Communications Senior Officer

Background Information – Job-specific

Access to Health Fund

• The Access to Health Fund aims to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas of Myanmar. The Fund works with local and international partner organizations and other key stakeholders to increase people’s access to health services and to strengthen local health systems.
• The Access to Health Fund is supported by the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Norway and Korea. The Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited through their global CSR program also provides a dedicated fund to Access to Health with a similar vision of reaching essential health services to marginalized and vulnerable populations in conflict-affected and hard-to-reach areas and for health system improvement in Shan State.
• The Access to Health Fund has a particular focus on improving health equity in Myanmar, with emphasis on the hardest-to-reach and most vulnerable populations, many in conflict-affected areas. Focus areas of the Fund include maternal, newborn and child health, combating HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and local and community-based health system strengthening to deliver sustainable, efficient and responsive healthcare across Myanmar.
• UNOPS is the Fund Manager for the Access to Health Fund. The incumbent will implement the Fund’s communications strategy and crisis communications plan, work on communicating Access to Health’s message on appropriate platforms, and lead the writing and editing tasks for the Fund. Under the direct supervision of the Fund Director, the Communications Senior Officer will lead the Access to Health Communications Unit and support the Senior Management Team. The Communications Senior Officer covers the following key functions:

Functional Responsibilities

EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY: 

• Responsible for reviewing and recommending revisions in the External Communications Strategy, visibility guidelines and crisis communications plan for Access to Health Fund, ensuring alignment with the overall Access to Health Fund strategy (which prioritizes vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas).This includes:
• Determining key messages for the Fund, and refining those messages over time based on evidence
• Assessing the effectiveness of the strategy and recommend refinements as necessary
• Harnessing new opportunities for the Fund in communications
• Coordinate resource needs for communication activities (budgeting)
• Maintain the monitoring and evaluation framework for communication activities.

Regularly update and maintain the communications work plan

• Coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Access to Health Fund External Communications Strategy. This includes:
• Ensuring appropriate visibility for Access to Health and its donors with all stakeholders
• Identifying and developing feature stories and other materials to facilitate global/regional advocacy when appropriate;
• Ensuring easy web-based access to information on Access to Health Fund policies and other information in accordance with the Fund’s principles of visibility and overall country context
• Coordinate and support team members on content development for the Access to Health Fund’s social media platforms and website in accordance with the Fund’s principles of visibility and overall country context
• Provide support to other units in the Fund Management Office and implementing partners to implement the Fund’s communications strategy and visibility guidelines
• Production of multimedia content.
• Plan and organise communications capacity strengthening activities for  the Fund’s implementing partners (IPs) and ethnic health organisations/ civil society organisations (EHOs/CSOs)
• Guide program officers and IPs on appropriate communications approaches in line with the Communications Strategy and approaches

COPYWRITING AND EDITING: 

Coordinate the drafting, development and review of high quality written communications content for donor reporting and communication, and provide editing and writing support to the whole Fund. Including but not limited to:

• Strategic papers and documents
• Business cases, information material, newsletters and other submissions to the Access to Health Fund Board
• Briefing kits for donor field visits

The Communications Senior Officer should also:

• Provide capacity development support to Access to Health Fund Communications Unit and partners on writing, editing and presentation skills
• Provide editing support to other projects as required

REPORTING: Coordinate the writing, graphic design/layout and publishing of the Access to Health Fund Annual and Progress Report to deadline and specifications

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: Support smooth, well-functioning internal communications and knowledge management for the Access to Health Fund, including:

• Write newsletter and/or other internal communications products
• Provide information about the Fund to UNOPS MMOC and HQ
• Maintain risk communications plans adapted to the high-risk context and implement as necessary
• Coordinate internal knowledge management and gathering of lessons learned
• Organize events and other mechanisms to disseminate information (internal and external) based on lessons learned

SUPPORT TO THE FUND DIRECTOR’S OFFICE

Under the supervision of the Fund Director and/or guidance of the relevant Senior Management Team members:

• Maintain the Fund’s Risk Register and ensure the register is updated to reflect contextual changes
• Support the development of a delivery chain risk mapping for donors and other documents requested by donors
• Lead and/or contribute to the development of strategic papers and proposals/initiatives to advance program objectives and address emerging challenges
• Respond to corporate requirements and/or calls for information from UNOPS headquarters, regional office, and country director

TEAM MANAGEMENT: 

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high quality results and services of the team supervised through effective work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• Master’s degree preferably in one of the subjects of communication, media studies, journalism, international relations, public/media relations, public relations, event management, English or any other related field is required.
• A Bachelor’s Degree in combination with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s Degree.

Work Experience

• At least 2 years of experience with a Master’s degree (4 years with a Bachelor’s degree) in the area of communication, media studies, journalism, international relations, public/media relations, public relations, event management, English is required
• Prior experience working with donors/ multi-donor funds is desirable.
• Sound knowledge of UN regulations and rules is an asset.
• Prior experience of working in a multicultural environment is highly desirable
• Prior experience with donor reporting is highly desirable
• Prior experience in the field of public health is an asset.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (Google Suite Applications) is required.

Languages

• Fluency in  English is required;
• Understanding of other UN and local languages is an advantage

Source: https://jobs.unops.org/Pages/ViewVacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=29062