External Relations Associate at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

بورتسودان, Red Sea State, Sudan -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

21 Mar, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

21 Dec, 25

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Media Relations, Content Production, Social Media Management, Donor Visibility, Reporting, Visibility Materials, Multimedia Content, Local Media Engagement, News Monitoring, Drafting, Documentation, Communication, Analytical Thinking, Teamwork, Client Orientation, Organizational Awareness

Industry

International Affairs

Description

Deadline for Applications December 27, 2025 Hardship Level E (most hardship) Family Type Non Family with Residential Location Family Type Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay Residential location (if applicable) Nairobi (CO), Kenya Grade GS6 Staff Member / Affiliate Type General Service Reason Regular > Regular Assignment Target Start Date 2026-01-01 Standard Job Description External Relations Associate Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The External Relations Associate is normally supervised by the External Relations Officer or another professional staff depending on the staffing structure of the Office. The incumbent receives regular guidance and advice from the supervisor. Advice and operational support may also be received from other senior staff and support units at the Country Office/HQ. External contacts are generally with a broad range of officials from national and international institutions, media or general public involving the exchange of a wide range of information. 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 - Provide background briefings to local and international media. - Keep track of evolving issues concerning persons of concern to be able to suggest stories and topics for the media to cover. - Provide daily briefings on local developments to the Head of Office and ensure that briefing materials from other offices are available. - Accompany visits of foreign delegations and the media to refugee sites in the region, giving appropriate briefings, commentaries and prepare briefing material for visitors. - Establish contacts with local organisations to promote general interest and understanding of refugee issues - Ensure that the office is kept informed of local developments which may have a political or operational impact on the office's activities. - May be required to compile information and SitReps received from the Field Offices and/or sections within the Office and consolidate into weekly/monthly/quarterly report. - Advise the Head of Office of local aspects of external relations policies. - Liaise with external partners and local organizations on behalf of UNHCR. - Produce reports and briefings for internal and external partners. - 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 Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher Field(s) of Education Not applicable Certificates and/or Licenses Political Sciences Social Sciences International Relations Journalism Communication (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Not specified Desirable Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position. Functional Skills IT-Web Content Management CO-Drafting and Documentation TI-Interpretation IT-Computer Literacy (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. Desired Candidate Profile Nature of the Position Supervised by the Communications Officer, the External Relations Associate will support UNHCR Sudan in implementing communications and external engagement activities that highlight the displacement situation and UNHCR’s humanitarian response. The role focuses on media relations, content production, social media management, and donor visibility, while also contributing to External Relations tasks such as reporting and preparation of visibility materials. The incumbent will gather and produce multimedia content from field locations, maintain strong relationships with local media, monitor local news, and ensure timely distribution of refugee-related stories. Close coordination with colleagues across Sudan and collaboration with local partners and UN agencies may be required to document and highlight UNHCR’s operations and humanitarian response. Desired Candidate Profile The ideal candidate will have experience in communications, journalism, or media engagement, preferably in a humanitarian or UN setting. Strong drafting, digital content production, and storytelling skills are essential. The incumbent should be adaptable, organized, able to work under pressure, and comfortable coordinating with colleagues in multiple locations. Experience in social media management, field content-gathering, and media monitoring is highly desirable. Understanding of UNHCR’s work in Sudan or similar contexts is an advantage. Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): , , Desired languages , , Operational context Occupational Safety and Health Considerations: Nature of Position: Living and Working Conditions: Additional Qualifications Skills CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Computer Literacy, IT-Web Content Management, TI-Interpretation Education Certifications Communication - Other, International Relations - Other, Journalism - Other, Political Science - Other, Social Sciences - Other Work Experience Competencies Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Innovation & creativity, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration UNHCR Salary Calculator https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales Compendium Additional Information Functional clearance This position doesn't require a functional clearance Important notice: Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training). Read about how to avoid scams and fraudulent job offers. Please note that applications are only accepted via the UNHCR online recruitment platform. CVs and/or application requests sent via email will not be answered, reviewed nor considered. For external applicants: We would like to call your attention on the eligibility of International Professional (P) category: According to our Recruitment and Assignments Policy, P staff members will not normally serve in the country of their nationality, and the first regular appointment in the P category must be outside the staff member's country of nationality. In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of. In case of technical difficulties when applying, external applicants (not current UNHCR workforce members) can write to recruitmentcase@unhcr.org. For former UNHCR Colleagues: Former UNHCR employees who are on mandatory break-in service or have separated from UNHCR after 1 October 2022 should create an account through this platform. Once you fill in your basic personal information (employee ID, birth date, name, email address), Workday will identify you as prior personnel and merge your employee account with your external applicant account. The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, takes the lead in protecting people forced to flee wars and persecution around the world, providing life-saving aid including shelter, food and water to ensure their basic safety, rights and dignity. With 18,879 women and men working in 137 countries, we work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of 89.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Our dedicated and professional staff work around the clock in roles including legal protection, community services, public affairs, health and more. Despite the challenges they can face, our staff are proud to work for UNHCR and determined to make a positive impact. Why a career with UNHCR? Our dedicated staff work to protect and assist people fleeing conflict and persecution at a time when global forced displacement is at a record high. Our colleagues bring a wide range of specialized skills, including expertise in legal protection, administration, community services, public affairs, health and other disciplines. Disability inclusion If you are a person with a disability and you expect you may face challenges during the recruitment process, you can indicate it in your application form. There are options to select any health conditions you may have and outline any necessary adjustments related to disabilities during the recruitment phases. Providing this information is optional. It will be treated as strictly confidential and used only for the purpose of finding out how to better assist you during the recruitment process. Adjustments for candidates with disabilities will be provided as best as possible and as needed upon request. All candidates will be assessed based on meeting the requirements for each vacancy in relation to experience, skills, and education.

Responsibilities

The External Relations Associate will provide background briefings to media, track evolving issues concerning persons of concern, and produce reports and briefings for internal and external partners. The role also involves establishing contacts with local organizations and ensuring the office is informed of local developments impacting its activities.