Media Relations Manager (P-4)

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women was established in July 2010 as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The organization was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact in the area of gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women merges and builds upon the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system that focused on gender issues. The organization operates globally, advocating for women's rights and gender equality, and works to eliminate discrimination against women and girls. UN Women has a mission to empower women and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. The organization employs a diverse workforce and operates in numerous countries worldwide, focusing on various initiatives to promote gender equality.

Job Overview:
The Media Relations Manager (P-4) at UN Women is responsible for developing, managing, implementing, and monitoring global media strategies that align with UN Women’s mission and objectives. This role involves advising senior management on media positioning and reputational risk, particularly in relation to UN Women’s portfolio and dedicated campaigns. The incumbent will provide high-level strategic advice on global media engagement, especially during emergencies and politically sensitive situations. The Media Relations Manager will lead a team of staff, including consultants and affiliate personnel, and will be tasked with designing and executing media strategies for high-profile global moments, flagship reports, emergency responses, and reputational issues. The position requires close collaboration with various internal divisions, regional and country offices, and external partners to ensure effective communication and advocacy for women's empowerment and gender equality.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee global media relations and positioning for UN Women, including the development and implementation of a global media engagement strategy.
• Manage internal and external resources, ensuring effective planning and execution of media activities.
• Maintain a comprehensive contact list of journalists and media outlets, ensuring regular communication and collaboration.
• Develop high-quality media materials such as press releases, media advisories, and Op-Eds.
• Design and lead global media campaigns, coordinating with regional and country offices to generate positive coverage.
• Provide strategic guidance on media engagements, including crisis communications and reputational risk assessment.
• Strengthen capacity and build partnerships by advising on media relations and delivering media training.
• Supervise the media team and manage media-related budgets, ensuring efficient functioning of media activities.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree in communications, journalism, public relations, international relations, or a related discipline. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Candidates must possess superior writing and editing skills, particularly under time pressure, and demonstrate in-depth understanding of media relations methodologies and tools. Experience in reputational risk mitigation and management, as well as stakeholder engagement and networking skills, is essential. Candidates should also have a strong news sense and an active following of global news.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold an advanced university degree in communications, journalism, public relations, international relations, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of media relations and the global landscape of gender issues.

Experience:
A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in media relations at the international level is required. Candidates should have an in-depth understanding of different media markets and experience in designing and implementing effective media relations strategies on complex development issues. Experience in producing content for a global news media audience and working with journalists from top-tier international media is essential. Demonstrated experience in designing global media campaigns and using professional media monitoring software is also required. Experience in international development, gender equality, and the empowerment of women is desirable, as is an active personal network of media contacts.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Knowledge of other UN languages such as Russian, Arabic, or Chinese is desirable. Additionally, knowledge of French or Spanish is considered an asset, as it may enhance communication with diverse media outlets and audiences.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and involves supervisory responsibilities over the media team, including staff, consultants, and affiliate personnel. The incumbent will manage media-related budgets and oversee the planning and performance monitoring of global media activities. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and harassment. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history.