Communication Specialist (Partnerships), (P-3), TA (364 days), # 131657, Marketing and Public Relations services, PFP, Panama

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a Champion

UNICEF’s Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) Division works to deliver income, influence, and brand recognition for UNICEF globally.  Within the PFP Division in the Marketing & PR Services Section, the Communication for Partnerships (C4P) unit provides communication support, visibility, and recognition to high-value private sector partners. C4P’s role is to design and drive compelling joint communication plans and frameworks from initial engagement and throughout the life of each global partnership in collaboration with National Committees and country offices with high-value fundraising operations. The C4P unit works to mitigate reputational risks and manage communication responses linked to reputational issues for high-value partnerships (businesses, foundations, high-net-worth individuals, membership, and faith-based organizations).

This role will work closely with PFP’s high-value partnerships teams, due diligence team, the content team as well as teams in Programme Group, regional, and country offices. This role will work in close collaboration with National Committees and UNICEF offices in North America and the LACRO region to understand partners’ communications objectives and design partnership communication strategies and plans that align the goals and expectations of UNICEF and partners.

How can you make a difference?

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Develop and support implementation of communication activities for partnerships

In close coordination with high value fundraising teams in PFP HQ, LAC and the National Committees, reviews or develops communication materials such as news releases, op-eds, blogs, social media posts, briefing notes, talking points, partnership question & answer (Q&A) documents, partner communication materials referencing UNICEF; coordinates with the PFP media/PR team and the Division of Global Communication and Advocacy (DGCA) regarding global media outreach.  Sources or facilitates the development of engaging content for partners’ internal and external communication channels. Assists in the planning, coordination, and implementation of launch plans for high value partnerships.

2. Monitor and manage reputational risk;

Provides and regularly reviews communication parameters aligned to due diligence recommendations for sensitive or high-risk partnerships. In close consultation with the National Committees, country offices and other units in PFP, manages communication around risk issues linked to partner engagement, contributes to the prevention of media/PR crises, and works with internal stakeholders, high-value fundraisers, partners, the National Committees, and PR agencies to successfully manage crisis response when required.

3. Monitoring and evaluation;    

Maintains an updated data set on levels of engagement resulting from different campaigns and content packages to inform strategic planning. Ensures strong system of monitoring and evaluation for centrally developed content, to include income, brand and reach indicators.

4. Knowledge sharing and capacity building;

Creates, maintains, and updates organizational guidance to support global communication around UNICEF’s partnership and engagement with the private sector, in coordination with internal stakeholders, other UNICEF divisions, the National Committees, regional and country offices. Organizes and contributes to capacity building activities in the region such as webinars and workshops.

Deliverables:

Daily/weekly: Review, develop and refine communication materials relating to partnerships e.g. press releases, Q&A documents, communication parameters, social media posts and articles in close collaboration with external and internal stakeholders involved in partnership management and negotiations.

Daily/weekly: Analyse, monitor and manage reputational risks aligned with due diligence recommendations in close consultation with lead National Committees and PSFR country offices.  Closely collaborate and consult with other internal stakeholders within PFP to uphold and safeguard UNICEF’s good reputation.

Daily: Lead on strategic advice and support for partnership communication strategies for high value partnerships.

As needed: Provide inputs for guidance documents relating to partnership communications for use by National Committees and PSFR offices.

Estimated duration of the contract:

• 364 Days

Reporting to:

• The Communication Manager (Partnerships) based in Geneva.

Working Place:

• Panama City, Panama

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: Marketing, Communication, Journalism, Management, Public Relations, or another relevant technical field.
• Alternatively, a first-level University Degree in a relevant field combined with (2) additional years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in communication, marketing, or related discipline is required.
• Experience developing and implementing communications plans for partnerships with private sector partners (such as businesses, foundations, high-net-worth individuals, membership, and faith-based organizations) is required.
• Experience advising UNICEF national committees and country offices on partnership communications is an asset.
• UN/UNICEF experience is an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English and working knowledge of Spanish is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, or Russian) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.