Communications Senior Advisor - Public Relations and Outreach - Retainer

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management

Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint in approximately 125 countries.

This is a position in UNOPS for supporting projects carried out for or in the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT). The position supports the work of the UNOCT/UNCCT Global Programme on Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (PRR) and the UNOCT/UNCCT Global Programme on Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE). 

This position reports to the Head of Cluster and requires close coordination with the Chief of the Global Programme on PRR and PCVE at UNOCT. The incumbent of this position will be a personnel of UNOPS under its full responsibility.

The Communications Senior Advisor will provide technical guidance as follows:

• Advise on the programme’s overall strategic public relations and strategic communication direction and use ongoing findings and results from implementation of activities to develop and improve the programme’s methodology and approach to communications.

• Advise PRR Management, and partners as appropriate, on balanced and responsive communications and messaging contributing to increased awareness of the delivery of programme components to beneficiaries, including appropriate situation analysis, positioning statements and supporting narrative

• Liaise with UN partners and member states, as needed, to ensure that communications advice/coordination is relevant with respect to programme objectives, audience needs, changing situation and environment. 

• Anticipate, identify, suggest opportunities to promote success/progress consistent with objectives

• Advise on and assist with development of the communications related tools and materials with strong focus on on-line and digital communications

• Anticipate and advise on potential areas of risk and assistance with development of the risk mitigation measures in consultation with supported government agencies

• Advice on and coordination of resource mobilization efforts, including development of targeted materials, and management of a diverse and growing donor landscape, to ensure coherent messaging on the programmes’ achievements and needs

• Lead the development of a public relations strategy related to UNOCT/UNCCT PRR and PCVE capacity building and programmatic delivery;

• Lead the design and delivery of a strategic communications plan for the Global Programmes on PRR and PCVE;

• Advanced university degree preferably in communications, marketing, social science, economics, or related areas.

• Bachelor’s degree with two (2) years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.   

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in communications is required.

• Experience on preventing violent extremism, counterterrorism, peace and security or other related topics is an advantage.

• Experience in conceptualizing and managing the production of communication and public relations materials, including social media and audio-visual content, brand development and detailed reports and presentations is required.

• Experience with managing websites and media/social media is required.

• Experience designing, implementing and managing strategic communication and media plans for highly sensitive and global issues would be an asset.

• Competent with office software packages, including PowerPoint, excel, basic design software.

• Fluency in oral and written English is required

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement  - ICA retainer modality. A retainer contract is issued for a period of time during which the services of the individual contractor are required intermittently. The individual contractor agreement on retainer basis will specify a “unit price” per day worked. For budgetary purposes, a monetary cap will be determined when the contract is awarded and issued. Please note that the retainer contract will not provide for a minimum, and payment will be made only after completion of work

Contract level: IICA-4/ICSC-12
Contract duration: (May 2022 - December 2022), with possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance, availability of funds and necessity of services

• 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.

Background Information - Sustainable Development Cluster 

Based in New York, the Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations.

The SDC’s services include grants management, development and special initiatives support, and technology support to the UN and UN agencies.

The SDC is part of the New York Service Cluster that supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management.