UN WOMEN Jobs - 66187- Communications Specialist

Communications Specialist

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Juba, South Sudan, SOUTH SUDAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

30-May-2016

Application Deadline :

19-May-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months

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 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.

Under the supervision of the Country Representative, the Communications Specialist is responsible for developing strategic communications and media initiatives and managing media/press coverage and oversees the production of a range of communications materials for the UN Women South Sudan Country Office, including for the South Sudan UN Communications Group newsletter, UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office website, and for online and offline audiences. S/he is responsible for timely, accurate and high-quality informational materials, such as press releases & media advisories, news briefs, fact sheets, stories from the field etc. for media outreach, and inclusion in informational kits for further public outreach.

The Communications Specialist will collaborate closely with the Headquarters, Regional, and South Sudan Country Offices colleagues to ensure communications strategies, media relations and organizational outreach efforts are aligned with corporate communications policies and initiatives. S/he also collaborates with CO colleagues to support outreach campaigns, resource mobilization and donor relations initiatives; s/he mobilizes support in conjunction with intergovernmental processes, and supports the activities and special events organized for UN Women.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Manage UN Women South Sudan media/press relations;
Oversee and maintain regional online outreach and produce information materials for public outreach;
Provide advice and support to UN Women special events and campaigns;
Liaise closely with UN Women Communications Team at HQ to feed CO initiatives into corporate communications initiatives and vice versa. Coordinate communication activities with UN communication colleagues;
Liaise with the UN South Sudan Communications group to provide information on the initiatives of UN Women;
Build communications partnerships and media alliances.

Manage UN Women media/press relations:

Media strategies conceived, planned and implemented in line with corporate guidelines to enhance the positioning of UN Women with the media, with a special focus on priority areas of concern;
Opportunities for press conferences identified and press conferences organized; interviews with senior managers facilitated;
Press releases and media kits drafted;
Clear, consistent and timely responses to media inquiries; issuance of statement and corporate positions to media and other external audiences;
Maintained and expanded contacts with national and regional media; topics, background information, news-related developments and coverage of interest to each identified.

Oversee and maintain national and regional online outreach and produces information materials for public outreach:

Oversees and manages social media accounts in line with corporate social media policy or provides inputs to corporate social media accounts;
Drafts brochures, fact sheets, stories from the field to inform media and general public;
Video producers hired and supervised to produce relevant video material on UN Women’s work;
Effective channels for dissemination of all information products to relevant target audiences identified and distribution supervised.

Provide advice and support to UN Women special events and campaigns:

Communications components of UN Women and/or UN campaigns, implemented, e.g. HeforShe; UNite campaign;
Special events or UN Women inputs to special events conceptualized and organized with a view to reaching wider audiences; to that end, concepts conceived and relevant materials developed and compiled;

Liaise closely with UN Women Communications Team at HQ to feed CO initiatives into corporate communications initiatives and vice versa. Coordinate communication activities with UN communication colleagues at regional /national level;

Regular consultation with RO & HQ Communications Sections to ensure consistency with corporate policies, messaging and initiatives;
Feedback to RO & HQ communications team provided with a view to coordinate communications initiatives: informs about national activities, provides comments on and inputs for corporate initiatives, seeks advice and support;
Regular contributions to and advice provided on UN Women corporate materials, e.g. corporate web site, illustrated Annual Report, video productions etc. to highlight regional / national initiatives and ensure visibility at the corporate / international level.

Liaise with the UN South Sudan Communications group to provide information on the initiatives of UN Women:

Regular liaison with Communications Officers from other UN entities at the country level to provide UN Women inputs to joint UN initiatives; to that end, represented UN Women on the UN Communications Group.

Build communications partnerships and media alliances:

Identifies and develops new communications partnerships and media alliances to enhance the visibility and cement UN Women as a thought-leader; manages and nurtures existing partnerships;
Identifies innovative opportunities and new communications tools and platforms which can serve to highlight the work of UN Women;
Guides and collaborates closely with MCO/CO communications officers to advance regional and national communications partnerships.

Impact of Results

The results have a substantial impact on the effectiveness of UN Women’s regional communications and outreach efforts, enhancing the visibility, raising awareness and understanding of UN Women and its mission with the media and among the general public, building and maintaining supportive constituencies and leading to enhanced political and financial support for UN Women and its strategic areas, thus helping ensure UN Women achieves its strategic goals.

Competencies

Core Values / Guiding Principles:

Integrity:

Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism:

Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:

Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff;
Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies:

Ethics and Values:

Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.

Organizational Awareness:

Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.

Development and Innovation:

Take charge of self-development and take initiative.

Work in teams:

Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;

Communicating and Information Sharing:

Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.

Self-management and Emotional Intelligence:

Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.

Conflict Management:

Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.

Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:

Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies:

Excellent communication skills;
Communicates sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies;
Demonstrates very good understanding of and experience in communications and outreach;
Proven networking skills, and ability to generate interest in UN Women’s mandate;
Strong initiative-taker;
Very effective at multi-tasking;
Focuses on impact and results for the client;
Interacts effectively with all levels of the organization, including senior management;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Identifies opportunities and builds strong relationships with clients and partners;
Demonstrates exceptional ability to remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure and tight deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in communications, journalism, public relations, social sciences, international relations, or a related field.

Experience:

5 years of experience in communications at the national or international level, including experience in media relations. Experience in on-line outreach and multimedia an asset.
Experience working in large development agency also pertinent.
Good IT skills, including databases and office software packages.
Familiarity with gender issues. Familiarity with UN Women and UN system is an asset.
Experience working situations of conflict or post conflict is pertinent.
Outstanding oral and written communications and editing skills, with proven ability to meet tight deadlines.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required.

Technical proposal:
Please submit the following documents:

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
Personal CV or P11, indicating relevant experience, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidates and the contacts of at least three (3) professional references;
Brief description of your understanding of the terms of reference and your approach to the assignment. Please include any templates that you may use in the assignment as well as relevant experience;
Any other document deemed relevant to this consultancy service.

Financial Proposal:

A Financial Proposal must be submitted that indicates the number of days and the rate per day.

Notes:

The information in the breakdown of the offered lump sum amount provided by the Offeror will be used as the basis for determining best value for money, and as reference for any amendments of the contract;
The agreed contract amount will remain fixed regardless of any factors causing an increase in the cost of any of the components in the breakdown that are not directly attributable to UNDP;
The Contractor is responsible for arranging and meeting the cost of their vaccinations and medical/life insurance;
Contractor whose assignment require travel and who are over 62 years of age are required, at their own expense, to undergo a full medical examination, including x-rays after they are selected.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer:

The offer will be evaluated by using the Best value for money approach (combined scoring method). Technical proposal will be evaluated on 70%. Whereas budget proposed will be evaluated on 30%;
The technical proposal will be evaluated on whether the proposed approach captures the entirety of the essence of the assignment, is clear, is feasible, is acceptable and is time sensitive.