UN Women

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Asia and the Pacific

Through the regional office in Bangkok and several country and multi-country offices, UN Women builds on a long history of support to governments and women’s movements. UN Women’s programmes in Asia and the Pacific focus on ending violence against women, humanitarian action and disaster risk reduction, women’s economic empowerment, CEDAW and women’s human rights, peace and security, governance, and HIV/AIDS. For more information about UN Women in Asia and the Pacific, please visit the official website.

Communications team within the External Relations Unit

The Communications team is one of three functional teams within the External Relations Unit covering regional Resource Mobilization & Partnerships; Advocacy; and Communications at UN Women’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UN Women ROAP). The Communications team develops strategic communications products to educate, inform, mobilize action, garner interest and raise awareness of UN Women’s Regional Office Asia and the Pacific programming, priorities and activities. The Communications team manages media, UN Women’s online platforms including the ROAP website and social media platforms, and supports Country Offices with their communications efforts, building their capacity through diverse channels.

Under the supervision of the Head of External Relations Unit, the Regional Communications Consultant is responsible for developing strategic communications and media initiatives and overseeing the management of press/media coverage for UN Women Asia and the Pacific. The Consultant oversees the production and quality management of a range of communications materials for UN Women, including the Regional Office’s website and social media accounts. The Consultant is responsible for overseeing the timely development of accurate and high-quality informational materials including press releases, media advisories, news briefs, fact sheets and impact stories from the field.

The Consultant collaborates closely with the Headquarters, Regional Office Asia and the Pacific, Multi-Country Office and Country Office (RO/MCO/CO) colleagues to ensure dedicated communication strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives. The Consultant collaborates with RO/MCO/CO colleagues to support outreach campaigns, resource mobilization, partnerships and other donor relations initiatives, and leads the capacity development of communications counterparts in Regional Office Thematic Teams, at MCO and at COs. The Consultant mobilizes support in conjunction with intergovernmental processes and supports activities and special events organized for and by UN Women. The Consultant line manages members of the Communications Team of the External Relations Unit and provides quality control of deliverables delivered by professionals on UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific’s contracts.The results of the activities overseen and delivered by the Consultant will improve UN Women Regional Office Asia and the Pacific’s outreach efforts, enhancing visibility, raising awareness and understanding of UN Women and its agenda with the media, among the general public, building and maintaining supportive constituencies, leading to enhanced political and financial support for UN Women and a high performing Communications Team.

The consultant will perform the following tasks:

• Develop communications strategies to showcase results of UN Women Regional Office Asia and the Pacific initiatives in collaboration with Thematic Programme Managers and their programme communications focal points;
• Oversee the production and management of online and offline Regional Office communications materials;
• Oversee the timely development of information materials including maintaining responsibility for quality assurance and adherence to communications and branding guidelines;
• Collaborate with HQ Communications colleagues to ensure the localized implementation and adaptation of global communications campaigns;
• Collaborate with the Advocacy team and Partnerships team members to support amplification of outreach, partnerships and other donor relations activities to augment donor visibility and advance resource mobilization efforts and in support of special events;
• Ensure monitoring and assess impact and results of all communications activities to ensure continuous quality improvement;
• Lead the capacity development of Country/Multi-Country Offices to effectively create and disseminate impactful communications campaigns;
• Manage Communications team members and professionals to ensure strong performance and quality results.

Expected deliverables and timelines

Supervision

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Head of External Relations Unit. UN Women will provide the consultant with a work laptop and a workstation if the consultant is based in Bangkok. This post is open to both national and international applicants. In the event that the consultant needs to travel during the consultancy for assignment-related purposes, UN Women will bear the costs of requested travel expenses. 

Payments

The consultant is expected to work 20 days a month based in Bangkok, Thailand. A monthly rate will be paid upon satisfactory completion of tasks and deliverables that will be summarized in a monthly report. UN Women will cover travel and related visa and terminal fees for Thailand duty station.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Functional Competencies:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to communicate sensitively, creatively and effectively across diverse  constituencies';
• Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in online and offline communications and outreach;
• Proven networking skills and the ability to generate interest in and support of UN Women’s mandate;
• Self-starter, strong initiative-taker;
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to juggle competing priorities and perform successfully under tight deadlines;
• Focuses on impact and results;
• Interacts effectively with all levels of the organization;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Identifies opportunities and builds strong relationships with colleagues and partners;
• Demonstrates exceptional ability to remain calm and good humored even under pressure and tight deadlines;

• Excellent attention to detail.

Required qualifications

         Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in communications, journalism, international relations is required.
• Alternatively, a first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

         Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional work experience at the national and/or regional level in communications.

• Experience in developing and overseeing strategic communications to advance gender equality and partnerships building in the international development context.
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset.
• Experience managing small teams.

• Experience within the UN system desirable.

         Language requirement:

• Fluency in English.

• Working knowledge of another official UN language is as asset.                                                    
• Excellent writing skill.