Communications Specialist for Energy and Climate Change

Location : Home-based

Application Deadline : 15-Aug-21 (Midnight New York, USA)

Time left : 10d 7h 52m

Additional Category : Climate & Disaster Resilience

Type of Contract : IPSA (Regular)

Post Level : IPSA-10

Languages Required :
English

Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 15-Sep-2021

Expected Duration of Assignment : 1 year

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the “Apply now” button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit “submit application” tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Please attach or provide links to 2 samples of previous work in English to your application.

Travel:
International travel may be required to countries in all regions: Africa, Asia, Arab States, Latin America, Europe, as well as UNDP HQ, over the 1-year period. A maximum of 6 missions are foreseen, with expected mission duration of approximately 5 days per mission. Exact locations to be determined and discussed upon commencement of each specific assignment;

Any necessary mission travel must be approved in advance and in writing by the Supervisor;

The BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;

The Specialist is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;

The Specialist is responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;

The Specialist is required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://dss.un.org/dssweb/;

The Specialist will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;

Office/Unit/Project Description:
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, including public-private, government and civil society dialogues; and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.

UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), the Adaptation Fund (AF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund); the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services.

The Government of Sweden, through Sida, has funded a four-year, USD$40m global Strategic Collaboration Programme designed to strengthen UNDP capacities to achieve its overall sustainable development vision for poverty eradication through a more integrated, coherent approach to the environmental and climate dimensions of the UNDP Strategic Plan. Sida funds will be used to hire new UNDP human resources, including to support elements of this position.

The Communications Specialist will support UNDP’s Principal Technical Advisor for Energy/Mitigation and UNDP’s Head of Energy on specific tasks related to communications. Key deliverables will involve providing inputs to develop and implement a new global communications strategy for UNDP’s work in energy, linking to SDG7 on energy, SDG 13 on climate and SDG11 on cities (as well as countries’ NDCs in the context of the Paris Agreement). The communications strategy will be geared to broaden and deepen awareness of UNDP-supported programmes in these areas of work, engage with key audiences (donors, client countries, media as well as internal UNDP stakeholders), create brand recognition and lift the related media profile of UNDP-supported energy projects. The Communications Specialist will support UNDP staff to introduce intervention instruments, highlight individual projects to different audiences, and mobilize partners, stakeholders, and the general public to advocate on results achieved through the portfolios.

Institutional Arrangement:
The Specialist will be home based;

The Specialist will be expected to work five (5) days per week (full time);

The initial contract will be for one year, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year dependent on demand for services, availability of financial resources and good performance.

The Specialist will report to UNDP’s Principal Technical Advisor for Energy/Mitigation (primary supervisor) and UNDP’s Head of Energy (secondary supervisor);

The Specialist will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;

The Specialist will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to a reliable internet connection;

Given the consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the Specialist is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones;

The Specialist will engage regularly with the supervisor by email and Skype on a weekly and/or as needed daily basis.;

The Specialist shall submit to the Supervisor a monthly progress report on the status of the implementation of tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The scope of work involve close coordination with UNDP’s energy team and communication specialists at HQ, regional and country office levels. It will include one or more of the various deliverables below:

Support the development of global communications for UNDP’s new energy hub, scaled-up energy offer, including alignment with UNDP’s new Strategic Plan

Identify, develop, and create compelling content, such as blogs, multimedia stories, videos, graphics, and social media updates to showcase impact on the ground;

Support the development of a database for content (stories, photos) on UNDP’s energy work;

Provides inputs to UNDP’s global social media accounts;

Support the creation of a new website for energy, and webpages for projects;

Coordinate the design and promotion of an energy newsletter;

Draft press releases, factsheets, talking points, and video messages as needed;

Provide advice the creation and promotion of the energy portfolio press kits;

Engage with stakeholders in target countries to increase the visibility of UNDP’s energy work;

Support UNDP’s presence and participation at key industry events;

Perform editorial reviews of relevant portfolio publications and issue briefs;

Provide communications support at specific meetings, including managing virtual conferences/web streams, external communications, taking photos, and reviewing communications material related to events;

Ensure project pipeline, project closings, MTRs receive adequate communications support, and are posted to the web;

Train UNDP energy colleagues on communications.

All of the above listed tasks shall be performed under the supervision of UNDP’s Principal Technical Advisor for Energy/Mitigation and UNDP’s Head of Energy.

Competencies

Competencies:
Corporate

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s vision, mission and values;

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;

Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Technical

Ability to provide guidance on communications strategies;

Knowledge of methodologies, tools, and platforms to plan, monitor, and evaluate communications products;

Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge;

Ability to plan, organize, motivate, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals;

Knowledge of energy and climate change mitigation issues.

Functional

Client Orientation, Professionalism, and Communications

Ability to make new and useful ideas work;

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction;

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade, and transform;

Ability to productively share UNDP knowledge and activities (at UN and other venues);

Capable of working in a high-pressure environment with sharp deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;

Exercise the highest level of responsibility and be able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education

Master’s degree in communications, journalism or other relevant field.

Min. years of relevant Work experience

At least 5 years of professional experience working on different aspects of communications such as media relations, content production, and social media management.

Required skills

Demonstrated experience in developing, producing, and editing videos.

Demonstrated experience in social media management platforms.

Demonstrated success in producing communication products.

Desired additional skills

Experience working with multilateral organizations and/or the UN system an advantage. Experience with UNDP a particular asset.

Experience with energy and/or sustainability related issues (for example, environmental practices, green corporate social responsibility) an advantage. Experience with off-grid electrification a particular asset.

Required Language(s) (at working level)

Fluency in oral and written communications and presentations skills in English.

Strong oral and written communication skills in French or Spanish is an advantage.