Snr Comm/PI Officer

Senior Communication/Public Information Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The incumbent of this position will report to the Representative or his/her Deputy and will functionally be supervised by the Communications and PI Service at HQs. S/he will have frequent contacts with the local media, NGOs and governmental organizations, as well as sister UN agencies and will supervise professional and support staff.
FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

UNHCR's media relations and advocacy work within geographic and thematic areas of specializations are actively maintaining the organization's standing with media and audiences.
Responsibility

- Develop and implement communications strategies, campaigns, events and other initiatives in support of UNHCR's strategic objectives.
- Research, prepare, fact-check, edit, and produce professional media and communications materials for various audiences and ensure their timely dissemination via UNHCR's communications channels ensuring highest quality standards.
- Act as a spokesperson for UNHCR, organizing press events, handling interviews requests, and providing responses to requests from media relating to UNHCR and its work.
- Provide considered professional communications advice to Representative and senior staff of UNHCR as needed.
- Monitor media coverage of UNHCR operations and make recommendations for response when necessary.  
- Undertake missions and field trips with media and other official visitors in support of UNHCR and its work.
- Actively maintain media relations for UNHCR, ensuring that media (and other important external stakeholders, such as governments, embassies, NGOs etc.) are briefed regularly on issues of importance to UNHCR, and have access to information and UNHCR expertise.
- Further UNHCR's cooperation with refugee-related activities of other UN agencies at country level, including coordination of activities and exchange of information/ideas.
- Prepare and manage communications budgets.
- Perform other duties as required.

Authority

- Represent UNHCR in Press events, interviews and other media events.
- Authorize expenditure against communication budgets.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED


- Advanced University degree in Journalism, International Relations, Communications, Political Science or similar relevant field.
- Minimum of 10 years (12 years with University degree) of relevant job experience at professional level in progressively responsible functions related to UNHCR and/or any other humanitarian agency on promotional activities of the agency.
- Of the 10 years, at least 5 years should be in an International capacity of a similar functional area.
- In-depth knowledge on the status refugees/Internal Displaced Persons, their needs, their rights/obligations through first-hand experience operational situations.
- General understanding of UN/UNHCR reforms and the priority agenda of the organization.
- Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint essential).
- Excellent communication skills with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.
(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of UN working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)
- Highly developed drafting ability in the UN working language of the duty station.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Completion of UNHCR Learning Programmes or specific training relevant to functions of position.
- High IT affinity, with specific focus on preparation of websites/pages.