Community Engagement and Communication Officer

Background Information – UNOPS Hub in Amman 

The UNOPS Hub in Amman implements projects on behalf of UN agencies and bilateral donors and in close coordination with the Government and national authorities. With an established presence across the region (Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon), the office runs operations including large-scale procurement, project development, and technical management, and provides financial, human resources, and infrastructure-related services. The functional objective of UNOPS Hub in Amman is to deliver its projects in an efficient and effective manner and in line with the principles, rules, and regulations of UNOPS, in order to support the response to the current needs and national priorities in the region. 

UNOPS has been active in Lebanon since 2015, delivering projects in support of the Government of Lebanon and partners. Since the explosion at the Beirut Port on 4 August 2020, UNOPS has significantly scaled up its presence in the country to support the humanitarian response and both its presence and portfolio have undergone expansion.

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a fully diverse workforce.

Background Information - Project Specific

UNOPS is undertaking a project that aims at improving access to critical municipal services and increasing the resilience of the Beirut and Bourj Hammoud municipalities which were affected by the Beirut Port explosion, through the rehabilitation of damaged municipal infrastructure and assets as well as restoration of critical urban services, such as water and sanitation, roads, waste management, and energy, including renewable energy, in an integrated and gender-sensitive manner, contributing to improved quality of life as well as by creating local economic activities for all. Besides the improved public service delivery, the project entails undertaking accompanying tension-mitigation measures, extensive community engagement activities, and grants support to local CSO/NGOs that aims at reducing tensions in the targeted communities, enhancing community resilience, and helping rebuild the trust in the local authorities.

The project is being implemented in coordination with the governmental, municipal, and relevant community stakeholders in Lebanon, to ensure that projects activities are designed in consultation with relevant governmental authorities and to reflect community needs.

• Assist the PM in maintaining and implementing a community engagement strategy and implementation plan; ensure that participatory methods are used to include the community in planning and design;

• Update the beneficiary database and identify potential beneficiaries; generate a profile of the beneficiaries, both individual and group profiles;

• Maintain awareness among the communities and stakeholders on project goals, activities, Protection against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) etc. through various activities in liaison with the Project Manager and other stakeholders;

• Liaise and work with beneficiaries, community representatives, local and regional authorities, and other project staff to ensure accountability and best use of resources;

• Maintain and implement the gender sensitive and stakeholder engagement plan with the support of the PM;

• Update and implement the Communication and Visibility Plan for the project in line with donor requirements and UNOPS guidelines;

• Ensure that all communication outputs comply with donor and UNOPS organizational branding and visibility guidelines;

• Update mapping and analyzing relevant audiences and communication channels;

• Support defining key messages and visibility opportunities across all phases of the project;

• Support in drafting and editing high-quality communication materials such as press releases, success stories, human interest stories, feature articles, social media content, fact sheets, and brochures;

• Support in coordinating the design and production of multimedia content including photos, videos, infographics, and newsletters;

• Support in liaising with media outlets to facilitate coverage of project events and milestones;

• Support in organizing press visits, media briefings, and public information sessions in coordination with stakeholders;

• Produce regular reports on communication and visibility activities, including samples of materials produced and dissemination metrics;

• Participate in providing communication support for project-related events, including launches, handovers, and community engagement activities;

• Prepare briefing notes, talking points, and event coverage reports;

• Support Communication Specialist at AMM MCO in creating content showcasing the project on UNOPS Middle East X account;

• Create content and manage the project’s Facebook page ensuring timely publication of project’s progress and improve the page outreach and followers base;

• Support the PM in maintaining regular and effective communication and coordination with the project stakeholders; 

• In coordination with the PM, periodically document project milestones through photos, stories, testimonials, and other communication material;

• Monitor the progress of the government work to obtain the necessary approval and clearances; ensure that both the UNOPS works and government works achieve streamlined progress through timely communication and follow-up;

• Maintain a systematic and timely collection of agreed project data and its accurate analysis to inform project decision-making;

• Provide support to the Monitoring and Reporting Officer in compilation of the project’s beneficiary database as well through conducting household assessments;
  
  

• Updating of approved Communication, Visibility, and Stakeholder Engagement Plans;

• Timely production of communication materials (e.g., press releases, stories, social media posts);

• Beneficiary profiling and visibility content developed within agreed timelines;
  
  

• Participation in key project events and outreach activities;

• Organization of media engagements (e.g., press visits, briefings);

• Preparation of event coverage reports and talking points;
  
  

• Community engagement/ field visits/ activities conducted;

• Regular coordination stakeholders, and beneficiaries;

• Timely communication to support project approvals and follow-up;

• Positive feedback from community and stakeholders on outreach efforts;
  
  

• Monthly reporting on communication outputs and visibility metrics;

• Accurate contribution to beneficiary database and assessments;

• Use of collected data and testimonials to inform communication content;

Education 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Public Administration, Management, International Development, Social Sciences, Public Relations, Business Administration, or related field is required;
• An advanced university degree (Master degree or equivalent) in the above-mentioned disciplines or related field is desired and may substitute one year of the required years of experience;

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in a community engagement role and outreach activities is required;

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in strategic communication, preferably in development or humanitarian contexts, is required;

• Familiarity with donor visibility guidelines is an asset;

• Knowledge of UN policies, procedures, and operations is an asset, and experience of working in the UN/ International Organization is desired;

• Experience in working with the G-Suite platform including, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides is desired;

Language

• Full domain of English and Arabic is required.

• Contract type: ICA
• Contract level: Local ICA Specialist, level 8
• Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – ‘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 position is open for the nationals of the country only

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.