Job: External Communication Specialist

Location: Beirut, LebanonEmployer: UNICEFDeadline: Wednesday, 10 July 2013

Description

Purpose of the Position

Accountable for assisting in co-ordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring the emergency communication strategy and associated products and activities to support the external communication and advocacy efforts of UNICEF Lebanon country office in favour of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The position aims at promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for Syrian refugee childrens and womens and Lebanese host community.

- Report to UNICEF Chief Communication and C4D under the supervision and guidance of the Representative.

- Accountable for emergency communication material in Arabic

- Responsible for the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of advocacy emergency strategies/activities, under supervision and technical support of the Chief Communication and guidance of the Representative.

Key Expected Results

KEY END-RESULTS

1.Media Relations: The Country Office has a successful process of pitching, and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the local, regional and international media to communicate the story of UNICEFs cooperation. Media contact list is well maintained and continually developed covering all media: print, TV, radio, web, photo etc.

2.Communication strategy: The communication strategy and associated work plan is implemented and monitored to optimize highlighting childrens issues in the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEFs mission and objectives and Advocacy Strategy, and enhance the organizations credibility and brand.

3.Networking and partnerships: The Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of individuals, groups and organizations whose support is essential to assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives. Effective working relationships with the UN Country Team and UN communication counterparts are developed, maintained and enhanced.

4. Global priorities and campaigns: The country office has an effective process in place for integrating and taking action on UNICEFs global communications priorities, campaigns and partnerships, disseminating these elements in a locally-appropriate way.

5. Resource mobilization support; Global and country level fund-raising activities are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES, DUTIES & TASKS

Within the delegated authority and the given organizational set-up, the incumbent will be assigned to the following major duties and end results.

1. Media Relations

- Ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media-print, TV, radio, web etc. -and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the story of UNICEFs emergency programme in favour of Syrian refugees and Lebanese host families.

- Duties & Tasks

1) Direct media relations-pitching, sending media materials, organizing and facilitating media field visits, human interest story opportunities, b-roll, and photos as needed.

2) Produce emergency media materials in Arabic for distribution to MENA, NYHQ, and Arab donors.

3) Ensure rapid and accurate information dissemination to the media, National Committees, NGOs, the field and other appropriate audiences.

4) Collaborate with mass media through activities such as organizing project site visits, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage and utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate.

5) Maintain close collaboration with Regional Emergency Communication specialist for effective overall coordination.

2. Emergency Communication strategy

- Ensure the emergency communication strategy and associated work plan is implemented to support the emergency country programme objectives and get Syrian childrens issues and children of Lebanese host families into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEFs mission and objectives, and enhance the organizations credibility and brand.

- Duties & Tasks

1) Reinforce support for UNICEFs work on behalf of Syrian children and children of host families in Lebanon by providing information to key national, regional and international audiences.

2) Position UNICEF LCO as an example of UNICEFs leadership role in rapid response.

3) Maintain high media visibility for UNICEFs emergency work in reaching the affected populations particularly with the Arab Media.

4) Maintain close collaboration with MENA Regional Emergency Communication Specialist with the aim of coordinating emergency communication material needed for the national committees.

5) Brief UNICEF programme staff and Representative on major issues to address during media interviews.

6) Produce emergency communication materials in English to MENA, NYHQ, GRO and National Committees.

7) UNICEF LCO Web site: Once the UNICEF LCO website is finalized, the incumbent will create emergency web materials plus video feature stories (Web story plus B-roll) and photos for wide distribution nationally, regionally and internationally.

8) Work closely with Emergency programme Officers in the Lebanon country Office to identify projects and programmes deserving visibility.

3. Celebrities and special events

- Ensure the support needed for any possible Goodwill Ambassadors or high delegations visit to Lebanon

- Duties & Tasks 1) Prepare information material to support the better understanding of the Lebanon context and UNICEF assisted Emergency programme.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

1. Education

- University degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations. *A first university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree

2. Work Experience

- A minimum of five to seven years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media in UNICEF preferably or a UN agency.

- International or national work experience in the UN, UNICEF or a development agency.

- Field work experience and exposure to emergency programmes.

- Background/familiarity with emergency situations especially in the MENA region

3. Language Proficiency

- Fluency in English and Arabic. Arabic is essential.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

1. Competency Profile

i) Core Values: Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Integrity

ii) Core Competencies : Communication, Working with People, Drive for Results

iii) Functional Competencies: Leading and Supervising, Formulating Strategies and Concepts, Relating and Networking, Persuading and Influencing, Applying Technical Expertise, Entrepreneurial Thinking

2. Common Technical Knowledge:

- Communication management. Knowledge of theories and practices in communication research planning and strategy.

- Fundamentals for working in various media formats-print, audio, video, web etc.

- Computer systems/applications and network, including internet navigation, office applications, and specifically, interactive digital media.

- Knowledge of UNICEF, United Nations or other international organizations;

- Global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women.

- UNICEF communication goals, policies, guidelines and strategies.

- UNICEF policies and strategy to address national and international issues.

- UNICEF emergency communication policies, goals, strategies.

- Gender equality and diversity awareness

Remarks

The appointment shall take place between August 2013 and July 2014. UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.