Home-based part-time consultancy: Digital and Social Media Communication Expert (11.5 months)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a voice

The UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) seeks a bilingual (English, Russian is highly desirable) digital and social media communication expert to manage editorial work needed to support the implementation of the Child Guarantee Communication and Advocacy campaign.

In the European Union, more than a quarter of all children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. In an attempt to ensure that every child in Europe facing such risk has access to free education, free healthcare, free early childhood education and care, decent housing and adequate nutrition, the European Commission and the EU Member States were called to develop the Child Guarantee scheme. Upon the EU’s mandate, UNICEF is implement a 2-year project to support the pilot testing of the Child Guarantee in Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Germany, Italy, Spain and Lithuania.

UNICEF ECARO has established a bilingual English and Russian language website:  https://www.unicef.org/eca/ as well as various social media channels in both languages.  The office is now focused on expanding its digital footprint to help achieve UNICEF’s advocacy goals in the Region.  

The purpose of this assignment is to support the Communication team in developing, packaging and editing content generated from Country Offices with the aim of amplifying the voices of young people and leveraging digital influencers.  This work will be done alongside RO and Country Offices (COs) teams, young people in the Region and partners – all with the aim of achieving UNICEF’s advocacy objectives for the Child Guarantee and other relevant areas of work for the Child Protection Section.

How can you make a difference?

The Digital and Social Media Communication expert will be responsible for supporting the creation and crafting of compelling digital content to engage English (and Russian language) audiences in a dynamic, interactive and meaningful way to help achieve the Child Guarantee’s communications and advocacy objectives across the Region. 

• She/he will create, package and consolidate messaging and editorial content that will be both published on website and social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, OK, etc.). This work will involve curating content from Country offices and implementation teams, editing this content for regional platforms, planning and implementing social media marketing campaigns. 

She/he will be responsible for ongoing monitoring of digital key performance indicators (KPI) and web/social media analytics tools in order to evaluate the impact of the campaign(s).

Working under the direct supervision of the Regional Communications Specialist, with guidance from the Communications Lead and Child Protection Section, the Digital and Social Media Communication expert will be fully provided with opportunities to be creative, innovative and drive new ideas. 

Specific Responsibilities:

CONTENT PRODUCTION and WEBSITE

• In collaboration with the Regional Office Communication Specialist, Communications Lead and Child Protection Team, oversee the regular updating and monitoring of the Child Guarantee Digital Editorial Calendar, ensuring it is aligned with region-wide priorities.
• Edit content on ECARO website. This includes publication of new content, ensuring data/statistics are updated and other relevant content is published on time.
• Work with Country offices and implementation teams to package and amplify human interest stories, photos essays, blogs, video and other digital materials for web and social media channels in line with the Regional editorial calendar.
• Regularly come up with ideas for engaging social media content, especially those that include amplifying the voices of children and youth, working with relevant colleagues to assess feasibility, with a special focus on user-generated content and influencer marketing.
• Ensure tactical use of organic, earned and paid channels.
• Actively participate in meetings, helping guide digital editorial processes. 
• Monitor social media campaigns, flagging risk and opportunities to deepen engagement.
• Identify new digital tools and best practices and how these can be most effectively applied to deepen engagement with audiences.
• Provide a Comparator Analysis of content produced by UN agencies working on child poverty, social exclusion and Child Protection issues relevant to the Child Guarantee.

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Under the direction of the Communication Section and in collaboration with the Child Protection Team, produce branded content for regional social channels and website (this will include social media packages, infographics, short videos, images and other relevant formats);
• Coordinate with Country Offices and implementation teams on identifying opportunities for amplification or co-creation of content
• Support when required with the management of RO social media channels
• Liaise closely with Country Offices and implementation teams and Regional Office colleagues to curate social media content relevant to regional audiences
• Support when needed on the coordination of Russian translation of UNICEF created content (social media packages, videos etc.)

DIGITAL INFLUENCER OUTREACH

• In collaboration with the Communications Specialist and Child Guarantee Communications Lead, undertake an assessment of regional digital influencers and online media.
• Based on assessment findings support outreach strategy for digital influencers and implement with Communication Specialists and Child Protection Specialists.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

• Support the Child Guarantee on its child and youth participation activities including strategic use of innovative tools such as U-Report and engagement of Youth Ambassadors, bloggers, and influential youth.

MONITORING

• Provide regular web and social media analytical reports.
• Monitor and measure digital key performance indicators both on social and website.

OTHER DUTIES

• Perform other tasks as necessary.

Key deliverables:

• Child Guarantee digital editorial calendar remains up-to-date and social media and website content published on time and aligned with Regional Advocacy priorities.
• Ongoing development, implementation and testing of social media marketing campaigns.
• Social media influencer strategy developed and implemented.
• Development and dissemination of ad hoc web and social media analytics report.

Contractual Arrangements:

• Duration: The contract is expected to be for 11.5 months between mid-March 2021 and end of February 2022. The consultant will be expected to work approx. 15 days a month.
• Duty Station and reporting line: Consultant will be home-based and officially reporting to UNICEF Communication Specialist in collaboration with Child Guarantee Communications Lead in Child Protection Section, UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office.
• Travel: This consultancy is remote. No travel will be required.  
• Payment Schedule: Payment will be made upon submission of monthly invoices based on actual working days for completion of key monthly deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Bachelor’s degree, ideally in online marketing, advertising or communication. Master’s in international development could be an asset.
• 4+ years’ experience working on social media, digital marketing and editorial production for an NGO, UN agency, EU institution or in development.
• Experience in developing and implementing social media or digital marketing strategies required.
• Proven ability to write flawless copy in English (Russian is highly desirable and proficiency in other EU languages is an asset) on tight deadlines.
• Proven copy-editing skills in English and Russian an asset.  
• Adept at using a wide range of social media platforms required. 
• Experience and knowledge of best practices in online marketing and advertising preferred. 
• Experience using Drupal or similar CMS required.
• Knowledge of social media monitoring technology and can use social media measurement and listening tools required.
• Experience using Google Analytics required.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities within specified timeframes.
• Proven skills in communication, networking, strategic thinking, advocacy, and ability to relate to a young audience.
• Strong awareness of social media communication behaviours in Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia Region, including Russian speaking audiences.
• Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas. 
• Awareness of best practices in user experience and design.  
• Experience working for UNICEF, other UN agencies or EU Institutions an asset.
• Fluency in both English and Russian languages (written and spoken) is highly desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

How to apply: 

Interested candidates should submit:

1. A CV and Personal history form (downloadable from http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc). Alternatively, if a candidate profile in the UNICEF e-Recruitment System is available, you may download it and submit it as part of application.
2. A financial offer, with a daily rate in USD.
3. Three samples of relevant digital work which can include digital content, campaigns, marketing materials, strategies you developed in previous work experience.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.