Communications Officer

Position Title : Communications Officer

Duty Station : Gaziantep, Turkey

Classification : Professional Staff, Grade P2

Type of Appointment : Special short-term graded, six months with possibility of extension

Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible

Closing Date : 28 October 2020

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Read more about diversity and inclusion at IOM at www.iom.int/diversity.

Applications are welcome from first- and second-tier candidates, particularly qualified female candidates as well as applications from the non-represented member countries of IOM. For all IOM vacancies, applications from qualified and eligible first-tier candidates are considered before those of qualified and eligible second-tier candidates in the selection process.

For the purpose of this vacancy, the following are considered first-tier candidates:

1. Internal candidates

2. Candidates from the following non-represented member states:

Antigua and Barbuda; Botswana; Cabo Verde; Comoros; Cook Islands; Cuba; Fiji; Gabon; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Holy See; Iceland; Kingdom of Eswatini; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic (the); Latvia; Luxembourg; Marshall Islands; Micronesia (Federated States of); Montenegro; Namibia; Nauru; Palau; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao Tome and Principe; Seychelles; Solomon Islands; Suriname; The Bahamas; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu

Second tier candidates include:

All external candidates, except candidates from non-represented member states.

Context:

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Mission (CoM), the direct supervision of the Head of Sub Office – East, Southeast, Mediterranean (ESEM) Turkey Region and technical supervision of the Public Information Officer based in Ankara, and daily coordination with the Public Information Unit, the successful candidate will be responsible for assisting with the implementation of internal and external communications-related activities for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Turkey Country Office (CO) with a focus on the south-eastern provinces.

The conflict and violence in Syria has continued to create surges of people crossing the borders from Syria into neighbouring countries. The number of Syrians registered or awaiting registration in host countries has surpassed 5 million and 6.2 million have been displaced inside Syria. Host governments and humanitarian actors, including IOM, are providing relief assistance and protection to this extremely vulnerable population living with host families and in increasingly crowded camps and settlements. The combination of an extremely large displaced population and the accelerating rate of new arrivals is posing a growing challenge to reception communities’ capacity and host government’s response mechanisms.

As a member of the United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Country Team in Syria and all concerned neighbouring countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey), the IOM Director General has activated the L3 Emergency Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enhance organizational humanitarian assistance and priorities related to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees and returnees, and is actively participating in the emergency response within this rapidly changing humanitarian context. Security Council Resolution 2191, has superseded earlier adopted SCR 2165, allowing UN and its partners to provide cross border assistance from Turkey to Northern Syria.

As of February 2019, Turkey is hosting over 3.6 million Syrian refugees. About 244,000 reside in 23 camps across South East Turkey and the remaining live outside of camps. In October 2014, the Government of Turkey adapted the Temporary Protection (TP) Regulation that extends protection and assistance to all Syrians in Turkey and provides refugees with rights and duties and the framework to access health care, education, and social assistance.

IOM’s strategy for Turkey as indicated in the 3RP (Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan) is three-pronged; firstly, i) provision of humanitarian assistance focusing on the distribution of food, non-food items, cash vouchers, winterization, shelter rehabilitation, and provision of transportation, ii) to ease the burden on national and local structures through the establishment of multi-service community centres offering services and protection, community stabilization through improvements in public infrastructure and increase access to education and iii) supporting the resilience of refugees and host communities through livelihoods, community stabilisation and income generating activities.

Core Functions / Responsibilities:

1. Liaise with IOM Turkey Senior Management, Project Managers, and the Project Development and Reporting Unit in Gaziantep, Hatay, and Sanliurfa Sub-Offices to contribute to the creation and implementation of visibility plans for projects in line with the IOM Turkey’s Communications Strategy priorities and donor requirements.

2. Provide technical support and oversight for Public Information (PI) Unit staff in Sub-Offices in south-eastern Turkey to facilitate the accountability to Project Teams, Senior Management and donors. Attend Sub-Office management and coordination meetings.

3. Communicate to IOM’s and Implementing Partner’s (IP) field and project staff on public information, media and communication issues. Provide capacity building trainings on a range of PI topics.

4. In coordination with the IOM Turkey’s Multimedia Sub-Unit, contribute to the development of creative and engaging communications products (digital and print) for dissemination to stakeholders, and measure their success in reaching the intended results.

5. Utilize social media communication tools (including but not limited to Twitter, Facebook, IOM website) to increase awareness of IOM’s work in Turkey. Provide inputs for the development and implementation of new strategies and approaches to expand IOM Turkey’s social media presence. Generate weekly social media content and monthly reports on Facebook and Twitter analytics.

6. Produce visibility reports and human-interest stories for SitReps and donor reports.

7. Maintain links with local Turkish press and local government officials with an emphasis on strengthening relationships and promoting and increasing awareness of IOM’s work, and feed relevant information on IOM’s cross-border work to assist IOM’s Media and Communications Division (MCD)-managed lines to take on Syria and media requests from global outlets.

8. Participate in inter-agency media and communication working groups to encourage information flow across agencies and to develop complementary media approaches and activities, create stories for distribution through global interagency groups as coordinated by MCD.

9. Contribute to the design and prepare appropriate information campaigns for a variety of target groups. Prepare detailed cost projections and timelines for executing each element of the strategy.

10. Coordinate public events initiated by Programme/Project Units to facilitate proper preparations and participation from targeted audiences of the event. Provide guidance to Programme/Project Managers on mobilization of participants and audience to ensure the events are well attended.

11. Participate in IOM Turkey CO’s key events and workshops and undertake field duty travels as required to develop information material, including photographs of work being undertaken in the field by promoting IOM’s activities with donor and government counterparts.

12. Perform other such duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education

• Master’s degree in Journalism, Mass Media Communications, Public Information or a related field from an accredited academic institution with two years of relevant professional experience; or

• University degree in the above fields with four years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Experience in international journalism, including coverage of international organizations;

• Experience and knowledge of international agencies like the UN an advantage; and,

• Experience working in the Region an advantage.

Skills

• High level of professionalism and ability to work under pressure and adhere to strict deadlines in a complex and fast changing environment;

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues from varied cultures and professional backgrounds;

• Excellent skills in drafting, editing and graphic design;

• Demonstrated experience in gender awareness and gender sensitivity;

• Online communication and social media skills.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish.

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of Arabic, Turkish, French and/or Spanish is an advantage.

Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Notes

1 Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database

(https://whed.net/home.php).

Required Competencies:

Values – all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these three values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.

• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.

• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.

• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators level 2

• Leadership: provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the organization’s vision; assists others to realize and develop their potential.

• Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.

• Strategic thinking and vision: works strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.pdf

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

This selection process may be used to staff similar positions in various duty stations. Recommended candidates will remain eligible to be appointed in a similar position for a period of 24 months.

The list of NMS countries above includes all IOM Member States which are non-represented in the Professional Category of staff members. For this staff category, candidates who are nationals of the duty station’s country cannot be considered eligible.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.