Communications Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is dedicated to the vision of equality as outlined in the Charter of the United Nations. The organization focuses on eliminating discrimination against women and girls, empowering women, and achieving gender equality. UN Women supports Member States in implementing global standards for gender equality and coordinates gender-related work within the UN. The organization operates in multiple countries and has a strategic plan for 2026-2029 that emphasizes integrated approaches to address the root causes of inequality across various impact areas, including women's leadership, economic empowerment, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security.

Job Overview:
The Communications Specialist will report to the Country Representative and will work closely with colleagues from Headquarters, Regional, and Country Offices to ensure that communication strategies and media relations align with corporate policies. The role involves leading the development and implementation of communication and outreach strategies, conducting communication needs assessments, and integrating communication strategies into project proposals. The Communications Specialist will also be responsible for managing media relations, building partnerships with donors, overseeing the country office's online presence, and facilitating knowledge sharing within the organization. This position is crucial for mobilizing support for UN Women’s initiatives and ensuring effective communication of its mission and activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and implementation of communication and outreach/advocacy strategies, focusing on media relations. Conduct communication needs assessments for the Liberia Country Office and design strategies that ensure a gender perspective. Monitor and analyze media coverage and prepare reports. Launch corporate and local campaigns and special events.
• Develop and disseminate advocacy materials, including press releases and articles, and coordinate their distribution. Identify opportunities for information sharing and engage with media producers for audio/visual content.
• Manage media relations by building relationships with press, responding to inquiries, organizing press events, and facilitating interviews with senior managers.
• Build and maintain partnerships with donors and advocacy partners, ensuring effective communication of initiatives.
• Oversee the Liberia Country Office’s web presence, including website management and social media accounts.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing by identifying best practices and providing training on communication and advocacy.
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate must possess a Master’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a relevant field. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Candidates should have strong knowledge of communication strategies, media relations, and advocacy, as well as experience in managing web-based knowledge management systems and social media outreach.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in communications, public relations, journalism, or a relevant field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of professional work experience in public relations, communications, or advocacy, including media relations. Experience in social media usage is required, while experience in media relations is desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English and French is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is desirable.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve international recruitment. UN Women is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications and organizational needs. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims, including discrimination and harassment.