Communications & Partnerships Specialist

The United Nations Office for Projects Support (UNOPS) is an United Nations body responsible for infrastructure, procurement and project management (General Assembly Resolution 65/176 of 2010). Our mission is to help people to improve their living conditions and countries to achieve peace and sustainable development.

In 1997, UNOPS began its operations in Guatemala in order to support the efforts prior to the signing of the peace agreement and subsequently, following that initiative, provided support to the ||Commission for Historical Clarification. Likewise, it has participated in boosting the local economy, by carrying out productive projects. In 2000, it focused on providing assistance to the Government of Guatemala, offering advisory services, project implementation, and transactional services.

In the last 24 years, it has contributed in the following areas: culture, sports, recreation, justice, governance, health, education, tax collection, decentralization of services, environment, water and sanitation, institutional strengthening and infrastructure. Currently, the Guatemala office works mainly with the IGSS (Guatemalan Institute of Social Security), in two projects named AMEDIGSS and INFRAIGSS.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Principal Technical Advisor- Country Director, and in coordination with the Regional Advisor on Partnerships and Project Managers; the Specialist on Communications & Partnerships will have the following key responsibilities:

1. Strategic positioning of UNOPS in Guatemala;

2. Management and implementation of strategic external communication in Guatemala; 

3. Development and follow up of strategic alliances (Partnerships) in Guatemala; 

4. Team management; and

5. Internal communication, knowledge management and gender mainstreaming in Guatemala

• In coordination with the Principal Technical Advisor- Country Director, the Regional Advisor on Partnerships and Project Managers:  develop, implement and monitor the Communication and Parthehips Strategy for Guatemala, keeping aligned with the regional and global UNOPS priorities.

• Identify priority audiences and carry out a stakeholders’ mapping and follow-up.

• Act as the spokesperson of UNOPS in Guatemala when needed, ensuring that public announcements are made through the most appropriate channels to maximize their impact. Manage media relations and resolve inquiries from journalists for interviews, statements and others. 

• Develop, monitor and implement protocols to prevent and manage potential reputational or media communications crisis situations, in coordination with the Country Director, the Regional Office and the Project Managers.

1. Education

• A Master Degree preferably in Communication, Journalism, Public Administration, Economics, International Development, Political Science, Communications or International Relations or related field.

• A First University degree in combination with a minimum of seven (7) years’ qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

1. Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience (depending on academic titles presented) developing communication strategies, public relations and / or strategic alliances.

• Experience in public relations (or an equivalent related to Partnerships and partnership development) is required in the public, private or cooperative projects.

• Personnel supervisory experience in communications is required. 

• Experience in communication for development and/or partnership and portfolio development is required.

• Experience in communicating health issues will be positively valued.

• Knowledge and experience with United Nations agencies, international cooperation and / or international organizations will be valued.

• Experience in project management, capacity building and technical assistance will be an asset.

• Work experience in Guatemala and/or in the media will be valued.

1. Languages

• Fluency in Spanish and English (both written and oral) is required.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.