Individual Contractor – Chinese social media content creator and coordinator

Area of Specialization/Thematic Areas:

Communication, social media management, content creation, community management, digital media, marketing

Overview (Quick description of the funded project and its context):

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) delivers on its mandate to strengthen the capacities of beneficiaries through training, capacity development, applied research and related activities. In 2024, the Institute organized over 1,400 learning and knowledge-sharing events benefiting more than 500,000 beneficiaries around the world.

Overview of the Communication and IT Support Unit (CITSU)

The position of Individual Contractor –Chinese social media content creator and coordinator - is located in the Communication and IT Support Unit (CITSU), which oversees all communications activities and IT resources at UNITAR. Currently, UNITAR manages social media channels such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X, and seeks to enhance its digital presence in China to communicate its mission, programmes, and impact effectively to Chinese audience. With a primary focus on managing the Weibo platform, the role might eventually expand to include other Chinese social media platforms ensuring consistency with UNITAR digital communication standards and cultural sensitivity​​​.

Overview of the Multilateral Diplomacy Programme Unit

In line with UNITAR’s efforts to strengthen multilateralism, the Multilateral Diplomacy Programme Unit regularly implements training activities for participants to experience the United Nations first-hand.

These so-called UN Immersion Programmes are 1-2 weeks of length and entail expert lectures, training workshops, guided tours, visits of UN agencies and multilateral conferences. 

The position of Individual Contractor would also be engaged in the communication processes surrounding these UN Immersion Programmes, particularly in the Chinese language. 

Overview of the Division for Prosperity

The Division for Prosperity is a key programmatic division of UNITAR, dedicated to delivering innovative learning solutions that promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth worldwide.

In line with its mission, the Division has launched a series of impactful programmes in China, collaborating with a growing network of both national and international partners. To maximize the effectiveness and reach of these programmes, it is essential to enhance their visibility and engagement, particularly through local social media platforms.

General objectives of the contract:

• Objective for Communication and IT Support Unit

The objective of this contract is to manage and grow UNITAR's presence on Chinese social media, starting with Weibo, and possibly expanding to other platforms. The Individual contractor – Chinese social media content creator and coordinator - will engage with local audiences, amplify UNITAR initiatives, and support strategic communication goals aligned with overall strategies.

The incumbent is expected to work with minimum direct supervision using established procedure and policies. The incumbent will work closely with the social media and digital communication specialist in CITSU as well as other communication focal points.

• Objectives for the Multilateral Diplomacy Programme Unit

In addition to the outlined activities, the successful candidate is also expected to coordinate closely with MDPU regarding the communication and promotion of its training activities with participants from the People´s Republic of China. 

• Objectives for the Division for Prosperity

The Division for Prosperity is seeking a talented individual to collaborate with the China team in promoting and communicating its programmes and strengthening the division's brand presence in China. This role will involve editing and translating programme content to ensure it is compelling, clear, and tailored to resonate with the Chinese audience.

Responsibilities/description of professional services:

CITSU (50%)

Under the supervision of Chief, CITSU, the individual contractor will work on the following:

• Content Creation and Curation
  • Develop a content strategy for Weibo that aligns with the UNITAR’s mission and campaigns.
  • Create engaging, culturally relevant posts, including text, graphics, videos, and live streams.
  • Adapt global UNITAR content for the Chinese audience, ensuring linguistic and cultural relevance.
• Platform Management and Expansion
  • Manage daily operations of the Weibo account, including posting, community management, and responding to comments/messages.
  • Monitor trends and recommend expansion to other platforms, preparing tailored strategies for each platform.
• Analytics and Reporting
  • Use analytics tools to monitor performance metrics (e.g., engagement rates, follower growth).
  • Provide monthly reports and insights to inform strategy adjustments.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Collaborate with UN agencies, partners, and influencers to amplify messaging and reach.
  • Ensure messaging is consistent with UNITAR brand guidelines and respectful of local contexts​​.
• Training and Capacity Building
  • Train internal teams on Chinese social media trends and platform-specific best practices.
  • Develop guidelines for managing Chinese social media accounts. 

MDPU (25%)

• Enhancing Online Presence of UNITAR Programmes in Chinese
  • Translation of existing texts from English into Chinese for UNITAR landing pages 
  • Creation of audio-visual material for these purposes

Prosperity (25%)

• Programme Promotion and Impact Enhancement
  • Enhance the impact of the Division for Prosperity’s programmes in China by creating new communication materials and strategies to increase visibility and engagement.
  • Write and distribute bilingual press releases (Chinese and English) to highlight programme updates and key achievements.
• Platform Interaction and Trend Engagement
  • Monitor relevant discussions on Chinese social media platforms and engage with mentions related to UNITAR or the Division for Prosperity in a timely manner.
  • Tailor messaging to the local context and align with the expectations of Chinese social media audiences.
  • Support official communications by utilizing the Weibo account for official outreach and interactions when needed.

Measurable outputs/deliverables/schedule of deliverables:

CITSU

• Monthly content calendars and analytics reports.
• Quarterly strategy updates based on performance insights.
• Recommendations for platform expansion with feasibility analyses.
• Training materials and guidelines for internal capacity building.

MDPU

• Translation of MDP UN Immersion Programme pages and all subpages on UNITAR´s website from English into Mandarin Chinese 
• Series of social media posts promoting other MDPU programmes related to China
• Liaison with other actors helpful for promotion (for instance UNHQ Communications team for Weibo) 

Prosperity 

• Develop and publish timely posts on Weibo to promote the Division for Prosperity’s programmes and initiatives.
• Ensure bilingual press releases are swiftly translated and shared on Weibo after the English release.
• Monitor social media performance and provide monthly reports on engagement, reach, and programme growth.
• Assist with official interactions, outreach, and programme promotion via the Weibo account as required.

Performance Indicators for evaluation of results:

• Social media channels are managed and monitored on a daily basis.
• Social media statistics report issued, analysis and recommendations proposed by a set deadline.
• Social media training given to newcomers as requested.
• Communication and promotional products translated into Chinese.
• News releases translated as requested. 
• Guidelines for managing Chinese social media accounts issued.

Minimum requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications, digital media, marketing, journalism, linguistic or a related field.

Experience: At least 1-year of experience in social media management, with a focus on Chinese platforms.

Proven track record of growing and managing accounts on Chinese social media platforms, preferably Weibo.

Skills: Strong copywriting, graphic design, and video editing skills tailored for social media.

Familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Weibo Analytics, DataCube).

Deep understanding of the Chinese digital landscape and cultural nuances.

Personal Attributes: Creative, proactive, and detail oriented.

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Language: Native proficiency in Mandarin (oral and written) and fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

Remarks:

This position is located in Geneva, Switzerland. However, depending on the circumstance, remote work contract could be considered. 

General conditions of contracts for the service of individual contractors apply. Individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local laws. UNITAR does not reimburse individual contractors for any taxes, duty, or other contribution payable by the individual contractors on payments made under the Individual contractor contract.

The Institute does not provide or arrange life or health insurance coverage for individual contractors, and they are not eligible to participate in the life and health insurance schemes provided by the UN for its staff members.

This is a locally recruited post and no relocation allowances apply. The successful candidate will be employed under a local contract and will not hold international civil servant status nor is he/she a “staff member” as defined in the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations.

The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Priority will be given to the applicants from the underrepresented regions at UNITAR. There will be a probation period of 3 months.