Communications Specialist (Home-Based with travel)

Office/Unit/Project Description 

UNDP’s strategic orientation is to be a forward-looking organization, capable of seizing opportunities as they arise and optimally positioned for continued growth, relevance and excellence in service delivery.

In an environment of dynamic changes and decreasing Official Development Assistance (ODA), communicating effectively the results achieved with the support of all partners and ensuring visibility of the work achieved with core resources is critical. Communication of UNDP’s thought leadership through quality knowledge products is also an integral part of positioning UNDP as a strategic partner.

Strengthened Communications is an essential means of achieving UNDP’s goals and vision as prescribed in its strategic plans and the regional strategies and programme. Innovation coordinated advocacy and collaboration between Headquarters, regional offices and Country Offices help foster development results, and heighten visibility and recognition for our work amongst strategic partners.

Strategic communication is a key element of successful engagement and partnership for the organization, as well as transparency and accountability to partners.

This position is placed in the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC). 

The Bureau leads the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Europe and Central Asia region to implement the organization’s Strategic Plan, driven by the vision set by the Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement. RBEC provides oversight and support to 17 Country Offices (COs), an Office in Kosovo (as per UNSCR 1244), and Project Management Offices in Cyprus and in Moscow. The Bureau’s functions include strategy setting, communication, external UN system relations, operational and programme support, as well as the development and management of regional programmes.

Scope of Work 

Under supervision of the Chief, Strategic Partnerships and Communication, the Communication Specialist for the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS (RBEC) contributes to the development and implementation of a communication strategy for the Bureau. The Communications Specialist will support the Bureau and lend communications support to the Bureau leadership and all units at RBEC HQs as part of the broader communications and advocacy strategy of the Bureau. The Communications Specialist works in a team effort with and provides quality assurance to the Regional Communication Team placed in Istanbul Regional Hub, and regularly engages and supports the Regional Communications network and UNDP Country Office Communications officers, to ensure coherence of  content of public materials and messages being communicated, as well as their alignment with broader corporate advocacy and media outreach. The incumbent will work in sync with the BERA Communications Team and as a team with any outpost BERA Communication specialist to the RBEC.

Based on a good understanding of UNDP’s global and regional positioning, he/she will:

• Support the Bureau in advocating for UNDP positioning, prepare materials, RD media briefs and ensure visibility and engagement of UNDP RBEC leadership in the public domain; 
• Enhance RBEC’s internal communications capacity and provide quality assurance and oversight to RBEC’s comms activities across the board;
• Facilitate and increase information-sharing through enhanced communications among RBEC staff, between staff and management, and between RBEC and the broader UNDP;
• Support implementation of RBEC communications strategy through the development of internal and external content including web, writing of articles and drafting of speeches and statements to enhance UNDP’s image, credibility, and positioning in Europe and Central Asia; ensuring that communication is tightly linked to the  Bureaus’s programme priorities and outcomes and that communications help to achieve the objectives of UNDP’s business strategy.
• Ensure that key results and relevant success stories are incorporated into strategic communications outreach for RBEC management.
• Ensure that key knowledge products, particularly produced by country offices in crisis context, are quality-assured, publication-ready and ready for public release.

Overall, the key role of the Communication Specialist is conveying in strategic, plain and appealing manners what UNDP does, why that matters and what impacts it achieves, and to ensure RBEC’s messaging remains in phase with emerging issues in Europe and Central Asia. He/she must be a strategist and a catalyst in communicating for results and inject new ideas and effective ways into the rest of UNDP’s substantive activities to achieve this goal.

1) Advise and support in developing and implementing the communications strategy in cooperation with the Regional Hub and the Country Offices

• Based on the Strategic Plan, the Regional Strategy and Regional Programme Document and Country Programme Documents, hold the pen on the design of and the implementation of a RBEC internal/external communication strategy outlining clear goals, a range of innovative outreach initiatives, deliverables, timelines, budget and performance indicator to enhance the positioning of RBEC;
• Prepare innovative opportunities to increase awareness of RBEC’s work in the region by using digital technologies and social media.
• Develop and produce internal communications tools, such as presentations, blogs, bulletins, op-eds; manages content on RBEC’s communication platforms, supported by the Communications Team in the Istanbul Regional Hub and in collaboration with relevant offices.
• Draft and/or edit and disseminate press releases, media advisories, fact sheets, press/media kits, and stories to inform media, key partners, and the general public;
• Draft talking points for interviews, presentations, and speeches for the Bureau Leadership including for New York-based events;
• Field and draft responses to media inquiries in cooperation with the regional comms network  and the Communications Cluster in UNDP BERA;
• Facilitate and increase information-sharing through enhanced communications among RBEC staff, between staff and Management, and between RBEC and the broader UNDP;
• Provide internal/external communications support to the Director and Deputy of RBEC and other senior RBEC officials, and to Resident Representatives in the region;
• In partnership with BERA, provide ongoing sensitization sessions to RBEC staff on advocacy and communications as required;
• Determine actions needed to revitalize and maintain existing RBEC online workspaces and and websites propose new internal communications activities;
• Participate in Bureau meetings, as relevant,  to assist and advise on communications and outreach.

2) Provide advice and support to RBEC management for enhanced communications development results and media outreach.

• Identify opportunities public outreach for RBEC’s senior leadership, senior managers and experts, emphasizing the use of new media and digital technology;
• Produce or assist with the production of reports and multimedia packages.
• Prepare messaging and talking points for interviews and multimedia productions.
• Coordinate corporate initiatives with the Communications Cluster in UNDP BERA.

3) Strengthen internal capacity for communications and media outreach, provision of quality assurance and knowledge sharing 

• Maintain strategic partnerships with communications counterparts at other UNDP bureaus and actively engage in UN regional inter-agency taskforces; 
• Work with RBEC senior management team on quality assurance and dissemination of knowledge products and good practices;
• Ensure appropriate knowledge sharing with UNDP Bureaus and communications counterparts in Country Offices through the organization of trainings, communications workshops, retreats and/or corporate regional meetings.

4) Build strategic partnerships and create innovative channels of outreach and communication.

• Work hand-in-hand with the Partnerships team in creating engagement and outreach products, based on RBEC’s strategy and programmatic work;
• Foster outreach partnerships with new media, innovation groups, and social media influentials who can help UNDP achieve its global and regional objectives;
• Improved strategic positioning of UNDP in Europe and Central Asia as a development partner.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation

Competencies Core

• Achieve Results:                                    LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact 
• Think Innovatively:                                LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems 
• Learn Continuously:                              LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility:                                LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands 
• Act with Determination:                        LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner:                              LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion:              LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Communications        

• Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change
• Brand & quality management: Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a level of quality
• Campaign management: Ability to produce and implement communications and advocacy campaigns which lead to impactful change

Partnership Management

• Strategic Engagement: Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives

Business Management 

• Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
• Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies

Business Direction and Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Min. Education requirements 

• Advanced University Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Communications, Media Relations, Journalism, or Public Relations-related field is required. Or 
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience

• Minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, media, communications or advocacy. 

Experience, Knowledge, and skills

• Experience in the use of media materials and tools, including web-based management and communication platforms and systems, including social media

Desirable Criteria 

• Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization and/or media networks is highly desirable.
• Experience in ensuring quality assurance and dissemination of knowledge products and good practices is an asset.
• Experience in preparing innovative opportunities to increase awareness by using digital technologies and social media is desired. 
• Experience in incorporating key results and relevant success stories into strategic communications is desired. 

Required Language(s) 

• Fluency in English is required. 
• Knowledge of another UN languages relevant to the RBEC is a plus

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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