Senior Public Information/Communications Assistant

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)FamilyCONTR Local Entry and Mid-Level Support2025-01-01December 26, 2024The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect and support forcibly displaced and stateless persons worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of the forcibly displaced and stateless individuals and communities. The Senior Public Information/Communication Assistant (as national individual contractor, IC) will be a member of the UNHCR Moscow Communication Team under the supervision of the External Relations Officer. He/she will be involved in various aspects of the communication and external relations work, including support in preparing material for publishing and disseminating information, with a specific focus on drafting social media posts/content. The IC will have a role in the preparation of contracts for visibility items or other services required, review of quality of the product/service, and identification of needs to be sourced through commercial tenders. On printing of dissemination products, he/she is expected to support with design and content for the information items, such as digests, leaflets, posters, and other communication dissemination items. The work requires close collaboration with the UNHCR Protection and Programme Units. Experience in organizing or assisting with public events is welcomed.

Main duties:

• Assist with the implementation of UNHCR Russia’s Public Information/communications strategy;
• Perform research and analysis of the media landscape on refugees and forced displacement;
• Keep UNHCR Russia’s social media updated on a regular basis: produce textual, photo and video content, as well as unification of visual content style between social media platforms;
• Update UNHCR Russia’s website;
• Translate materials related to the topic of refugees (RU-EN, EN-RU);
• Hold tenders to process visibility, printing items, or other services which UNHCR made need for the tasks related to external relations and public information activities of the operation;
• Prepare surveys which help inform processes which need inputs from other key units, such as protection, programme and colleagues in general from within the operation;
• Assist with the arrangement of meetings, organization of workshops, or various events, taking notes, photographs and preparing handouts for events and missions.
• Perform any other related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

Candidates must be legally present in the Russian Federation at the time of application, recruitment and hire.
This position is open to applications from internal and external candidates, provided that requirements regarding professional experience, academic qualifications, language, etc. are fulfilled.
Remuneration:

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. No late applications will be accepted.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).
NOTE: An individual whose mother, father, son, daughter, brother or sister is a staff member of UNHCR, including a Temporary Appointment holder or a member of Affiliate Workforce, is not eligible to apply.

 

Standard Job Description

Senior Communications Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Communications Assistant is normally supervised by a Communication Officer or other position as decided by the senior management in the area of responsibility. The supervisor provides the incumbent with regular guidance. The incumbent will have frequent contacts involving the exchange of a wide range of information with colleagues within UNHCR as well as media, international organizations, academic institutions and private individuals.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Regularly monitor media and local situation regarding UNHCR.
- Follow-up on administrative and logistical arrangements to organise press briefings and other events, such as workshop and conferences.
- Contribute to the production of information materials for public awareness campaigns and for the preparation of in-house bulletins, newsletters and information kits by contributing to articles, reports and other information gathered from various sources.
- Liaise with printers concerning brochures and publications published by the office.
- Draft routine correspondence and texts for the office's website and maintain information databases.
- Compile and distribute a daily news clipping service.
- Distribute press statements and similar information to media, to other offices locally as well as to Headquarters.
- Maintain up-to-date filing system and appointments diary.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Relations; Journalism; Political Science;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Some work experience relevant to the position. Communication and computer skills. Excellent drafting skills as well as translation and interpreting skills.

Desirable
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of position.

Functional Skills
CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics)
CO-Drafting and Documentation
IT-Web Content Management
CO-Digital content production
CO-Social Media Publishing/Monitoring/Marketing tools
IT-Web publishing
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Digital content production, CO-Drafting and Documentation, CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics), CO-Social Media Publishing/Monitoring/Marketing tools, IT-Web Content Management, IT-Web publishing

Education

Certifications

International Relations - Other, Journalism - Other, Political Science - Other

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No