Temporary Appointment (6 months) – Communication Officer, P-2, PPD, Brussels, Belgium

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, opportunities

UNICEF Partnership Office for the Relations with the EU Institutions in Brussels is looking for a highly motivated and qualified Communication Officer at the level of P2 or P3 to support the development and implementation of various activations, projects and activities for six months during a maternity cover. This will include identifying comms and advocacy opportunities to support the EU-UNICEF partnership, developing media and briefing materials; ensuring rapid and accurate information dissemination to the media and other appropriate audiences; preparing concept notes and other materials for events;  monitoring, advising on and responding to issues relating to UNICEF’s work.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Senior Adviser, the selected candidate will support the UNICEF Partnership Brussels Office in advocating and communicating on child rights with EU institutions and the general public through social media channels. This work requires working closely with UNICEF offices in EU Member States (Country Offices and National Committees) and around the world, and developing partnerships with the European Commission, the European Parliament and key EU Member States. Communication activities (including campaigns, engagement with adolescents and working with media counterparts) are key to support advocacy and increase UNICEF’s brand and credibility in the EU. At the same time, the UNICEF Partnership Brussels Office supports UNICEF Country and Regional Offices in ensuring that they fulfill their communication and visibility contractual obligations.

Responsibilities:

Communication work plan: The production of communication products and materials are timely executed and followed up to support UNICEF Brussels communication strategy, regional and global campaigns and priorities, and to support resource mobilization as set out in the work plan.

Media relations: Effective and timely professional assistance and support are provided in developing, drafting and maintaining contact information, materials and relationships with journalists and EU media counterparts, to communicate the story of EU-UNICEF’s partnership to a wider audience.

Monitoring and evaluation: Regular monitoring and evaluation activities are undertaken according to the work plan to ensure maximum impact and continuous improvement of communication efforts.

EU-UNICEF communication & visibility and special events: Implementation of communication and visibility activities and special online and offline events (e.g. European Development Days, High Level events) as well as the roll-out of UNICEF campaigns. Implementation entails preparation of content (e.g. concept notes for events, scripts for videos, content packages for social media, etc.) and information materials (e.g., press releases, programme summaries, country fact sheets and media kits) as well as necessary logistic arrangements. Support UNICEF Country Offices to deliver on their obligations on communications and visibility related to EU funding by reviewing their plans and supporting their implementation.

Partnerships: Opportunities for resource mobilization and partnerships with the European Union institutions. Opportunities to advocate and communicate on child rights are identified, with a special focus on the EU-UNICEF partnership.  

Deliverables

• Support to development of communications and partnership strategies of the office
• Supervision of website and social media work done by social media consultant and drafting of content for website  
• Oversight of communications and visibility workplans of EU funded programmes
• Collaboration with capacity building task force to support CO and RO 
• Supervision and implementation of events and potential campaigns with EU partners (ECHO, EEAS, INTPA, etc.)
• Support with the activities around the AU-EU Summit

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

• A first university degree (Bachelor’s or higher) in Communication, Journalism, or Public Relations is required. 
  
  
• A minimum of 2 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media is required.
• Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills in English, with ability to write press releases, key messages and feature articles.
• Experience in creating successful, engaging and interactive comms activations at national and/or global levels for various audiences.
   
• Knowledge of the EU institutions and its dynamics, with practical experience of EU funded programmes would be an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to propose and lead initiatives with a variety of stakeholders, managing challenging deadlines with a team spirit.
   
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French or another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (II)

• Innovates and embraces change (I)

• Manages ambiguity and complexity (I)

• Thinks and acts strategically (II)

 

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.

Remarks:

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

The appointment is proposed for 6 months starting on 1^st January 2022 (with 1 day of handover in December) until 30^th June 2022.