Communication Officer

Post Number: ED/PA 249

Grade: P-3

Parent Sector: Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Education

Type of contract: Project Appointment

Duration of contract: 1 year

Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 28-JAN-2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Duration of contract: 1 year with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

The Section for SDG 4 Leadership leads the Organization’s mandated role in coordinating the SDG4-Education 2030 Agenda; promoting and facilitating cooperation among Member States, international partners and representatives of civil society in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4); and guiding the work of the SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee (HSLC) in supporting and monitoring country progress towards SDG 4, for which it serves an inter-agency secretariat.

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Education, the guidance of the Director of the Division for Education 2030 and the immediate supervision of the Chief of the Section for SDG 4 Leadership, the incumbent will lead the planning, development and implementation of the overall communications and advocacy strategy to promote and support the work of the Section for SDG 4 Leadership in coordination with the Education Sector’s Communications and Knowledge Management Team (ED/COM) as relevant, and develop partnerships with other relevant organizations to disseminate information, create awareness about SDG 4 and promote the Section’s work.

In particular, the incumbent will:

• Lead the design, development and implementation of the overall communications, outreach and advocacy strategy for the Section for SDG 4 Leadership and the SDG4 High-Level Steering Committee (HSLC) in partnership with the HLSC members, relevant UNESCO entities including Headquarters education and communications teams, Regional Offices and Institutes. This includes ensuring the clarity, accuracy, relevance and engaging narratives in all materials that the Section produces; tailoring and disseminating them for different audiences; managing the SDG 4 website, the SDG4 Knowledge Hub, social media and other digital platforms.
• Lead and/or support the conception, production, quality assurance and dissemination of a range of communication, advocacy and promotion materials and tools, including web stories and blog posts; press releases and op-eds; summaries of reports; social media posts; photographs, infographics and audiovisual materials; speeches and scripts – including those related to the three core functional areas of the HLSC (evidence-based policy, data and monitoring, and finance) and the two constituency groups under the HLSC’s auspices (CCNGO and SDG4 Youth & Student Network).
• Develop a work plan, implement and monitor overall communications and advocacy plans for events organized by the Section. Lead the design, development and implementation of advocacy campaigns.
• Plan, implement and coordinate the Section’s public relations and media relations, in consultation with UNESCO’s Division for Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) and the Education Sector’s Communications and Knowledge management Team (ED/COM), to identify PR opportunities for the Section and the HLSC. Draft and/or support the drafting communication materials and oversee the Section’s publication and communication materials production processes.
• Support the Section’s resource mobilization efforts by developing an outreach and resource mobilization plan, identifying potential donors and resource mobilization opportunities, and crafting and disseminating communications materials.
• Monitor and evaluate the reach, results and impact of the Section’s communications activities and reports on deliverables and achievements.
• Supervise the day-to-day tasks undertaken by consultants and interns under the incumbent’s supervision.

Communication (C) Accountability (C) Innovation (C) Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C) Planning and organizing (C) Results focus (C) Teamwork (C) Professionalism (C)

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communications, journalism, marketing, or other related field.

Work experience:

• Minimum of 4 years of progressively responsible relevant experience in communications, public information, journalism, marketing, international relations, of which preferably 2 years acquired at the international level.
• Experience in developing, implementing and evaluating communication strategies and activities, reputation and brand management, media relations, and campaigns.
• Experience in carrying out diverse communications and advocacy activities for the production of large-scale, high-level events.
• Excellent record of producing communication materials including website and social media posts, speeches, infographics, brochures, flyers, videos.
• Experience in website development and management.

Skills and competencies:

• Excellent written and spoken communications skills. Strong drafting and presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking.
• Demonstrated capacity to work under tight deadlines.
• Abilities to build partnerships and maintain effective collegial relations in a multi-cultural team.

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and French.

Work experience:

• Experience in graphic design and/or graphic layout for publications and other communications and media products are desirable.

Skills and competencies:

• Familiarity with the functioning of international organizations and those of other major multilateral / international agencies/organizations in the field of education.
• Basic design, layout and web management skills.
• Knowledge on SDG 4 and the global education cooperation mechanism.

Languages:

• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.

The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 110,373 USD.

For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.

IMPORTANT:

Along with the Employment History Form, please upload three examples of recent written work that are relevant to the post. Please upload them as one single pdf file.

Please note that all candidates must complete an online application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview.

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Candidates from non- and under-represented Member States (last update here) are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization.