Advocacy and Communication Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is a global organization dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of children around the world. Established in 1946, UNICEF operates in over 150 countries and territories, working tirelessly to ensure that every child has the opportunity to survive, thrive, and reach their full potential. The organization focuses on various areas including health, education, protection, and emergency response, aiming to create a better world for children and their families. With a workforce of thousands of employees and volunteers, UNICEF is committed to advocating for children's rights and providing support to the most vulnerable populations.

Job Overview:
The Advocacy and Communication Specialist position at UNICEF is crucial for developing and implementing a comprehensive advocacy and communication strategy that promotes awareness and understanding of children's and women's rights. This role involves coordinating various activities and products aimed at engaging public audiences and garnering support for UNICEF's mission and programs. The specialist will be responsible for creating a clear communication strategy that effectively communicates children's issues, strengthens political will, and enhances UNICEF's credibility. The position requires a proactive approach to media relations, networking, and partnership building, ensuring that UNICEF's messages are effectively disseminated and that the organization maintains strong relationships with key stakeholders, including the media, UN Country Team, and influential personalities. Additionally, the specialist will support resource mobilization efforts through effective advocacy and communication strategies, manage human and financial resources, and evaluate the effectiveness of communication activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a clear communication strategy and work plan to promote children's issues and UNICEF's mission.
• Maintain and develop a comprehensive contact list of journalists and media outlets, ensuring regular communication and collaboration.
• Build and maintain partnerships with individuals, organizations, and forums that can assist in achieving advocacy objectives.
• Engage with celebrities and organize special events to support UNICEF's initiatives.
• Integrate UNICEF's global communication priorities and campaigns into local strategies.
• Support fundraising activities through effective advocacy and communication efforts.
• Manage human resources within the communication team and oversee budget planning and monitoring.
• Establish communication baselines for evaluating the effectiveness of strategies and activities.
• Provide expertise and advice on external relations communication to the Representative/Senior or Regional Communication Specialist and the country program team. 1
• Continuously analyze and improve communication strategies based on evaluation results.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master's degree in communication, journalism, public relations, external relations, public affairs, corporate communications, or related fields.
• At least 5 years of progressively senior and relevant work experience in social communication, digital media, print, broadcast, and resource mobilization.
• Strong advocacy skills and experience managing internal communication in diverse political contexts.
• Fieldwork experience and familiarity with emergency situations are highly desirable.
• Proven ability to build and maintain partnerships and work collaboratively with others.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree from a recognized university in fields related to communication, journalism, public relations, external relations, public affairs, or corporate communications. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of communication strategies and effectively advocating for children's rights.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of progressively senior and relevant work experience. This experience should encompass various aspects of social communication, including digital media, print, broadcast, and resource mobilization. Candidates should demonstrate a strong track record of managing communication strategies in complex and diverse political environments, as well as experience in emergency contexts.

Languages:
Fluency in both Spanish and English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) or a local language is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in diverse settings.

Additional Notes:
This position is assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes, requiring additional vetting and assessment. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, nationality, or background. The organization offers a range of benefits, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Candidates must be prepared for background checks and medical clearance, and compliance with vaccination requirements is mandatory. UNICEF does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and is committed to safeguarding the rights of every child.