Communication Officer

BACKGROUND

OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together Humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies.

OCHA’s mission is to:

• Mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies.
• Advocate the rights of people in need
• Promote preparedness and prevention
• Facilitate sustainable solutions.
• The Communications Officer participates in the development and implementation of communications strategies and the development and dissemination of products geared to influence the humanitarian agenda, promote public and media outreach and mobilize support for humanitarian operations in Sudan.
• This position-specific job opening is being advertised for the position of Communications Officer in Port Sudan, Sudan. The incumbent reports to the Head of Communications.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSABILITIES

Within delegated authority, the Communications Officer will be responsible for the following duties: 

• Supports strategy, planning, development and implementation of large, complex communications campaigns (e.g. global advocacy initiatives, regional public information programmes) and joint communications strategies in humanitarian contexts, leading common media and communications efforts, including common messaging and chairing a humanitarian communications group. Identifies sources and seeks funding and other assistance for major campaigns.
• Supports reporting and analysis, drafting and distribution of regular reports on the humanitarian situation; ensures flow of information and analysis of developments in the country/region, including tracking trends and sharing reports with HQ, and key partners.
• Supports media relations for senior officials through organizing media interviews, preparing talking points and devising communications plans for high-level missions, coordinating proactive and background media briefings and interviews, among other activities.
• Provides advice and expertise to managers, senior officers and other public information staff on a range of public affairs issues, methods, and approaches; on key media developments and appropriate approaches for media engagement to raise awareness of humanitarian needs and advocate timely and coordinated response; anticipates and resolves communications/public relations issues/problems
• Develops strategic partnerships with key constituencies to elicit support for and maximize impact of humanitarian advocacy objectives; serves as principal liaison to governmental bodies, national groups, private sector organizations, educational organizations, international organizations, etc.
• Prepares or oversees preparation of a diverse range of information communications products in support of priority humanitarian initiatives. Drafts complex material for UN newsletters, periodicals, reports and books and edits drafts prepared by junior officers. Evaluates results and impact of communications activities; reports on developments, trends and attitudes regarding the UN and the broader humanitarian community.
• Represents the institution in meetings and conferences; fulfils speaking engagements and makes presentations to groups on humanitarian activities and advocate issues of concern; organizes media coverage and arranges or conducts briefings, interviews; organizes seminars, lectures, conferences, media trips, public events on major issues and events concerning the organization.
• Builds information networks; plans and oversees maintenance of publicly accessible information materials on humanitarian issues and joint activities of the humanitarian community; plans and develops strategic outreach activities. Manages publications programme; produces materials for print/electronic/voice/visual and social media outreach.
• Supports day-to-day country or regional communications operations to include participating in coordination of substantive and administrative activities of the unit, interpreting and disseminating policy, providing procedural advice, improving reporting systems, handling operational and administrative queries, preparing budget submissions, establishing and/or coordinating training programmes and monitoring and evaluating results.
• May coordinate and direct a team of public information staff and/or mentor and supervise the work of junior officers on specific projects.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration, or a related field is required OR
• A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience (with a Bachelor’s degree) or 5 years of progressively responsible experiences (with a Master’s degree) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field is required.
• Experience in engaging with the media and writing professionally on humanitarian crises and issues is desirable
• Experience with crisis communication is desirable.
• Three (3) years experiences in communications in aid operations in the field is desirable.
• Experience working in a UN or other comparable international organization communication environment is desirable.
• Experience in managing and generating content for social media platforms is desirable.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and Arabic required.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/24041