Senior External Relations Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior External Relations Officer normally reports to the Representative or Deputy Representative. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for External Relations staff.

External contacts are predominantly with partners, media, government, embassies and other international organizations in the country on matters of importance to the organization.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations.

• Through a consultative process with UNHCR colleagues (Programme, Protection, etc.) with external actors and partners, develop and implement protection and assistance strategy, with clearly articulated objectives, timelines and outputs.

• Implement a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR¿s operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, the media, academia and persons of concern).

• Articulate all issues pertaining to the needs of the populations of concern and the strategies in place to respond to their needs.

• Ensure that the UNHCR priorities are given adequate weight in the documentation of the UN Country Team.

• Maintain a close dialogue with and provide accurate information to donors by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and donor missions. Prepare reports as appropriate.

• In accordance with the operational context and in close cooperation with headquarters, access new and non-traditional funding sources, as appropriate, including private sector and humanitarian pooled/basket funds (e.g. Central Emergency Response Fund, Human Security Fund).

• Through a consultative process with headquarters, disseminate information on UNHCR¿s global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for persons of concern in the country operation.

• Participate in inter-agency cooperation and communication strategies, initiatives and tools.

• Support senior management in representing UNHCR in the UN Country Team and other UN coordination fora.

• Support, and participate in, local UN integrated missions, Inter-Agency Standing Committee, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Cluster communication strategies and initiatives.

• Manage the information flow within the country operations by identifying priority matters, securing, analyzing and disseminating documentation and information to support country operations and corporate communication processes and priorities.

• Consolidate information on UNHCR¿s country operations and identify appropriate messages for campaigns and appeals.

• Coordinate the drafting of, and/or draft, situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.

• Develop targeted communications strategies and media packages for situations and/or activities that require focused attention.

• Identify and target major events and initiatives (e.g. commercial, cultural, political and sports) to promote the work of UNHCR.

• Manage media relations by, inter alia, responding to direct queries, publishing press releases and organizing regular briefings and visits to country operations.

• Approve fund-raising messages.

• Approve any relevant expenditure for the implementation of fund-raising activities.

• Decide which donors to approach and which operations or activities to prioritize for special fundraising appeals.

• Approve the communications strategy.

• Approve budgets and expenditures for communications activities.

• Clear external relations/communication products and tools.

• Represent UNHCR fund-raising and communication priorities in inter-agency initiatives and fora.

• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P4/NOD – 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Political Sciences; Social Sciences; International Relations;

Journalism; or other relevant field.

(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment.

Excellent knowledge of local institution, politics and culture.

Desirable

Good knowledge of UNHCR operations both at Headquarters and in the Field.

Fund-raising and programming/programme management experience.

Experience of working with social media.

Functional Skills

MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation

IT-Web Content Management

IT-Computer Literacy

MS-Translation

ER-Communications/media/digital/social media communicat. monitoring/analysis/presentation

ER-Inter-Agency External Relations

ER-Inter-Agency Leadership/Coordination

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.