Background

UNDP’s overall communications activities will grow considerably in the coming years and the Manager, Online & Digital will lead the transformation of our digital presence.

The Manager, Online & Digital will oversee the development and implementation of a comprehensive digital strategy, reshaping UNDP’s multi-lingual corporate web site and all aspects of digital media channels. S/he will be responsible for identifying and incorporating cutting-edge multi-media and social media approaches, products, services, and platforms, including current and future digital channels with increased attention to mobile platforms.

The Manager promotes a culture of digital communications across every level of UNDP, strengthening our online branding and positioning across a wide variety of online platforms, including the corporate website in three languages (English, French, Spanish), Country Office sites, partner sites and social networks.

The Team Manager, Online & Digital will also guide UNDP’s regional and country digital communications to operate with accessibility and usability. S/he will leverage measurement tools to track and report on progress, continually work to improve on those metrics through testing and new initiatives, and use this data to respond and improve.

Under the supervision of the Director of Communications and in close collaboration with the Deputy Director, the Manager, Online & Digital must work closely and collaboratively with the other Communications Team Managers to strengthen UNDP’s messages across all internal and external platforms including media, advocacy, and donor communications. The Manager, Online & Digital will be responsible for supervising an integrated team including five digital specialists, three social media communications officers, and two support analysts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsible for UNDP’s digital strategy:

  • Develops and expand UNDP’s corporate strategy for digital, prioritizing engagement, content, usability, and design, while identifying and responding to new and emerging opportunities and platforms; and
  • Leads the organization to understand and leverage digital trends and analysis to improve and redirect work as needed;
  • Leads, manages and motivates Online and Digital staff, overseeing personnel in the recruitment, performance and career management processes.

Leads UNDP’s multilingual online presence, ensuring solid editorial content and increased use of multi-media tools:

  • Supervises global website growth and enhancement;
  • Works in close collaboration with other communications teams to fully leverage stories, multimedia, blogs, and other sources for content;
  • Manages the provision of digital support to Country Offices, regional offices and other Bureaux.

Leads UNDP presence on social networks and digital engagement:

  • Ensures that UNDP is active and engaged on a wide array of social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn etc.) as well as continuously updating and adapting to social media developments;
  • Works closely with Regional Communications Advisors to ensure UNDP presence in a wide variety of additional social networks;
  • Provide strategic guidance to Bureaux across UNDP on social media and engagement.

Contribute to UNDP resource mobilization initiatives:

  • Work closely with the Manager, Engagement and collaborate with the Fundraising & Engagement team to contribute to the development of a digital fundraising and engagement platform aimed at individual donors in support of UNDP’s resources to support implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Leads new and innovative digital partnerships for UNDP, including on transparency and data:  

  • Responsible for ensuring corporate support and managing new and innovative online initiatives in support of UNDP’s development agenda;
  • Maintain UNDP’s long-standing commitment to making information available in a transparent, accessible way, providing website visibility through open.undp.org for UNDP headquarters and country offices to publish financial, procurement and programme information.

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.

Technical/Functional competencies:

Primary:

Managing Complexity:

  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Digital/Online/Emerging Technologies:

  • Ability to identify and oversee strategies for engaging with multiple audiences through a variety of internet and mobile communications platforms.

Strategic Planning:

  • Ability to make decisions that align with strategy, vision, and mission.

Marketing:

  • Ability to communicate the value of a product or service.

Secondary:

Multimedia writing/editing:

  • Originating and/or editing written content for media and the general public to be disseminated through press or other online outlets.

Social Media:

  • Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks.

Web Design:

  • Ability to create and design web content.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master's degree or equivalent in digital and online media, communications or related fields;
  • First degree is acceptable with 2 additional years of work experience in digital and online media or communications.

Experience:

  • 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in digital and online communications, marketing, advocacy, and/or campaigning;
  • Experience in planning, managing and executing new media and social media initiatives, including oversight of content management systems and analytics, required;
  • Excellent editorial judgment and experience required;
  • Strong technical understanding of a broad variety of digital communications platforms and experience with usage of content management systems;
  • Management experience and aptitude required, with successively increasing responsibilities in administration and management and a demonstrated track record of successfully managing people, processes and projects, especially in a complex environment;
  • Previous experience with an international organization is preferred.

Language:

  • Fluency in English is required;
  • Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.