Communications Intern

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is an organization established by the UN General Assembly with the mission to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It serves as the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat collaborates with various partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities, aiming to reduce inequality, discrimination, and poverty. The Montreal Office specifically focuses on advancing sustainable urban development globally by fostering connections among research, policy, and action. It aims to activate a network of key partners to enhance urban sustainability solutions and implement the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan, particularly in areas such as housing, land use, and basic service provision, while linking these to climate and biodiversity actions to promote urban resilience and equity. The office also aims to establish strong working relationships with Canadian and North American subnational governments, grassroots organizations, practitioners, the private sector, and other relevant groups.

Job Overview:
The intern" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Communications Intern will play a crucial role in supporting the Montreal Office's efforts to raise visibility and engage diverse audiences digitally. The intern will be responsible for creating multimedia content, including social media graphics, videos, and infographics, to support program messaging. They will assist in developing and disseminating promotional materials and communication toolkits, as well as planning and implementing outreach activities. This includes creating visuals for public events, campaigns, and global observances, as well as drafting and editing bilingual content for various platforms such as websites, newsletters, reports, and flyers. The intern will also manage and schedule social media content across UN-Habitat platforms, conduct research to propose relevant social media content, and support the documentation and archiving of communication assets. Additionally, the intern will monitor and report on communications metrics to measure engagement and effectiveness.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern's duties will include creating multimedia content for communication purposes, assisting in the development of promotional materials, and supporting outreach activities. They will draft and edit bilingual content for digital and print platforms, manage social media content, conduct research for social media alignment with urban development themes, and support the documentation of communication assets. The intern will also assist in event planning and provide communication support during live or virtual events. They will summarize key meetings and conduct background research on urban sustainability topics, housing, land use, and climate action as needed. Overall, the intern will contribute to various communication and outreach tasks to enhance the visibility and impact of the Montreal Office's work.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements at the time of application: be enrolled in a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher), be in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent), or have graduated with a Bachelor's degree, Master's, PhD, or equivalent. Additionally, applicants should be computer literate in standard software applications, particularly the Microsoft Office Suite. A keen interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter are essential. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to interact successfully with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs, showing a willingness to understand and tolerate differing opinions.

Educational Background:
The preferred educational background for this position includes pursuing or holding a degree in Communications, Public Relations, Administration, Marketing, or related fields. A Master's degree or being a PhD candidate is preferable. Applicants must be students in the final year of their first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master's, or Ph.D. program, or have completed one of these programs. It is important for applicants to provide proof of their academic status as part of the application process.

Experience:
While applicants to the UN internship-programme" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience, they should have a field of study closely related to the internship. Previous academic or professional experience in using Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro) and Canva is preferred. This experience may include work completed as part of academic programs, such as research projects or theses. Experience in communicating on issues related to sustainable urban development is desirable, with relevant areas including housing, mobility, urban design, and urban governance. Specific examples of relevant experience should be provided in the application.

Languages:
Fluency in oral and written English is required for this internship position, as English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another UN language is considered desirable, which may enhance the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations, and they are responsible for their own travel, visa, accommodation, and living expenses. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of Canada may need to obtain the appropriate visa and work authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training.