Communications Specialist, P4, Temporary Appointment

Terms of Reference
Communications Specialist
Cloud ERP Project
Business Transformation Programme

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering a temporary assignment within the Cloud ERP Project, Business Transformation Programme in our Geneva office.
The key role of the position is to implement a communications strategy and actions for the successful transition of UNHCR into new processes, systems, and workforce design required to realize the related 2025 Vision of enabling functions.

UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 125 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

• Title: Communications Specialist
• Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland
• Duration: 1 year extendable
• Contract Type: P4 Temporary Assignment
• Start date: 1 April 2021

Organisational context
UNHCR has started a Business Transformation Programme to improve its business and results. Within the context of the Business Transformation Programme, UNHCR¿s strategy for Financial Management, Contributions Management and Supply Chain Management (FM-CM-SCM) is to realize the vision of the functional divisions by implementing new and more agile ways of working, addressing key business challenges, and increasing capabilities.
The FM-CM-SCM component of the Business Transformation Programme (the Cloud ERP Project) is a key element of the transformation; the Project aims to provide UNHCR with new operational, planning and back-office systems using digital-era cloud technologies and modern Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions.

The Communications Specialist will be part of a team led by the Business Coordinator and will work in close coordination and alignment with the Business Transformation Programme Change Management Service. The team will be expected to build a close relationship and a true team dynamic within the Project and stakeholders to ensure the success. The incumbent will be supervised by the Change Management Lead and will work in coordination with counterparts in and outside the Project structure.

The position
The Communications Specialist works as part of the change management team of the Project, which works towards the smooth transition from the current to the new state: new processes, systems, and skill set in relation to financial management; contributions management; and supply chain management.
The incumbent will coordinate and manage communication aspects of the Project in UNHCR¿s Business Transformation Programme.

Duties and responsibilities

• Promote the effective widespread communication regarding benefits of UNHCR¿s business transformation, focused on the financial accounting, financial management, contributions management and supply chain management process areas;
• Promote stakeholders¿ engagement and buy-in through the effective use of communications instruments.
• Ensure the effective development, maintenance and use of communication outlets.
• Support a general mind-set transformation to promote the realization of UNHCR¿s vision related to enabling functions.
• Develop and implement a communication strategy ¿ aligned with the Global Internal Communications Strategy to ensure content reaches all UNHCR population at the appropriate level, with the appropriate message, for maximum positive impact.
• Develop and support the development of communications material such as news articles, reports, talking points, videos, and interviews; and provide expert communications advice.
• Maintain and support the maintenance of communication outlets, including websites, social media instruments, printed material, etc. leveraging UNHCR corporate platforms and aligned with UNHCR Brand guidelines.
• Ensure messaging and guidance is distributed and shared with other communications colleagues and reference and interest groups in divisions, bureaus, and Operations.
• Monitor UNHCR internal communications to detect common interests, potentially conflicting messages, and opportunities to improve coordination with UNHCR organizational units.
• Establish partnerships with other UNHCR internal communication colleagues and focal points in divisions and bureaus to support a communications network that can support the Project.
• Develop and implement metrics to assess performance of communications efforts; build on communications successes and propose changes to improve results where required.
• Develop in-depth expertise on the activities, technology and changes brought in by the Project proposing and developing communications initiatives aimed at supporting the transformation process.
• Support the Change Management Lead and Project¿s management in the preparation of management material such as meeting slides, reports, etc.
• Support the preparation of content for learning instruments, which may include videos, posters, podcasts, etc.

• Perform other related duties as required.

• Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

• University degree in journalism, communications, public information, multimedia production, or equivalent experience.

• Minimum 10 years of experience at professional level in progressively responsible functions in communications, marketing, or media production.

• Exposure to information and sensitization campaigns related to organizational transformation or change management; especially in the context of transformation or implementation of HCM, ERP, or CRM projects.

• Excellent communication and relationship management skills with the ability to influence and get buy-in from people not under direct supervision.

• Experience in reporting, writing, editing magazines, newspapers and websites with full command of the English language.
• An outgoing personality and a team player with service-oriented attitudes.
• Proven ability to deal with multiple tasks in a courteous and service-oriented manner, in demanding working conditions that often have short deadlines.
• Strive to live up to high ethical and professional standards.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office tools.

• Ability to travel upon brief notice up to 25% of the time.

• Additional desired skills and experience include:

• Experience developing and implementing internal communication strategies in different UN Organizations, and/or humanitarian actors.

• Experience in projects which have implemented large-scale ERP Finance solutions such as Oracle, SAP or Workday.

• Certification in communications or media production.

• Exposure to change management, brand management, customer experience, and sensitization information campaigns.

• Prior experience in humanitarian or development sector or working in developing and/or conflict-affected countries.
• Experience in digital analytics and communications performance metrics.

• Knowledge of UNHCR¿s other working languages (French, Spanish).

• Location
  The successful candidate will be based with the team in Geneva, Switzerland.

• Conditions
  The Temporary Assignment is for a period of one year and the start date is 1 April 2021. It is a full-time role with working hours from 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday (40 hours per week).