Associate Communications Officer, NOB

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Associate Communications Officer role at OHCHR in Damascus, focusing on media strategy and public engagement.

Seeking a dynamic communicator with media monitoring and crisis communications expertise for UN Human Rights office.

Org. Setting and Reporting

This post is located in the Syria Office of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), based in Damascus. The incumbent reports to the Representative of OHCHR Syria Country Office or designee.

Responsibilities

• Within delegated authority and depending on location, the Associate Communications Officer may be responsible for the following duties:
• Contribute to gathering insights and analysis from traditional, social, and digital media monitoring, including public narratives and areas of reputational risk to inform communications strategy.
• Contribute to the implementation of communications strategies that raise awareness, drive engagement, build support and have measurable impact with target audiences.
• Contribute to drafting narratives and messaging on the work of the UN that engage target audiences across different channels and platforms.
• Contribute to media mapping, reaching out to and fostering relationships with traditional and new media outlets.
• Contribute to the development of media lines, including in crisis situations and on sensitive issues.
• Contribute to the planning and coordination of press conferences, briefings, and media events.
• Act as a spokesperson for the organisation, when required.
• Contribute to the creation of compelling content that is optimized to reach target audiences across a range of platforms and channels.
• Contribute to the drafting and production of communications products, such as press releases, press statements, web stories, reports, and infographics.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of communications campaigns that engage and have measurable impact with target audiences through appropriate channels and platforms.
• Contribute to development and coordination of strategic communications partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to reach target audiences and maximize impact.
• Contribute to the delivery of in-person outreach and advocacy strategies and campaigns to engage target audiences and advance UN priorities.
• Contribute to the creation of content, interviews, news and programming for UN and/or community radio channels and podcasts.
• Contribute to promoting campaigns, events and collaboration with stakeholders by organising media engagement and coverage.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of risks to information integrity - misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and threats in fragile, post-conflict, and crisis environments, Knowledge of Media Monitoring tools, Skills to communicate complex and technical matters to diverse audiences, Knowledge of strategic communications principles and practices. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management.

CREATIVITY: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box"; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands the applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, digital communications or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in communications, international relations, or other relevant areas is required. Knowledge of risks to information integrity - misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and threats in fragile, post conflict, and crisis environments is required. Knowledge of Media Monitoring tools is required Skills to communicate complex and technical matters to diverse audiences is desirable Knowledge of strategic communications principles and practices is desirable

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Arabic is required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details). Required Languages Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking English UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II Arabic UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II UN Level II

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located. The appointment against this position is limited to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. External candidate selected through this job opening will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited to the entity (“FTA-limited”) in accordance with section 2.2 (c) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2025/3 on Administration of appointments. Renewal of appointment is contingent upon continued existence of mandate and availability of funding. If this position is discontinued, the incumbent will be separated from service. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of "internal candidate" in staff rule 4.10 who are selected through this job opening will be reassigned or transferred to the position, without a lien to their parent position.

United Nations Considerations

According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.