Social Media Officer (Retainer)

RBM Partnership to End Malaria

The past fifteen years have seen tremendous gains in reducing the burden of disease and progressing towards malaria elimination. Since 2000, global malaria deaths have been cut by more than half, saving 7 million lives, primarily among children less than five years of age. Expansions in financing, strong political commitments, novel diagnostic and preventative measures, and multi-sectoral coordination have facilitated this progress. Since 1998, RBM Partnership to End Malaria has been central to the global fight against malaria. It has been essential to mobilizing resources and scaling up innovative interventions, putting the world onto a path towards eliminating malaria. The Partnership comprises more than 500 partners committed to end malaria, including malaria endemic countries, their bilateral and multilateral development partners, the private sector, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, foundations, and research and academic institutions.

The RBM Partnership's Vision is of a world free from the burden of malaria.

The RBM Partnership is based in Geneva and hosted by UNOPS.

The retainer will work under the guidance and supervision of the Advocacy and Communications Manager, and in close collaboration with the Strategic Communications Partner Committee (SCPC) Manager and the Advocacy Officer, to achieve the core objectives and strategic priorities of the Partnership and the Strategic Communications Partner Committee (SCPC):

The purpose of the SCPC is to develop and implement, in collaboration with the Partnership Management Team, communications to achieve the objectives of the Partnership. The objective of the SCPC is to translate the overarching objectives of the Partnership into specific, aligned and inspirational messages that catalyse action.

The incumbent may be required and is expected to be willing to undertake assignment travel  per  operationsl  needs

Communications – Social Media Management

• Implements the social media strategy for the RBM Partnership to End Malaria platforms – with a specific focus on key moments and live events in the yearly calendar.

• Conduct research and identifies Global events and opportunities for social media amplification and engagement

• Serve as a social media communication point of contact for partners and the SCPC, relating to key moments in the RBM Calendar, as well as evergreen management of social media

• Develop a social media calendar and support on content creation, event communication and media relations, before, during and after events and specific calendar moments in coordination with the secretariat team and the partner committees

• Maintain and regularly update the RBM website and social media channels

• Support in promoting the visibility and online presence of the Partnership especially that of the CEO

• Support the social media outreach and engagement, by identifying and engaging with key media personalities, key RBM stakeholder and social media influencers to ensure visibility of RBM on the global scale

• Keep up to date with new and improved communication methodologies and data sharing platforms

• Develop and update communications related materials on the RBM website and all social media platforms

• Support the compilation of Briefing notes for CEO’s engagements with a specific focus on public facing communications on the CEO channels

Content creation and management

• Manage content creation schedule

• Liaise with graphic designers and videographers around key assets for evergreen, live content and major campaigns

• Develop the content calendar with significant emphasis on opportunities to engage with RBM’s communities.

• Support the compilation of Briefing notes for CEO’s engagements with a specific focus on public-facing communications on the CEO channels

• Develop thought leadership ideas and strategies alongside the Advocacy and Communications Manager, as well as the Communications agencies working with RBM.

Social Media Analysis

• Lead the strategy for live events analysis and development of performance metrics, specifically relating to social media.

• Give strategic advice on the most appropriate tools for gathering social media metrics to demonstrate effectiveness of activities. 

Partner Committee Coordination Support

• As assigned, Coordinate ideation sessions and steering committee collaboration meetings – especially where there are key strategic social media moments

• With support from Advocacy and Communication Manager, effectively manage RBM social media platforms and quickly responding to comments including media backlash to ensure that RBM messaging is clear

• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

• A Master’s degree preferably in advocacy, communication, international relations, journalism, law, international development, business management, public administration, public health, social science or another relevant field is required.


• A Bachelor’ s degree will be accepted with an additional 2 years of relevant experience.

• Minimum 2 years of experience in a  communications role is required.
• Experience with social media management, analysis and content creation  is  required  
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, as well as good planning, coordination and analytical skills are required.
• Experience working in or with malaria-endemic countries is an asset.
• Experience in partnerships, international development cooperation, INGOs, operations, consulting, external relations or public affairs is a distinct advantage.
• Experience working in public health, especially on malaria, is desirable.

• Full working knowledge of English is essential.
• Working knowledge of French, Spanish or another official UNOPS language is an asset.

Contract type: Retainer Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA)
Contract level: ICS-9/ / International ICA 1 or Local ICA 9
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• This role is retainer position (this is not a full-time, but a consultancy-based contract). Assignment are given as and when  needed

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.