Communications Specialist

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Plans and designs internal and external strategies for communications and outreach;

Elaborates and implements CO publications strategy and plan;

Ensures the overall coordination of the Communication unit within the PARC team, its interaction with other CO teams, area offices and external audience, focusing on the implementation of the CO Comms Strategy and related Action Plan consistently with and contributing to UNDP’s Strategic Plan and the strategic objectives of PARC unit;

Ensures clear, coherent and consistent communication about the strategic focus and activities of UNDP in the country using available tools and, defining new ones, when needed, including the development, design, production and dissemination of internal and external communication material;

Manages media relations, as well as relations with the variety of stakeholders identified in the CO Comms strategy, in support and on behalf of the UNDP Office—prepares press releases, responding to enquiries, developing and managing media outreach as required;

Supports UNDP business development and Knowledge Management, including providing UNDP’s contribution to the UN Comms Group (UNCG Syria).

Ensures planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach focusing on achievement of the following results:

Plans and elaborates communications needs assessments for CO (projects, country programme and corporate change initiatives, etc)

Updates and implements CO communications and outreach strategy based on the corporate communications strategy.

Provides constructive and timely advice on inclusion of communications components in programmes formulation to integrate advocacy and communication strategies into all aspects of UNDP’s development programme.

Ensures elaboration and implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Elaborates and implements the CO publications strategy and plan based on the corporate publications policy.

Identifies and develops storylines for publications and substantive articles contributing to debates on key development issues.

Coordinates and manages all CO publication activities, including content management, norms for publishing, design, liaison with printers and other suppliers to oversee production and supervision of publications dissemination.

Ensures the overall coordination of the Communication unit within the PARC team, in Damascus and at area offices, its interaction with other CO teams, field teams and external audience, focusing on the implementation of the CO Comms Strategy and related Action Plan directly supporting UNDP’s Strategic Plan and the strategic objectives of PARC unit:

Manages, contributes and supervises the elaboration of content on Syria CO website, one of the principal mediums of communications of the organisation, ensuring information is clearly presented, relevant and continuously updated

Supervises the development, design, production and dissemination of internal and external communications materials for print/electronic/voice/visual media, e.g. the quarterly Newsletter, and supports communication aspects related to the production of UNDP results reporting.

Supports the CO to draft and disseminate key periodical and ad hoc reports to internal and external audiences

Through participating in UNCG meetings, keeps abreast of the activities of other UN Agencies operational in the country and abroad, contributes to position UNDP as the lead agency on Early Recovery and Resilience, and regularly updates both the Head of PARC as well as Senior Management and CO Team Leaders

Supports the UNDP SM in preparing for and organising public speaking engagements, seminars, lectures, conferences, public events on major issues and events concerning UNDP activities in the country through the preparation of background materials, presentations and talking points, as required

Prepares communications needs assessments for CO (projects, country programme and corporate change initiatives, etc), and updates it periodically against existing strategy and plans.

Analysis of requirements and synthesis of proposals on ways to integrate advocacy and communication strategies into all aspects of UNDP’s development programme during programme formulations.

Periodically trains UNDP staff to ensure UNDP communication key messages are understood and integrated in programme design

Ensures clear, coherent and consistent communication about the strategic focus and activities of UNDP in the country using available tools and, defining new ones, when needed, including the development, design, production and dissemination of internal and external communication material:

Supervises the Identification of media stories and researches, contributes to writing and editing media releases and briefings

Identifies media opportunities of storylines for publications and drafting of substantive articles contributing to debates on key humanitarian/recovery/development issues in print media features, radio and television programs in country and abroad.

Identify opportunities for press engagement, including interviews with key personnel and launch/closing ceremonies of projects

Supervises the translation of concepts and issues related to UNDP activities into a form that can be readily used by the media and understood by the public.

Provides internal consultancy and media advice to staff to ensure that the agreed strategy is implemented, and consistent messaging is maintained.

Supervises the maintenance of a photo database that contains images expressive of the issues, actions and results the UN is working on.

Coordinates with service providers (e.g. printers, designers, photographers, writers, editors, advertising/ marketing/event coordination agencies). to ensure documents adhere to global guidelines

Manages media relations, as well as relations with the variety of stakeholders identified in the CO Comms strategy, in support and on behalf of the UNDP Office—prepares press releases, responding to enquiries, developing and managing media outreach as required.

Supports advocacy campaigns for the CO

Provides advice on strategic and innovative approaches to communicating UNDP’s work and supports the planning and implementation of advocacy campaigns directed at a broad range of stakeholders.

In line with the communications strategy, proactively advocates UNDP’s key messages in all interaction with media, UN and humanitarian partners, ensuring consistency and clarity of agreed messages. 

As necessary, manages media relations responding to enquiries, developing and managing media outreach plans, drafting material for the media and ensuring that these can be readily used by the media and understood by the public

Supports UNDP business development and Information and Knowledge Management, including providing UNDP’s contribution to the UN Comms Group (UNCG Syria).

As a member of the UN Communications Group, works proactively with other agencies’ communications officers and focal points, and the UN Country Team to define and implement coordinated comms activities to clearly and consistently convey the UN role, as well as the key aims, objectives and results of both HRP and the UN Strategic Framework, as well as other UN activities in the country.  

Promotes the positioning of UNDP as the lead agency on Early Recovery and Resilience within the UNCG

As required, supports the UNCG to prepare press releases and other outreach materials related to joint programmes and/or other shared initiatives.

For UN joint programmes activities, produces success stories, case studies and features to share with stakeholders and audiences, regularly communicates UN joint programme progress and impacts online.

Develops and maintains close working relationships with UN communication officers and focal points to disseminate information about the UN activities and to support consistent information sharing between participating agencies.

Development and dissemination of corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives and publications such as the Human Development Report.

Packaging of programme initiatives for partner review in collaboration with programme staff and supervisor.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade, and transform

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Technical / Functional Competencies

Brand & Quality Management

Ability to strengthen UNDP’s identity and distinction through its brand and uphold it to a high level of quality

Influencing and Agenda setting

Ability to plan and deliver communication initiatives that make an impact, persuades intended audiences, shapes perceptions of the UNDP and creates positive demand for UNDP’s value propositions

Inspiration

Ability to inspire all cross-cutting communication colleagues to be innovative, especially at challenging new tasks and giving colleagues the freedom to explore and do things differently.

Media Relations

Ability to form and maintain meaningful working relationships with various members of the media

Social Media

Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities / networks and promote citizen engagement in UNDP’s work

Management and Coordination

Ability to manage and coordinate campaigns and people with inspiration. Believe in and promote diversity in the workplace and reshaping the workforce to meet need.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Master’s degree in communication, media relations, journalism, publishing, social sciences, development or any other related field.

Experience

5 years of senior media relations experience, with in-depth knowledge of strategic communications planning and implementation

Experience in all the tactics of media relations – press conferences, feature stories, broadcast, OpEDs

Experience with use of a range of communications tools, including publications, Internet and public relations and proven ability to create successful interface among these tools for global communications initiatives

Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization is desirable.

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling of web-based management systems is desirable

Language Requirements

Fluency in oral and written English. Working knowledge of Arabic or any other UN language will be considered as an asset.

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