Unicef, Communication Specialist Jobs in Abuja

Communication Specialist

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations Children's Fund

Closing date: 01 Oct 2010
Location: Nigeria - Abuja

Purpose of the Position

You will be accountable for developing, managing, co-ordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring an advocacy and communication strategy and associated products and activities on on-going basis with public audiences, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for children’s and women’s rights, and support for UNICEF's mission, priorities and programmes in the Nigeria Country Office/media hub, and at a global level and those of the UN Country Team. You will oversee the local private fundraising and partnership activities in support of the country programme

Key Expected Results

1. Communication strategy: The Nigeria Country Office or Media Hub has a clear communication strategy and associated work plan to get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.
2. Media relations: The Country Office or Media Hub has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web, photo etc. – and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the story of UNICEF's cooperation.
3. Networking and partnerships: The Country Office or Media Hub has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives. Effective working relationships with the UN Country Team and UN communication counterparts are developed, maintained and enhanced.
4. Celebrities and special events: The Country Office or Media Hub has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of appropriate, nationally-known personalities who have been identified, engaged and support UNICEF’s effort and who actively participate in special events and activities.
5. Global priorities and campaigns: The Country Office or Media Hub has an effective process in place for integrating and taking action on UNICEF’s global communications priorities, campaigns and partnerships, disseminating these elements in a locally-appropriate way.
6. Resource mobilization support; Global and country level fund-raising activities are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities.
7. Management: Human resources (the communication team) and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) are both effectively managed and optimally used.
8. Monitoring and evaluation: Communication baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the communication strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared.
9. Capacity building and support: The Representative and the country programme team are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of external relations communication as required.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations.

Eight years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media.
International and national work experience
Background/familiarity with Emergency situations.

Executive Board and other policy documents.
Executive Directives
Mid-Term Strategic Plan (MTSP)
UN/UNICEF Policy Papers
UNICEF programme policy, procedures and guidelines.
Rights-based and Results-based approach and programming in UNICEF
General administrative and financial guidelines.
Human resources manual
UNICEF communication and other DOC guidelines
Communication toolkit
Brand Toolkit and Brand Book
UNICEF Stylebook
Ethical Guidelines on Reporting on Children

Fluency in English and another UN language.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

• Has highest-level communication skills, including engaging and informative formal public speaking.
• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
• Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals.
• Has good leadership and supervisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.
• Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.
• Demonstrates and shares detailed technical knowledge and expertise.
• Translates strategic direction into plans and objectives.
• Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.
• Seeks and proposes opportunities for advancing UNICEF's mission.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and gender equality in its workplace. Women and nationals of developing countries are strongly encouraged to apply. 

 

How to apply

If you want a challenging career while improving the lives of children around the world UNICEF, the leading children's rights organization, would like to hear from you.

Visit us at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and apply to this and other vacancies, quoting E-VN-2010-002024. Applications must be received by 01 October 2010.

Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

In the selection of its staff, UNICEF is committed to gender balance and diversity without distinction as to race, sex or religion, and without discrimination of persons with disabilities: well qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Reference Code: RW_899LXB-15

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