Communications Officer, Istanbul

Hardship LevelA (least hardship) Family TypeFamily Residential location (if applicable) GradePR3 Staff Member / Affiliate TypeProfessional

* S taff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality.

ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment Remote work acceptedNo Target Start Date2023-04-26 Job Posting End DateMay 15, 2023 Standard Job DescriptionCommunications Officer Organizational Setting and Work Relationships In line with its Global Communications Strategy, UNHCR requires skilled communications professionals to conceive and execute a range of activities that help us lead the narrative on forced displacement, generate empathy and mobilize action. This body of work spans communications strategy and coordination, news and media relations, multimedia content production, social media engagement, Goodwill Ambassadors and other influencers, public outreach and campaigns, fundraising, analytics and brand. UNHCR¿s Communications Officers need to cultivate a keen understanding of our target audiences¿including an up-to-the-minute grasp of the methods and tone of voice that resonate deeply, win trust and spark quality engagement. They must be vigilant about editorial and journalistic standards, attentive to protection concerns and political sensitivities, and focused on communicating successfully with key demographics. These audiences will vary by location, language and platform, among other factors, as well as whether the aim is to inform, advocate or raise funds. Communications Officers¿ functions, working relationships and skills specializations differ depending on language, location, grade, and whether they sit within a country operation, a regional bureau or the Global Communications Service. UNHCR¿s primary target audiences include public, media and policymakers, while our main partners and influencers include peers and private sector, trusted figures and our own workforce. Some communicators will focus mainly on news and media relations, for example, while others will produce multimedia content, manage social media accounts or lead advocacy campaigns. Forging partnerships with media outlets that reach target audiences is a central role for all Communications Officers. All Communications Officers are expected to work strategically in support of UNHCR¿s operational and communications objectives for their geographic area of responsibility (AoR) as well as global priorities. Communications approaches should reflect our core values as an organization that is caring, trustworthy, proactive, outcome-focused and responsive. This will reinforce UNHCR¿s role as the lead agency that protects refugees, internally displaced and stateless people and mobilizes action to provide solutions. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties - Support the development and implementation of communications strategies for countries, situations and special projects; identify thematic priorities and target audiences to meet UNHCR¿s global communications objectives. - Monitor news and popular trends to insert UNHCR¿s messaging into ongoing conversations; identify key moments for proactive communications. - Forge strategic partnerships with individuals and organizations who can help produce and promote UNHCR content, activities and messaging as well as provide research insights to improve communications; promote the work of engaged businesses and civil society actors. - Contribute to development of news-driven and authoritative content to lead the narrative on forced displacement and show UNHCR¿s impact (e.g. interviews, press releases, flagship reports, speeches), create emotive storytelling to generate empathy (e.g. stories, multimedia content) and mobilize action by signposting concrete steps people can take to help refugees (e.g. digital diplomacy, action-driven campaigns, fundraising). - Ensure content created reaches maximum impact by developing strategies for distribution from the outset, boosting the visibility of our content on relevant UNHCR channels and placing it on external channels. - Closely monitor the implementation of communications projects and adjust accordingly. Benchmark the results of communications projects against set success indicators; build on communications successes. Additional duties for news and media roles: - Develop and implement communications strategies, campaigns, events and other initiatives in support of UNHCR's strategic objectives, including its need for leading share of voice on refugee and related matters, and ensure coverage of refugee situations in their country or region in global and domestic media. - Research, prepare, fact-check, edit and produce professional media and communications materials for target audiences and ensure their timely dissemination via UNHCR's communications channels, ensuring highest quality standards. - Draft media releases, statements and media briefing notes, and secure clearances, working in conjunction with relevant focal points and keeping sensitive to needs of both internal and external audiences. - Act as a spokesperson for UNHCR, organizing press events, handling interviews requests and providing responses to requests from media relating to UNHCR and its work. - Engage with journalists and public audiences via social media channels. - Regularly provide ideas for communications initiatives and considered professional communications advice to senior staff of UNHCR. - Undertake missions and field trips with media and other official visitors in support of UNHCR and its work. - Actively maintain media relations for UNHCR, ensuring that media (and other important external stakeholders, such as governments, embassies, NGOs etc.) are briefed regularly on issues of importance to UNHCR, and have access to information and UNHCR expertise. - Prepare and manage communications budgets. - Ensure alignment with UNHCR¿s global branding and messaging. - Continually maintain and upgrade communications skills, keeping abreast of emerging platforms and tools, and systematically reviewing media impact results and other measurement tools for learning purposes. Additional duties for news and media roles within the Global Communications Service - Oversee coordination of communications work for their designated regions and thematic issues, working closely with communications staff in bureaux and country offices and in collaboration with the senior communications officers/advisers in that region. - Manage a wide network of relationships at all levels across bureaux, divisions and offices (including the Executive Office) to ensure timely internal information sharing as a foundation for grounded communications, and to build consensus around communications proposals. - Maintain close involvement in communications recruitment and training needs for assigned regions, keeping in mind UNHCR¿s goals of employing and retaining the world¿s leading humanitarian communications expertise. Additional duties for news and media roles within Country Offices - Act as the primary interface on communications matters between their country office and the Global Communications Service. - Act as the lead for crisis communications work for their country, alerting the GCS/News & Media Section¿s crisis communications lead to risk issues and ensuring close coordination. Additional duties for news and media roles within Regional Bureaux - Regularly provide ideas for communications initiatives and considered professional communications advice to senior Bureau staff and Representatives of Country Operations overseen by the Bureau. - Oversee data and information gathering and sharing of information with a view to ensuring the Bureau¿s authority as a centre of up to date knowledge and expertise relating to its region. - Assist the Senior Management of the Bureau to implement advocacy objectives for the Bureau, and oversee development of supporting communications strategies for these, working in conjunction with staff of the Global Communications Service and communications staff in the region. - Ensure Bureau staff are aware of UNHCR¿s global positioning needs. - Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Years of Experience / Degree Level For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree Field(s) of Education Journalism; International Relations; Political Science; Communications; Public Information; Media Film / Video; or other relevant field. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses not specified Relevant Job Experience Essential Minimum 4years of professional experience in journalism and/or communications, mainly at international level. Desirable Experience developing and implementing communications strategies. Strong social media presence. Experience working on advocacy campaigns. Experience working with goodwill ambassadors and other high-profile influencers. Experience with brand management. Experience with measurement and evaluation, especially providing analysis of media coverage, social media engagement, web traffic, etc. Experience reporting, writing, editing for magazines, newspapers and websites. Experience using digital asset management systems. Experience with digital analytics and performance reporting. Functional Skills Required skills will vary according to the precise nature of the role, location, etc. but may include: CO-Drafting and Documentation CO-International Media Contacts CO-Preparation of key messages/talking points/speeches CO-Spokesperson skills CO-Strategic Communication CO-Public Speaking CO-Video production for digital platforms (including news organizations) CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics) CO-Editing CO-Digital content production (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. Desired Candidate Profile Strong communications skills, including excellent drafting and editing capabilities, are required for this position. The incumbent is required to be a team player with superior stakeholder engagement skills, and a proven ability to work with colleagues from different teams and achieve outstanding results while meeting tight deadlines and maintaining strong client service orientation. Previous experience in web content management is essential. The incumbent also needs to have skills in the management of relationships with media outlets. A minimum of 6 years of experience with the UN system in an advocacy/communication capacity is required. Previous experience in the economic inclusion of people affected by forced displacement would be an asset. Preference will be given to candidates with an excellent level of English. Another UN official language is an asset. Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): , Desired languages , Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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Nature of Position:

Against the background of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), the Division of Resilience and Solutions (DRS) has engaged in partnerships with development actors to support and enhance the inclusion of people UNHCR care for, in economic opportunities available in hosting areas. In December 2022, UNHCR and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) signed a Collaboration Arrangement to set up a Joint Initiative on Creating Markets in Forced Displacement Contexts. The goal of the Joint Initiative is to support and seek solutions for forcibly displaced people and host communities through private sector engagement, with the objectives of creating inclusive economic opportunities for people affected by forced displacement by designing, funding, and piloting innovative, impactful, and scalable private sector solutions, and establishing thought leadership on private sector engagement in forced displacement contexts through a strong knowledge base of operational lessons and promoting knowledge exchange among key players in the field. The Joint Initiative will facilitate the engagement between stakeholders, especially IFC and UNHCR teams, but also relevant actors who could play a role in private sector engagement for people affected by forced displacement. As part of the Joint team and under the supervision of the Deputy Head of the Joint Initiative, the Communications Officer will coordinate the design and implementation of the Communication Strategy of the Joint Initiative in liaison with IFC and UNHCR Communication teams. S/he will manage the website of the Initiative and ensure relevant content is made available. The incumbent will handle media queries and provide comments as required. S/he will draft press releases and other communication-related documents. S/he will coordinate closely with the Knowledge Management and Monitoring & Evaluation functions of the Joint Initiative and provide support on event and publication management and share responsibilities on reporting and other designated tasks. S/he will draft Talking Points, agenda and meetings reports.

Living and Working Conditions:

Climate in Istanbul: The inhabitants of Istanbul enjoy all four seasons. The characteristic weather is a cooler version of the Mediterranean climate. The summer months between June and September are very hot in Istanbul. The humidity is also very high. The average temperature during summer is 28C with relatively dry weather. The winter season in Istanbul is cold, wet and snowy, but the temperature remains above the freezing point. The wind can also be very strong especially in autumn. Light jackets are always recommended due to unstable weather conditions. Particularly the central areas of the big cities in Türkiye are not very different from any other Western city. There is a good choice of hotels in Ankara and Istanbul but the choice is somewhat limited in many other parts of the country, except for summer resorts. The prices of hotels are subject to continuous changes due to domestic inflation and changes in the value of the Turkish Lira on foreign exchange markets. The usual practice for renting an apartment is to consult real-estate agents or advertisements in the local English language newspaper. The main cities have a number of hospitals where well trained specialists and surgeons in all branches of medicine can easily be found. Prescribed medicines are not always available in the hospital and may need to be purchased from a pharmacy. Private clinics are generally well equipped and offer services of an acceptable quality. There are also private hospitals of top international standards in Ankara and Istanbul. The number of this type of hospitals is increasing day by day. Laboratory tests are available both in these hospitals and in established private laboratories. There are only a few schools in Türkiye that cater to foreign residents. These range from kindergarten through primary to high school level. Courses are in one or more foreign languages although some subjects are taught in Turkish in some schools. The general security situation remains calm and stable. On 6 February 2023, two powerful earthquakes of 7.7 and 7.5 magnitudes struck in south-eastern Türkiye in the province of Kahramanmaras. The earthquakes have claimed thousands of lives and caused untold destruction to homes and infrastructure across the region. Level 2 Emergency for Türkiye and Syria were declared. This Level 2 emergency declaration will remain in force for a period of six months and will expire on 8 August 2023. Under exceptional circumstances, the AHC-O may recommend a three-month extension following consultations with the Regional Bureau. Additional Qualifications Skills EducationBA: Communication (Required), BA: International Relations (Required), BA: Political Science (Required), BA: Public Professions (Required) Certifications Work Experience CompetenciesAccountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration UNHCR Salary Calculator

Compendium Add. 1 to March 2023 Compendium - Part B

Additional Information Functional clearanceThis position requires Functional Clearance