Senior Communication and Advocacy Expert - Retainer

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.  Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.  UN-Habitat office in KSA has been working in a number of projects to support the UN-Habitat mandates and to boost the implementation of the NUA and the SDGs especially goal 11 as well as support the implementation of the Saudi Vision 2030 and its different programmes that correspond with the mandate of UN-Habitat. The Saudi Arabia Office is affiliated to The Regional Office of Arab States (ROAS), which is responsible for the implementation of the UN-Habitat Work Programme at Regional and at Country level for all domains of change under the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan (2020-2025). The KSA country programmes and projects is establishing a wide programme to enhance UN-Habitat's capacity of delivery at the country level.

UN-Habitat has been tasked by the Quality-of-Life Program  to provide technical and advisory services for the design, development, and promotion of a global Quality of Life Index with a universal, and standardised method that will provide coherence and alignment for all development partners, including the UN system. The project is composed of three different phases over a period of 36 months. 

The project is composed of three outcomes as follows: 

• Enhanced technical and institutional capacity of participating countries and cities to adapt and use the Global Quality of Life Index as a decision-support system that relies on reliable, timely, and disaggregated data. 

• Enhanced understanding of local, national and global urban quality of life trends, and challenges that hinder effective implementation of policies/ actions and formulate transformative actions.

• Enhanced capacity of local and national governments and development partners to adapt, use and report on quality of life urban trends, including through the voluntary 

local and national review processes using the harmonised Global Urban Monitoring framework. 

The Senior Communication and Advocacy Expert will work under the overall guidance of the Project Manager of the ‘Technical Support to the Quality-of-Life Index’ Project in cooperation with the Quality of Life Program, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She/he will be responsible for leading all communication and advocacy efforts related to promoting the Quality of Life Initiative including the overall quality of life concept, the development of the Index, piloting and roll out and the award. 

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.

The Senior Communications and Advocacy Expert/Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Communication Strategy implementation/campaigns

• Leads on, implements and reports on the relevant Communications Campaigns contained in the Communication and Marketing Strategy including development and updating of key messages, materials and action plans in line with the development of the Index and the award with clearly defined targets and audiences

• Produces a range of material to raise public awareness about the Initiative and encourage cities to participate including a brochure, videos, power points, infographics, summaries of briefs and key documents

• Oversees development of branding and physical and online visibility items with correct use of branding logo 

• Makes recommendations and implements improvements and expansions of online platforms

• Keeps the website/web pages, social media and other online platforms including LinkedIn, Youtube and Flickr populated with useful, timely, relevant material including stories, photos, relevant documents, videos and blogs and monitor progress using metrics.

• Organises meetings with communication focal points at UN-Habitat, in participating cities and in partner organisations such as UCLG for joint products and wider dissemination  of material

• Takes the lead in organising media outreach, including arranging media contacts, press releases, on and off the record press briefings and interviews, drafting opinion pieces for management and provides talking points for leadership for media interaction

• Anticipates crises and problems, develops and implements mitigation action plans and resolves communications/ public relations issues/problems.

Communications for partners/stakeholders

• Produces, edits, designs and updates overall key communication material including  newsletters, briefs and  key messages for partners and other stakeholders (such as national and local governments, UN bodies, NGOs, private sector, civil society) to ensure support, adoption or endorsement of the Index and quality of life concept and particularly to bring pilot cities and other cities onboard

• Works with and leverages the communications of QoL Project supporters such as the Friends of the Index and communications experts in participating cities and countries to increase overall outreach and encourage wider support for the index.

• Works with high level individual supporters of the Index, including designated Champions (former Nobel Laureates), to develop and place opinion pieces, organise interviews and media coverage to raise visibility and reputation

Events

• Advises, drives outreach and communications before, during and after Quality of Life Initiative-organised-events including Roundtables and EGMs, with the production of online and physical material, organisation of press briefings etc as required to ensure maximum visibility

• Ensures excellent visibility of the Quality of Life Initiative and Index during high level, international and regional events and conferences including in 2024 the World Urban Forum and Summit of the Future through early liaison and planning and production of quality, timely communication material at all stages.

Other responsibilities

• Serves as a spokesperson on the Quality of Life Index Project if required

• Provides strategic advice and expertise to the Quality of Life Initiative senior officers and Quality of Life Program Center leadership on advocacy, media and outreach issues, methods, and approaches and drafts talking points for the project senior managers.

• Undertakes at least 2 missions with the core team to Saudi Arabia during the period

• Professionalism – Ability to apply judgement in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Ability to work independently in support of overall programme objectives and take responsibility in incorporating youth and gender perspectives and ensuring equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Knowledge of Saudi Arabia socio-economic situation as pertaining to youth and women, urbanization issues and challenges and effective liaising with the Saudi government to enhance the trust and confidence of the government in UN-Habitat. 

• Planning and Organizing -  Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary Uses time efficiently . 

• Accountability -  Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments

• Communication - Speak and write clearly and effectively, promote two-way communication, demonstrate openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately

• Teamwork - Promote strong collaboration among colleagues to achieve programme goals and objectives, share credit with team members for accomplishments in the project, and accept responsibility for the team's shortcomings. 

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field;

• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in public information, public relations, journalism, international relations, public administration or related areas, especially within humanitarian organisations and contexts is required. 

• A first-level university degree in combination with 2 additional  years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Desirable working experience with private sector, public sector or local governments

• Candidates to submit a cover letter explaining how they meet the specified criteria is required.

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of one or more official languages will be an advantage.

1. Contract type: Retainer ICA
2. Contract level: I-ICA 3
3. Contract duration: 8 months (with possibility of extension) – 120 days maximum