Background Information - Job-specific
1. General Background of Project/Assignment
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is a United Nations body responsible for infrastructure, procurement, and project management. Our mission is to help people improve their living conditions and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. The three priority areas of UNOPS are:
i) Sustainable Infrastructure: UNOPS designs, builds, repairs, and maintains infrastructure in some of the world's most challenging environments. Its activities focus on the development of transport, education, and health infrastructure, among other areas.
ii) Public Procurement: UNOPS is a central procurement resource for the United Nations system and governments. It emphasizes the efficient, transparent, and sustainable delivery of goods and services.
iii) Project Management: UNOPS manages more than a thousand humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding projects each year for various partners, ensuring quality, efficiency, and results that meet the highest standards.
UNOPS' work seeks environmental, social, and economic sustainability, which contributes to progress in equity and the common good of the countries in which it operates, thus promoting the improvement of the living conditions of the most vulnerable people. UNOPS has a presence in 23 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The services, products, and technical assistance comply with the principles of public administration of transparency, equity, integrity, free competition, impartiality, morality, effectiveness, efficiency, and respect for national institutions.
About Our Culture:
Our work contributes to building the foundations for countries and communities to achieve peace and sustainable development, guided by our values: Inclusion, Integrity, Humility, and Humanity.
UNOPS celebrates diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunities. UNOPS encourages qualified female candidates, as well as qualified candidates from underrepresented groups in the UNOPS workforce, to apply. These groups include people from racialized or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, as well as people with disabilities.
Local / Country Context
The UNOPS country office in Costa Rica is part of the Multi-Country Office (MCO) currently made up of the countries of Costa Rica, Panama, and the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, where UNOPS develops initiatives in strategic sectors such as road infrastructure, water and sanitation infrastructure projects, vertical infrastructure, procurement projects, among others, contributing its capabilities in the area of complex project management, technical advice and procurement, with a focus on sustainability and resilience; in all cases, applying the human rights approach and the gender perspective.
Functional Responsibilities
Role and Responsibility Under the direct supervision of the Communications Senior Officer and in second line of supervision with the Senior Program Manager, the Communications Associate will execute the following functions:
Communication Strategy
Management of UNOPS External Communication
Support in the construction and dissemination of communication messages that enable the strategic positioning of UNOPS and the program at the national and regional level. Support communication to prevent and manage potential crisis situations and the reputation of the program. Coordinate with the stakeholders, under the direct supervision of the Senior Communications Officer, the relationship with the media, national and regional journalists. Support in the development of communication and strategic outreach materials that are relevant to UNOPS activities in the country and region.
Knowledge Management and Internal Communication
Support in coordinating information sharing within the program teams, the country office, regional team in order to create communities based on common vision, values, strategy and actions, able to strengthen UNOPS identity in the country and region. Support in keeping the office staff and regional team updated on monitoring press and relevant information to enable timely decision making. Organize, maintain and share with the regional team a repository (virtual/physical) with the existing communication and outreach material: photographs, audiovisuals, factsheets and other publications of interest. Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned.
Promote actions with a Gender and HSSE approach
Develop communication materials with a Gender and HSSE approach. Support the development of gender and innovation initiatives that allow increasing the incorporation of the gender perspective in the actions within the framework of the program and related to HSSE. To access the full list of roles and responsibilities, please download the Terms Of Reference attached to the announcement.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education
A secondary education diploma is required. University degree equivalent to Bachelor's and/or Bachelor's Degree preferably in journalism, public relations and/or related areas is desirable and may replace some years of required experience. ***Please upload your academic diplomas or transcripts with your application***
Experience
A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience (or less depending on the level of degree) in supporting the area of social communication, communication with international organizations, communication in private and/or public companies is required. Experience in reputational crisis situations is desirable. Desirable experience in organizations of the UN System and in international organizations.
Languages
Proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of any other UN official languages will be considered a plus.
Additional Information
This position requires the use of a computer for the preparation of reports and data analysis made with Google computer tools. In this position, you must make presentations via videoconference for project progress reports. Working in this position, you will have frequent telephone contact with our project partners. The work is 100% face-to-face, according to the needs of the organization.
Motivation Letter
While your resume showcases your skills, experience, and education, we are also eager to learn more about your interests and motivations. Therefore, we invite you to upload a motivation letter along with your application for the position. Remember to share in your letter your motivation for joining the UNOPS team in the advertised position, including your interests and skills. We would also like to know your perspective on the United Nations values: Inclusion, Integrity, Humility, and Humanity. For more information on UN Values, see the UN Framework of Values and Behaviors.
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground. Contract type, level and duration
Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement
Contract level: ICS6 equivalent to LICA 6
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance. This contract is established in the Regular Monthly Contract modality; continuous service provision is required during the contract period; the payments associated with the contract will be processed at the end of each calendar month
Work life harmonization: UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options.
UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request. For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx
Informaciรณn adicional
Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 11:59 pm CST.
Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.
Terms and Conditions
For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
UN Values and Behaviours.pdf (3.2 MB)
How to apply_EN.pdf (2.5 MB)