Associate Communications Officer

Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the Office of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (OSRSG VAC). The United Nations' Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Violence against Children is a global independent advocate to promote the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children. The core responsibility of the SRSG is to advance implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Study on Violence against Children (2006), building upon health and child protection initiatives and developments, and promoting the protection of children from violence as a human rights imperative. The Associate Communications Officer is responsible for conducting a wide range of tasks. Depending on the organizational setting, these may include implementing communications strategies, monitoring, digital campaigns and analytics, internal communications, outreach, and advocacy. The Associate Communications Officer will also be responsible for assisting in developing and implementing comprehensive digital communication strategies to enhance the visibility and understanding of the UN’s work and its impact. This includes optimizing the organization’s online presence across various digital platforms, creating innovative and engaging content, analyzing digital communication metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies and make necessary adjustments. The Associate Communications Officer reports to the Communications Officer. ResponsibilitiesWithin limits of delegated authority, the Associate Communications Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Contribute to the implementation of communications strategies that raise awareness, drive engagement, build support and have measurable impact with target audiences. • Contribute to drafting narratives and messaging on the work of the United Nations that engage target audiences across different channels and platforms. • Contribute to the planning and coordination of press conferences, briefings, and media events. • Contribute to the creation of compelling content that is optimized to reach target audiences across a range of platforms and channels. • Contribute to the development and implementation of communications campaigns that engage and have measurable impact with target audiences through appropriate channels and platforms. • Contribute to development and coordination of strategic communications partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to reach target audiences and maximize impact. • Keep abreast of the latest trends in communications and maintain expertise in relevant and emerging technologies. • Maintain confidentiality, integrity, and discreet handling of sensitive information in compliance with the UN data privacy, security requirements, and standards. • Monitor, analyze, and report on communications approaches, activities and strategies to assess their performance and effectiveness. • Contribute to the development and implementation of digital communication strategies, including social media and/or website strategies, which raise awareness, drive engagement, build support and have measurable impact with target audiences. • Contribute to the consistency and accuracy in messaging and branding across all digital channels. • Create and moderate engaging and platform-optimized content, including live content, tailored for social media and other digital platforms to advance digital communications priorities and campaigns work. • Monitor and report on social media analytics to stay abreast of trends, measure impact and adjust content strategy as needed. • Contribute to the development and maintenance of the organization’s website, ensuring it remains up-to-date, user-friendly, and accessible. Competencies• Professionalism: Knowledge of strategic communications including current and emerging digital media platforms, their principles, practices and technologies. Knowledge of media monitoring tools, digital design, data protection and privacy standards. Excellent skills in developing creative content and in applying and maintaining confidentiality, integrity, and availability principles; skills in critical thinking and ability to conduct research such as systematic data collection and analysis of information from various sources; to communicate complex and technical matters to diverse audiences and in managing social media in an international organization. Ability to develop and implement communications strategies. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of technical subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. EducationAn advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in communications, journalism, international relations, digital communications or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A first-level university degree and no experience will be accepted for candidates who have passed the Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP)/United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P). Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work Experience• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in communications, international relations, or other relevant areas is required. No experience is needed for candidates who have passed the United Nations Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), the United Nations National Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P). • Knowledge of strategic communications principles and practices is required. • Knowledge of current and emerging digital media platforms, their principles, and technologies is required. • Skills in managing social media in an international organization is required. • Ability to develop and implement communications strategies is required. • Skills in developing creative content are desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview. Special Notice• This position is temporarily available as soon as possible for 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • The expression \"Internal candidates\", shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15. • A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. In accordance with ST/AI/1999/17 section 2.3, a SPA may only be granted to one level higher than the personal level of the staff member assigned to higher-level functions in his or her own category, whether the higher-level functions are one or several levels higher than the personal level of the staff member. Staff in the General Service and related categories temporarily placed against a post at the Professional level may receive an SPA to the P-1 or P-2 level. • For information on special post allowance (SPA), please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. • The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as \"retirement.\" Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. • At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. United Nations ConsiderationsAccording to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.