UNDP Jobs - 28464- Communications Adviser to the Prime Minister’s Off

Communications Adviser to the Prime Minister’s Office (EU High Level Policy Advice Mission to the Republic of Moldova)

Location :

Chisinau, MOLDOVA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

02-Apr-2012

Application Deadline :

10-Mar-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

18 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

18 months with possibility of extension

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The overall objective of the project is to support the Government to implement its wider reform agenda, the Government Activity Programme and the National Development Strategy Moldova 2020, and in particular to assist the Government to develop the capacities required for the preparation, negotiation and implementation of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, and visa liberalisation.

Specific Objectives:

Strengthen the policy-making, strategic planning and policy management capacities of selected line Ministries and State Agencies involved in the negotiation and implementation of the Association Agreement and visa liberalisation
Enhance stakeholders’ knowledge and awareness of EU policies, legislation and regulations in sectors strategic to the conclusion of the Association Agreement including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, and to the implementation of visa liberalisation.

The EUHLPAM will achieve these objectives through the continued delivery of an optimal mix of policy, legal and institutional advice. The EUHLPAM will ensure that the Moldovan authorities have direct access to EU best practice and reform experience in order to strengthen policy design and implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Adviser to the Government of Moldova on Strategic Communications will provide strategic advice to the Prime Minister of Moldova and PM's Office on internal and external communication with specific focus on the implementation of the Government Program, National Development Strategy Moldova 2020, European integration and related public administration reform, and other strategic issues. He/she will also coach relevant government structures and, if necessary, undertake their capacity building on effective communication of messages related to the above-mentioned reform agenda.

The Adviser will also design and implement the Mission’s communication strategy in order to ensure the visibility of the EU High Level Policy Advice Mission and its results. The adviser will develop the Mission’s communication targeted to the external audiences. The adviser will report primarily to the Prime Minister of Moldova, along with reporting line to UNDP, and will coordinate plans and activities with the EU Delegation and the Team.

Besides day to day advice and on the job coaching, he/she will develop analytical products in the form of advisory notes, reviews, assessments leading to policy papers, as well as provide direct ad-hoc strategic advice as required by the target beneficiaries.

The advice provided to the Government will be closely linked to the activities and strategic objectives of the EU High Level Policy Advice Mission to Moldova and will complement the work of the Team. As such, the Advisor will be working closely and coordinate activities with the Team of EUHLPA Advisors, UNDP, and the EU Delegation.

Key Rsponsibilities:

Provide sategic advice to the Prime Minister and his staff on communication of strategic issues particularly in relation to European integration process and related high-impact reforms;
Advise and guide the Prime Minister’s Office in designing and implementing the communication strategies and plans to communicate the implementation of the Government Program and EU integration agenda;
Identify the main systematic and capacity gaps for effective government communication and proposing ways to close those gaps. Targeted on the job coaching for key officials on communications techniques;
Provide guidance and inputs to the Government’s Press Office and Communication officers of the key institutions on the design and implementation of the Communication strategies and plans;
Design the Mission’s communication strategy and action plan and ensure its implementation through innovative communication and outreach tools and through liaison with respective communications and media officers of the European Union Delegation and UNDP to ensure to Mission’s visibility;
Edit and publish the Team’s key analytical products (results of advisory work) at the agreed periodicity and reporting format, including factual and analytical parts and send to both the EU Delegation as well as Moldovan counterparts.

The above responsibilities will be carried out through development of strategic policy papers, advisory notes and other relevant documentation as well as technical on the job advice to the Governmental institutions responsible for Government communication.

Adviser will also be responsible for provision of relevant advice to the European Union Delegation. He/she will maintain regular communications and representing the Mission (in conjunction with other Advisors) in meetings with the key officials, partner organizations, and other institutions involved into implementation of the Project.

Competencies

Experience in communicating a national negotiations on EU integration is an asset.
Previous work experience in Moldova would be an advantage

The international policy advisors are required to have a substantial presence in Moldova (at least 60% of the time) and operate according to a prioritised work plan, which will be established in close consultation with their counterparts and agreed upon by the European Union, the Beneficiary and the UNDP. These work plans will contain specific objectives, a detailed description of the activities, expected outputs and results, supported by objectively verifiable indicators of achievement.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree in Public Relations and Communication, Public Policy and Management, or similar.

Experience:

Preferably more than 15 years of professional experience
Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience such as a spokesperson / public relations specialist, preferably for a national or international public administration of an EU Member State or an EU Institution.
Minimum of 10 years of working experience in public relations field, media, providing high level communication services to EU governments or to candidate countries.
Substantive overall understanding of development trends and ability to present related issues clearly both to a general and a specialist audience.
Outstanding drafting and communication skills.

Language:

Fluency in English. Fluency in Romanian or Russian would be a strong asset;
Familiarity with relevant IT software tools, including power point presentations, web page design, update and maintenance;
For this post, a full-time commitment would be an advantage.

Important Information

Communication with Applicants

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Evaluation Criteria:

UNDP will perform an evaluation of the technical proposal prior to any price proposals being discussed. The technical evaluation will be represented through a desk review of applications and further interview of the short-listed candidates.

Technical Evaluation:

The technical part is evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR). Namely:

Educational background – 10 points max;
Relevant experience on similar assignments – 10 points max
Relevant technical expertise – 10 points max
Language Skills – 10 points max
Interview - 60 points max
Total Maximum Score: 100 points

UNDP will further consider the price proposals only from the candidates that passed the minimum technical threshold of 70% of the obtainable score of 100 points in the evaluation of the technical proposals.

Financial Component:

UNDP will contact the technically qualified candidates to provide a financial offer for the proposed vacancy. UNDP reserves the right to offer the financial remuneration to the qualified candidates within the limits of the available project budget and rates of remuneration applicable for the international consultancies within the EU High Level Policy Advise Mission.

Award of Contract:

The contract shall be awarded to the technically most responsive candidate subject to a mutual agreement of the remuneration level within the usual EUHLPAM advisory service remuneration rates.