Vacancy
Announcement No: 007-12
The
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Khartoum is seeking qualified
candidates for the following post:
Job Title: Communications Specialist
Grade
Level:
NOC
Supervisor: Country Director
No.
of Post:
One
Duty
Station:
Khartoum
Duration: One year
Closing
Date:
30 Jan 2012
Background:
Fully
engaged in the post-conflict recovery process, UNDP Sudan is implementing a
wide range of interventions to pre-empt, and respond to the needs of the
country as it moves from a conflict-stricken environment to one of peace. UNDP
needs to enhance its communications portfolio and implement a communications
strategy that reflects the positive impact of its interventions; positions UNDP
as a lead agency in recovery, reintegration and development; highlights UNDP’s
role vis-à-vis the donor community; and ensures flow of communications between
UNDP and those it serves.
Under the direct supervision of the Country Director and in consultation with the Regional Information and Communications Office, the Communications Specialist develops and leads the implementation of a strategic communications plan for UNDP Sudan with a view to promote public and media outreach and to mobilize political and financial support for UNDP, and advise senior management on all aspects of communications work.
The Communications Specialist supervises and leads the communications staff of the country office and the Field Offices. The Communications Specialist also works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams in the country office, media staff of UN Agencies, UNDP regional and HQs communications staff and Government officials, and local media, subject matter experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP Communications strategy implementation.
Under the direct supervision of the Country Director and in consultation with the Regional Information and Communications Office, the Communications Specialist develops and leads the implementation of a strategic communications plan for UNDP Sudan with a view to promote public and media outreach and to mobilize political and financial support for UNDP, and advise senior management on all aspects of communications work.
The Communications Specialist supervises and leads the communications staff of the country office and the Field Offices. The Communications Specialist also works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams in the country office, media staff of UN Agencies, UNDP regional and HQs communications staff and Government officials, and local media, subject matter experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP Communications strategy implementation.
Duties and
responsibilities:
Designs
and ensures implementation of strategies for communications, outreach and
advocacy, focusing on achievement of the following results:
Communications support to CO
• Advising and assisting programme and project managers on how to develop effective communications work into their programmes;
• Coordinating CO-wide and Communications Unit specific assistance to senior management on presentations to HQs and Executive Board, including drafting, editing, preparation of speeches, presentations, support materials;
• Preparing and conducting presentations for CO, planning and arranging presentation upon request of other CO units and Project Managers. Scanning press and publications for articles of interest to UNDP, including national political developments, and circulating them to Resident Representative/RC, Country Director and other selected staff members;
• Organizing and maintaining reference depositary for publications and videos and producing and distributing periodic bulletins listing new acquisitions;
Planning:
• Elaboration of communications needs assessments for CO (projects, country programme and corporate change initiatives, etc);
• Development of the CO communications and outreach strategy based on the UNDP corporate communications strategy, and incorporating best practices and inputs of other post-conflict/transitional offices;
• Constructive and timely advice on inclusion of communications components in programme and project formulations to integrate advocacy and Communications strategies into all aspects of UNDP’s development programme;
• Develop and manages Communications’ Unit Work Plan and associated budge, ensuring results are met in a timely manner;
• In close coordination with Resident Coordinator’s office and other relevant UN communications’ units, development and implementation of a strategy for greater communications’ coordination across the Country Team, including identification of potential areas for joint advocacy. Promotion of this strategy across Country Office.
Launches and campaigns
• Strategic identification and creation of opportunities for campaigns with local and regional media that publicize UNDP’s current and pipeline programme priorities, and influence the development agenda accordingly;
• Management, promotion and dissemination of corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives and publications such as the Human Development Report;
• Identification of and collaboration with key government and donor partners, in order to ensure full involvement of partners at every launch and campaign;
• Formatting, packaging and submission of programme initiatives for donor and other partner review in close collaboration with programme staff;
• Creation, promotion and maintenance of public information campaigns on UNDP activities, results of MDGs, UN Reform, etc. in association with other staff from UN Agencies and UNCT.
Outreach
• Increased coverage and understanding of UNDP’s work in the country or practice area through development and maintenance of media contacts and provision of newsworthy information to national public and donors;
• Development and maintenance of close contacts with government officials, multilateral and bilateral donors, civil society and private sector for implementation of the communications strategy, organization of roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews, launches, etc.;
• In close collaboration with media staff of other UN Agencies, forging of a “one UN” image through publicizing the significance of local UN reform efforts, joint programmes, common services. Organization and implementation of joint UN information campaigns (UN Day, World AIDS Day, etc.);
• Draft speeches for Country Director, Resident Representative/Resident Coordinator and other officials in connection with such events and for other occasions, ensuring appropriate and consistent communication of UNDP and UNCT key programme goals and messages;
• Liaising closely and regularly with the projects, production and distribution of information materials on UNDP’s overall work in the country, and on specific programmes or activities to improve the profile of UNDP and the projects in the country (example press releases, media advisories, newsletters, brochures, booklets);
• Ensuring access for journalists to subject matter experts;
• Regular newsletter to donors and other partners as per office Communications Strategy.
Public Information:
• Effective responses to inquiries for public information materials;
• Innovative and creative solutions to sensitive or corporately strategic public communications issues;
• Advocacy and promotion of UNDP mandate, mission and purpose.
Ensures elaboration and implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan focusing on the achievement of the following results:
• Strategic identification of key target audiences (national public, government counterparts, donors, UNDP headquarters) of UNDP publications, and development and implementation of best practice guidelines which are tailored to the needs of each of these target groups. Promotion and implementation of these guidelines across CO.
• Elaboration and implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan based on the corporate publications policy;
• Identification and development of story lines for publications and substantive articles as required by HQ and contributing to debates on key development issues;
• Coordination and management of all CO publication activities, including content management, norms for publishing, design, liaison with printers and other suppliers to oversee production and supervision of publications dissemination.
Capacity development of national Communications staff and effective management of the Communications unit and communications team, and liaison with project-specific communications staff, focusing on achieving the following results:
• Development and implementation of a capacity development strategy for national staff in the Media Unit with the prime objective of creating a highly effective Communications unit that does not require the support of international staff in the long run;
• Where projects have their own media/public information or outreach officers, developing and implementing a highly effective and coordinated strategy to maximize the benefit to each project and UNDP as a whole through closely working with them;
• Design and implementation of an information coordination policy, to ensure active and close liaison with other UN agencies in Sudan. Representation of UNDP in the UNCT Communications Working Group, and advocacy of UNDP’s communications priorities there;
• Effective management of the Communications Office, including management of translations and contractual matters.
Leading of the design and maintenance of the UNDP web site, intranet, CO web-based knowledge management system focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Design of the office web sites based on corporate requirements in cooperation with the ICT staff;
• Supervision and preparation of the content for the web sites ensuring consistency of the materials. Liaise closely with programme, project and unit managers to ensure project briefs, reports, news updates and any other information required in the website are captured and presented to a high standard;
• Monitoring of www.sd.undp.org web site and the Intranet with the ICT team to ensure regular updates of the project and results-related information including information related to project beneficiaries, budgets and resources as per the relevant corporate rules and policies;
• Working with the ICT team to develop the monthly internal UNDP email newsletter.
Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Identification and synthesis of knowledge management best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities;
• Monitoring practices, and project-specific news and developments in order to ensure guidance to the office that reflects the best and most current available information;
• Promotes knowledge sharing among and between programme teams and with other UN Agencies, with a view to supporting greater cohesion and synergies in UNDP/UN work;
• Through hands-on training and mentoring, develops the capacity of the Communications Analyst to successfully develop strategic communication plans, manage related work flow processes, human resources and budgets.
Corporate Competencies:
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office
• Has good knowledge of UNDP programme and operational issues
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness
• Excellent computer/information system skills, including resource management system
• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and effect staff behavioral/ attitude change
Management and Leadership
• Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Builds strong relationships with internal and external clients
• Demonstrates capacity to communicate effectively; resource management; capacity to plan and organize programme effectively
• Demonstrates resourcefulness, initiative and mature judgment
Communications support to CO
• Advising and assisting programme and project managers on how to develop effective communications work into their programmes;
• Coordinating CO-wide and Communications Unit specific assistance to senior management on presentations to HQs and Executive Board, including drafting, editing, preparation of speeches, presentations, support materials;
• Preparing and conducting presentations for CO, planning and arranging presentation upon request of other CO units and Project Managers. Scanning press and publications for articles of interest to UNDP, including national political developments, and circulating them to Resident Representative/RC, Country Director and other selected staff members;
• Organizing and maintaining reference depositary for publications and videos and producing and distributing periodic bulletins listing new acquisitions;
Planning:
• Elaboration of communications needs assessments for CO (projects, country programme and corporate change initiatives, etc);
• Development of the CO communications and outreach strategy based on the UNDP corporate communications strategy, and incorporating best practices and inputs of other post-conflict/transitional offices;
• Constructive and timely advice on inclusion of communications components in programme and project formulations to integrate advocacy and Communications strategies into all aspects of UNDP’s development programme;
• Develop and manages Communications’ Unit Work Plan and associated budge, ensuring results are met in a timely manner;
• In close coordination with Resident Coordinator’s office and other relevant UN communications’ units, development and implementation of a strategy for greater communications’ coordination across the Country Team, including identification of potential areas for joint advocacy. Promotion of this strategy across Country Office.
Launches and campaigns
• Strategic identification and creation of opportunities for campaigns with local and regional media that publicize UNDP’s current and pipeline programme priorities, and influence the development agenda accordingly;
• Management, promotion and dissemination of corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives and publications such as the Human Development Report;
• Identification of and collaboration with key government and donor partners, in order to ensure full involvement of partners at every launch and campaign;
• Formatting, packaging and submission of programme initiatives for donor and other partner review in close collaboration with programme staff;
• Creation, promotion and maintenance of public information campaigns on UNDP activities, results of MDGs, UN Reform, etc. in association with other staff from UN Agencies and UNCT.
Outreach
• Increased coverage and understanding of UNDP’s work in the country or practice area through development and maintenance of media contacts and provision of newsworthy information to national public and donors;
• Development and maintenance of close contacts with government officials, multilateral and bilateral donors, civil society and private sector for implementation of the communications strategy, organization of roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews, launches, etc.;
• In close collaboration with media staff of other UN Agencies, forging of a “one UN” image through publicizing the significance of local UN reform efforts, joint programmes, common services. Organization and implementation of joint UN information campaigns (UN Day, World AIDS Day, etc.);
• Draft speeches for Country Director, Resident Representative/Resident Coordinator and other officials in connection with such events and for other occasions, ensuring appropriate and consistent communication of UNDP and UNCT key programme goals and messages;
• Liaising closely and regularly with the projects, production and distribution of information materials on UNDP’s overall work in the country, and on specific programmes or activities to improve the profile of UNDP and the projects in the country (example press releases, media advisories, newsletters, brochures, booklets);
• Ensuring access for journalists to subject matter experts;
• Regular newsletter to donors and other partners as per office Communications Strategy.
Public Information:
• Effective responses to inquiries for public information materials;
• Innovative and creative solutions to sensitive or corporately strategic public communications issues;
• Advocacy and promotion of UNDP mandate, mission and purpose.
Ensures elaboration and implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan focusing on the achievement of the following results:
• Strategic identification of key target audiences (national public, government counterparts, donors, UNDP headquarters) of UNDP publications, and development and implementation of best practice guidelines which are tailored to the needs of each of these target groups. Promotion and implementation of these guidelines across CO.
• Elaboration and implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan based on the corporate publications policy;
• Identification and development of story lines for publications and substantive articles as required by HQ and contributing to debates on key development issues;
• Coordination and management of all CO publication activities, including content management, norms for publishing, design, liaison with printers and other suppliers to oversee production and supervision of publications dissemination.
Capacity development of national Communications staff and effective management of the Communications unit and communications team, and liaison with project-specific communications staff, focusing on achieving the following results:
• Development and implementation of a capacity development strategy for national staff in the Media Unit with the prime objective of creating a highly effective Communications unit that does not require the support of international staff in the long run;
• Where projects have their own media/public information or outreach officers, developing and implementing a highly effective and coordinated strategy to maximize the benefit to each project and UNDP as a whole through closely working with them;
• Design and implementation of an information coordination policy, to ensure active and close liaison with other UN agencies in Sudan. Representation of UNDP in the UNCT Communications Working Group, and advocacy of UNDP’s communications priorities there;
• Effective management of the Communications Office, including management of translations and contractual matters.
Leading of the design and maintenance of the UNDP web site, intranet, CO web-based knowledge management system focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Design of the office web sites based on corporate requirements in cooperation with the ICT staff;
• Supervision and preparation of the content for the web sites ensuring consistency of the materials. Liaise closely with programme, project and unit managers to ensure project briefs, reports, news updates and any other information required in the website are captured and presented to a high standard;
• Monitoring of www.sd.undp.org web site and the Intranet with the ICT team to ensure regular updates of the project and results-related information including information related to project beneficiaries, budgets and resources as per the relevant corporate rules and policies;
• Working with the ICT team to develop the monthly internal UNDP email newsletter.
Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Identification and synthesis of knowledge management best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities;
• Monitoring practices, and project-specific news and developments in order to ensure guidance to the office that reflects the best and most current available information;
• Promotes knowledge sharing among and between programme teams and with other UN Agencies, with a view to supporting greater cohesion and synergies in UNDP/UN work;
• Through hands-on training and mentoring, develops the capacity of the Communications Analyst to successfully develop strategic communication plans, manage related work flow processes, human resources and budgets.
Corporate Competencies:
• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office
• Has good knowledge of UNDP programme and operational issues
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness
• Excellent computer/information system skills, including resource management system
• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and effect staff behavioral/ attitude change
Management and Leadership
• Focuses on impact and results for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
• Builds strong relationships with internal and external clients
• Demonstrates capacity to communicate effectively; resource management; capacity to plan and organize programme effectively
• Demonstrates resourcefulness, initiative and mature judgment
Minimum Qualification,
Skills and Experience Required:
Education:
Master’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or a related subject.
Experience:
At least 5 years work experience in information, communications and media work with an International organization, with at least 2 years experience in a crisis or post-conflict environment.
Demonstrated experience in programme communications including designing, implementing and monitoring strategic communication efforts. Experience in leading and managing a communications team and budget. Demonstrated experience in working across the communications spectrum including: media management, communications for development, strategic communications management, communications research, monitoring and evaluation, print production, audio-visual production, website content management. Competent with office software packages.
Master’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or a related subject.
Experience:
At least 5 years work experience in information, communications and media work with an International organization, with at least 2 years experience in a crisis or post-conflict environment.
Demonstrated experience in programme communications including designing, implementing and monitoring strategic communication efforts. Experience in leading and managing a communications team and budget. Demonstrated experience in working across the communications spectrum including: media management, communications for development, strategic communications management, communications research, monitoring and evaluation, print production, audio-visual production, website content management. Competent with office software packages.
NB:
All applications must be submitted online, all applications submitted through other means will not be considered.
All applications must be submitted online, all applications submitted through other means will not be considered.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Women Candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Women Candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Notice
UNDP, as a matter of practice, does not charge any application, processing fee at any stage of the recruitment.
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