Communications Specialist

• Country: Panama
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: UNDP 
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: 2024-02-01

1. Lead the formulation and implementation of a communications and outreach strategy in support of CO visibility and resource mobilization efforts, aligned with a systemic narrative about our UNDP portfolio.
2. Elaboration and implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan.
3. Supervision of the design and maintenance of the UNDP CO website and intranet.
4. Support CO projects and events to boost visibility and business development.
5. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing for CO Staff and external groups.
6. Management of digital media monitoring, archiving and dissemination system.

• Analysis of requirements, synthesis of proposals and provision of information by conducting communications needs assessments for elaboration of the CO communications and outreach strategy based on the corporate communications strategy.
• Drafting/editing of communications and outreach strategy based on corporate communications strategy and in strong support of resource mobilization efforts to accompany the implementations of Country Programme with a systemic narrative of UNDP´s work.
• Assisting in the preparation of Country Office communication and advocacy instruments for dissemination to different audiences. These include, for instance, monthly bulletins, presentations, speeches, articles, blogs as well as updated information leaflets per programme and project, etc.
• Ensure advocacy and communication strategy integrated into all aspects of UNDP’s country programme and projects.
• Fostering effective coordination with all UNDP country office projects, by engaging with project managers to understand the specific communication needs and goals of each project in order to create a communication strategy aligned with the objectives of UNDP; and facilitating regular communication stakeholders to maintain alignment and address evolving communication needs.
• Implementing rigorous quality control measures for all communication materials associated with UNDP country office and projects, which involves establishing and maintaining a comprehensive quality control process to review and approve communication content, ensuring adherence to UNDP branding guidelines, ethical standards, and messaging consistency across all materials, and providing constructive feedback and guidance to communication teams and stakeholders to enhance the overall quality of communication initiatives.

• Identification and development of storylines for publications and substantive articles contributing to debates on key development issues aligned with the communications strategy.
• Coordination and management of all CO events, publications and web activities, including content management, norms for photography, video production, publishing, design, liaison with printers and other suppliers to oversee production and supervision of publications dissemination.

• Design and maintenance of the office websites and intranet based on corporate requirements in cooperation with ICT team and relevant staff members.
• Generation, preparation and editing of content for the web sites to ensure material is consistent and up to date.

• Promotion and dissemination of corporate advocacy materials to launch flagship initiatives and publications such as the Human Development Report and the portfolio approach process in coordination with relevant staff members.
• Development of communication materials, including briefing materials and press releases, for CO events in coordination with relevant staff members.
• Writing, editing and supervising translation of speeches and public statements for senior management and programme staff.

• Preparation and dissemination of CO newsletter to relevant audiences.
• Dissemination of communication materials and media mobilization through a regularly updated and populated contact database.
• Support to corporate (HQ and Country Office) reporting requirements.

• Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to annual workplan and country programme document.
• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories.
• Provision of trainings for UNDP staff on communications for development
• Professional growth through active learning.
• Maintain good working relationship with UN Panama Country Team Interagency Communications Group and contribute to joint initiatives as required.

• Identification of storylines for publications and articles contributing to debates on key development issues and addressing problematic coverage.
• Technical supervision of translation/adaptation/rewriting of information received, and dissemination of press clippings and translated synopses to within CO and to HQ.
• Maintaining and populating organized and searchable digital databases for text and images.
• Compiling specialized media coverage press packages for projects/events as deemed necessary and planning dissemination to strategic target audiences.

Core Competencies

• ACHIEVE RESULTS – LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• THINK INNOVATEVELY – LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• LEARN CONTINUOUSLY – LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• ADAPT WITH AGILITY – LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• ACT WITH DETERMINATION – LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• ENGAGE AND PARTNER – LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
• ENABLE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION – LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional Competencies

• BUSINESS DIRECTION & STRATEGY
  • SYSTEM THINKING: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the system.
• BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
  • INTEGRATION WITHIN THE UN: Ability to identify, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.
• BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
  • COMMUNICATION: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
  • PARTNERSHIPS MANAGEMENT: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
  • DIGITAL AWARENESS AND LITERACY: Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skilfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed.

Technical Competencies

• EXERNAL RELATIONS & ADVOCACY
  • GENERAL – PUBLIC RELATIONS: Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organisation, its mandate and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public.
  • COMMUNICATIONS – ADVOCACY STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in communications, journalism, social science, or any other relevant field is required, or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.

• Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of experience in communications and online reporting or related area.

• Proven experience with Adobe creative cloud or other software tools in designing and creating data visualization, infographics, presentations, and reports is required.
• Proven experience in managing communications functions in an international organization is required.
• Proven experience in strategic communications and developing communication strategies is required.
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal, excellent writing and organizational skills.

• Demonstrated expertise in managing communications sites using Microsoft SharePoint Online or other online platforms is desirable.
• Previous experience of working with local non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and community-based groups is desirable.
• Working experience with diverse and multi-cultural teams is desirable.

• Proficiency in English and Spanish is required.

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