UNDP Jobs - 52901- Communications and Liaison Specialist

Communications and Liaison Specialist

Location :

Stockholm, SWEDEN

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

20-Jan-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year (with possibility of extension)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

Purpose

The Communications and Liaison Specialist strengthens strategic partnerships in Sweden with the purpose of maintaining and, ideally, increasing political and financial support to UNDP.

The Communications Specialist covers the inter-related and mutually reinforcing functions of liaison and communications, which involves representing and branding UNDP in Sweden in alignment with the existing UNDP Strategic Plan and UNDP’s corporate communications strategy in order to maintain support for core funding and open options for non-core funding.

Reporting structure and partners

The Communications and Liaison Specialist is under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director and the overall guidance of the Director of the Nordic Representation Office. The Communications and Liaison Specialist works in close collaboration with Nordic focal points in the other Nordic capitals and with the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy (BERA, Resource & Partnership Cluster and the Communications Office). At national level, the Communications and Liaison Specialist interacts regularly and closely with national Government officials, parliamentarians and other decision-makers, civil society representatives, research institutes and national experts, private sector actors, local and, at times, international media, as well as other UN agencies located in the Nordic countries.

Duties and Responsibilities

Gather, analyze and communicate information from Sweden to better inform HQ decision-making:

Seek, obtain and analyse information with respect to political, economic, institutional and policy developments and trends in the Nordic countries and report on this;
Based on political intelligence suggest strategic entry points to help maintain/strengthen/reverse current trends in the country’s political and financial support to UNDP.

Brief Swedish stakeholders on UNDP’s work and results, and advocate for UNDP’s policy positions:

Prepare briefing materials and presentations on UNDP’s work and results.

Facilitate senior official missions and meetings to and from the Nordic capitals:

Organize visits of UN/DP senior staff and management to the Nordic countries, including in the context of annual consultations or reviews, conferences, bilateral meetings, fund-raising initiatives etc.;
Preparation of programmes, briefing materials, talking points, organization of agendas and logistics;
Outreach to media in connection with visits, report launches and promotion of corporate priorities;
Formulation of appropriate messaging, tailored to local relevance.

Advocate and coordinate resource mobilization efforts:

Advocate for sustained or increased funding to UNDP;
Inform Swedish decision-makers on UNDP’s funding needs and submit and present specific funding proposals as required and requested corporately;
Advice UNDP HQ and country offices on donor focus areas and interest, funding opportunities, as well as formats and other relevant information.

Communicate and enhance UNDP’s public visibility, engage in public policy dialogue and support reputation management:

Organise events on various UN/DP topics, meetings, conferences, and launches and mobilize broad support to the UN/DP.

Competencies

Core:

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.

Technical/Functional:

Primary:

Partnerships:

Ability to engage with other agencies, donors and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relations.

Representation:

Ability to productively share UNDP knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues).

Cultural Translation:

Ability to translate information into the context of the culture.

Brand & Quality Management:

Ability to position a UNDP brand and uphold it to a high level.

Secondary:

Knowledge Management:

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Relationship Management:

Ability to engage with other parties and forge productive working relationships.

Public Relations:

Ability to manage the spread of information between the UNDP and the public.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced (Master’s) university degree in Communications or Political science is required.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in public relations, communications or advocacy;
Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization is desirable but not mandatory.

Language:

Fluency in English and Swedish is required.

Important Note

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