Communications Officer

UNOPS Ethiopia Multi-Country Office (ETMCO) exciting career opportunity

UNOPS-ETMCO is recruiting for this position: Communications Officer, based in Juba, South Sudan.



Qualified women (female) candidates are encouraged to apply.

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager, the Communications Officer will play an instrumental role in supporting the attainment of the Emergency Locust Response (ELRP) and Productive Safety Net for Socioeconomic Opportunities (SNSOP) project delivery and business targets by taking a leading role in ensuring compliance, monitoring, analyzing and reporting the  projects results.

He/She will be responsible to abide by the security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

The Communications Officer shall be responsible among others the following;

Strategic Communications and Reporting 

• Provide support on all communications activities of the social protection projects in line with the project’s communication strategy and in coordination with the World Bank Community Engagement Specialist and in line UNOPS corporate policies and procedures;

• Act as ‘brand guardian’ by developing, overseeing and having editorial oversight of all public materials, including the website, presentations, proposals and reports;

• Plan and implement a reporting/communications plan for all internal and external communications for the project;

• In conjunction with project personnel, and the Senior Project Manager, ensure the timely delivery of progress reports to the donor and project partners in compliance with grant and coordination requirements;

• Maintain regular contacts with all project teams to ensure timely and accurate data relating to the progress of works;

• In close consultation with the country office Communications Specialist,provide specific and direct communication support to each project’s field location as required; 

• Ensure adherence to internal reporting mechanisms;

• Ensure the implementation of the communications and visibility plan including the production of project’s factsheet and other visibility materials including the timely distribution of press releases when required;

• Coordinate regularly with the UNOPS’ Communications Specialist, the World Bank Communications Team and other internal stakeholders to ensure the timely update of project related information;

• Prepare briefing notes for internal and external audiences on ELRP performance and other issues, as and when required;

• Ensure rapid and information dissemination relating to the organizational policies, guidelines and directives to the project personnel;

• Lead the implementation of the project communication strategy, in coordination with communication teams of the World Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture, to raise the profile and visibility of the project;

• Develop communications materials and facilitate actions in line with the project communication to publicize project results and achievements, including through press releases, interviews, social media, video clips etc.

 Capacity building and support

• Ensure that project personnel are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of external relations communication for the project as required.

Report Writing 

• Overall responsibility for ELRP/SNSOP reports on activities, including monthly newsletters, substantive monthly and/or quarterly progress reports, and annual reports. 

Public Information / Media Relations 

• Support the Country Office Communications Specialist  to lead the required media relations to ensure the desired level of positive press coverage in national and international media; analyze and report on the impact of coverage; 

• Provide media briefing drafts to the Communications Specialist and Senior Project Manager prior to sharing them externally;

• In consultation with  the Senior Project Manager and the Communications Specialist  collaborate with mass media through activities such as organizing project site visits, facilitating media coverage and utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate.

Coordination 

• Closely support the Project team in dissemination of information related to UN Country Framework in South Sudan;

• In consultation with the country office Communication Specialist and the Senior Project Manager, represent  SSCO in UN  interagency  communication working groups to ensure coordination with other UN Agencies;

• Provide guidance and advice on communication with government and non-state actors (donors, embassies, INGO) paying attention to relevant communication protocols.

Knowledge Management

• Implement daily aspects of ELRP and SNSOP Communication Strategy;

• Develop, maintain and update partners and clients contact list/database;

Monitoring and Compliance Analysis:

• Support ELRP and SNSOP  project personnel to ensure compliance with donor  project  agreements and other projects related contracts;

• Perform any other duties deemed necessary by the Senior Project Manager.

Education 

• Advanced University Degree (Master's Degree) in Communications, Monitoring and Evaluation, Project Management, Business Administration, Political/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline. 

• A Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Monitoring and Evaluation, Project Management, Business Administration, Political/Development Studies, or other relevant discipline combined with two (2) additional years of work experience is required.

Work Experience 

• A minimum of two (2) years of work experience in communications and media related work;

• Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures an advantage;

• Experience of working in conflict or post-conflict environments highly desirable;

• Experience working in South Sudan is desirable.

Language

• Fluent in English language i.e writing, reading and speaking is required.

• 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.

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. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• 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.