Org. Setting and Reporting
The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform which repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator - the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level - support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDG’s. The Communications Officer establishes and maintains relationships with management in her/his entity, with other Communications specialists in the organization, managers in other functional areas in the same entity, with the Crisis Management team, when applicable, and with staff to provide and clarify information, provide specific or thematic information, to exchange information, to plan and coordinate communication activities, to provide guidance and discuss communications support to other functional areas, to participate and support in the Crisis Management Team, and to share information with staff, as necessary. The Communications Officer also establishes external relationships with counterparts in United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, government officials, civil society representative and local community representatives, artists, creative content producers, digital/community influencers, social media platforms and other digital media platforms, vendors, media and think tanks, and academia to build partnerships, exchange information and best practices, align messaging, request information on new services and tools, strengthen information integrity, if needed, organize events and outreach activities, and mobilize resources. The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordination Office (RCO) in Abu Dhabi and reports to the Senior Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the incumbent, will perform the following duties: 1. Provide insights and analysis from traditional, social, and digital media monitoring, including public narratives and areas of reputational risk to inform communications strategy. 2. Contribute to the development and implementation of communications strategies that raise awareness, drive engagement, build support and have measurable impact with target audiences, including ways to effectively communicate global UN initiatives to UAE audience. 3. Draft compelling narratives and messaging on the work of the UN that engage target audiences across different channels and platforms, including innovative ones. 4. Conduct mapping, outreach to and foster relationships with traditional and new media and social media outlets, networks, personalities and influencers. 5. Participate in the development of media lines, including in crisis situations and on sensitive issues. 6. Plan and coordinate press conferences, briefings, and media events. 7. Create compelling content that is optimized to reach target audiences across a range of platforms and channels including short-form video, infographics, and interactive formats. 8. Draft and produce communications products, such as press releases, press statements, web stories, reports, and infographics. 9. Participate in the creation of compelling communications campaigns that engage and have measurable impact with target audiences through appropriate channels and platfor 10. Participate in the development and delivery of in-person outreach and advocacy strategies and campaigns to engage target audiences and advance UN priorities. 11. Create content, conduct interviews and present news and programming for UN and/or community radio channels and podcasts. 12. Contribute to the creation and updating of policy guidance and/or training related to strategic communications, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. 13. Serve as focal point on policy and reporting and prepare inputs for strategic communications in the context of regular reporting to governmental bodies. 14. Keep abreast of the latest trends in communications and maintain expertise in relevant and emerging technologies 15. Maintain confidentiality, integrity, and discreet handling of sensitive information in compliance with the UN data privacy, security requirements, and standards. 16. Monitor, analyse and report on communications approaches, activities and strategies to assess their performance and effectiveness. 17. Collect and analyse data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables, and report using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation, and reporting. 18. Support strategic communication engagement with UAE-based partners to amplify SDG-related messaging and advocacy 19. Perform other related duties as assigned.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Skills in developing creative content. Knowledge of digital designs. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, digital communications or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.
Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience demonstrating Knowledge in strategic communications principles and practices is required. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement communications strategies is desirable. Demonstrated skills to communicate complex and technical matters to diverse audiences is desirable. Demonstrated skills in traditional and innovative and social media analysis, written and visual content production is desirable. Demonstrated skills in the utilization of artificial intelligence, data visualization, and digital storytelling and other emerging technologies is desirable. Demonstrated knowledge of the UAE and regional development-related communication and advocacy landscape, including traditional and social media networks and influencers is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable. Note: “Fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and “Knowledge of’ equals a rating of “confident in two of the four area.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment, such as a written test, which will be followed by a competency-based interview by phone/teleconference or face-to-face.
Special Notice
This is a Temporary Job Opening. Appointment against this position is available for a duration of Three Hundred and Sixty-Four (364) days a limited duration and does not carry any expectancy, legal or otherwise, of renewal. Extension of appointment is subject to legislative body funding availability. National Professional Officers are nationals of the country in which they are serving, and their functions must have a national context, i.e. functions that require national experience or knowledge of the national language, culture, institutions, and systems. THIS POSITION IS OPEN TO NATIONALS OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ONLY. National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located and will be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of the office. If no suitable local candidate is identified, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES nationals residing elsewhere may be considered, in which case the candidate would be responsible for any costs related to traveling and relocating to UNITED ARAB EMIRATES in the event of an employment offer. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Internal Applicants: When completing the form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Need Help?” link.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee

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