Communications Specialist (Professional English Language Editor) - Retainer

Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT)

LIFT is embarking on a new strategic period for 2024-2028. The LIFT 2024-2028 Strategy builds on the achievements of LIFT's experience as well as recent adaptations and learning in the face of a changing and dynamic context. The new Strategy outlines an approach to tackle structural drivers of poverty and vulnerability, while also considering immediate interventions to secure and maintain Myanmar's previous development gains. LIFT has proven itself as a key delivery partner across Myanmar’s changing contexts – ranging from post-Nargis recovery, a time of political transition, and relief support during COVID-19. LIFT is managed by the United Nations Office for Projects Services (UNOPS) and has received funding from 16 international donors. The current donors are the United Kingdom, the European Union, Switzerland, Australia, the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and Denmark, and for more details visit www.lift-fund.org.

Under the direct supervision of the Fund Director and with support and direct interaction with the Communications Officer, the Communications Specialist will provide the professional editing service for a multitude of LIFT documents ensuring coherence and quality of all documentation.

Summary of Key Functions:

1. Proofreading, editing, and re-writing documentation

2. Finalize assigned reports and project documents to a high level of English

Proofreading, editing, and re-writing documentation

• Under the overall guidance of the Fund Director and direct supervision of the Communications Officer, the latter will monitor the progress of the project, including timeliness and quality control according to UNOPS branding and editorial standards and guidelines).

• Edit documents in English to ensure they are succinct, clear, and appropriate for a range of audiences from donors, International and local NGOs, public sector, UN agencies, community-based groups, and when needed, beneficiaries.

• Grammar, tone, style, content and format of the text should be edited and improved as well as structure, flow and consistency in fact-checking such as terminology, capitalization, spelling, abbreviations, repetition, data, acronyms, notes and references as per the UNOPS editorial standards, policy and language standards.

• Rewrite or re-organize content such as captions, footnotes, headings for selected photographs, charts, captions and other graphic elements as necessary for better flow and readability

• Work on tailored edits that fit the requirements of different platforms and audiences.

• Ensure a strong understanding of the subject matter, effectively utilizing all available reference sources, while maintaining a consistent speed and high volume of output.

Finalize  the reports and programme documents to a high level of English

• Provide the finished edited files (using Google Suite or other appropriate softwares as approved by UNOPS) of the documents that are ready to be sent for further communications stages such as professional design and formatting for publishing.

• Consult with respective technical and communication teams for review and comments/ feedback throughout the whole editing process and conduct follow-up discussion until finalizing the documents.

• Provide final proofreading of the designed version in preparation for publication and publishing.

• Submit the final version for publication in Google Documents,PDF files, and other file types as required.

• Provide quality control for LIFT documentation (project documents, reports, etc.) as assigned.

• Master’s degree preferably  in Communications, Design, Graphic Design, Urban Design, Journalism, Architecture, Visual Arts, Media Studies, Visual Media, Web Design, or another related or appropriate field is required.

• Bachelor’s degree with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience is considered an equivalent.

• Fluency in English is mandatory.

• Knowledge of a second UN language is an advantage.

• 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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. 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.