Engage with journalists and public audiences via social media channels.
Regularly provide ideas for communications initiatives and considered professional communications advice to senior staff of UNHCR.
Undertake missions and field trips with media and other official visitors in support of UNHCR and its work.
Actively maintain media relations for UNHCR, ensuring that media (and other important external stakeholders, such as governments, embassies, NGOs etc.) are briefed regularly on issues of importance to UNHCR, and have access to information and UNHCR expertise.
Prepare and manage communications budgets.
Ensure alignment with UNHCRs global branding and messaging.
Continually maintain and upgrade communications skills, keeping abreast of emerging platforms and tools, and systematically reviewing media impact results and other measurement tools for learning purposes.
Additional duties for news and media roles within the Global Communications Service
Oversee coordination of communications work for their designated regions and thematic issues, working closely with communications staff in bureaux and country offices and in collaboration with senior communications officers/advisers in that region.
Manage a wide network of relationships at all levels across bureaux, divisions and offices (including the Executive Office) to ensure timely internal information sharing as a foundation for grounded communications, and to build consensus around communications proposals.
Maintain close involvement in communications recruitment and training needs for assigned regions, keeping in mind UNHCRs goals of employing and retaining the worlds leading humanitarian communications expertise.
Additional duties for news and media roles within Country Offices
Act as the primary interface on communications matters between the country office and the Global Communications Service.
Support the supervisor in crisis communications work for the country within the AoR, alerting the GCS/News & Media Sections crisis communications lead to risk issues and ensuring close coordination.
Additional duties for news and media roles within Regional Bureaux
Regularly provide ideas for communications initiatives and considered professional communications advice to senior Bureau staff and Representatives of Country Operations overseen by the Bureau.
Oversee data and information gathering and sharing of information with a view to ensuring the Bureaus authority as a centre of up to date knowledge and expertise relating to its region.
Ensure Bureau staff are aware of UNHCRs global positioning needs.
Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Journalism
International Relations
Political Science;
Communications
Public Information
Media
Film / Video; or other relevant field.
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