Communication Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1950, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is dedicated to promoting the rights of every child, viewing this commitment as a calling rather than just a job. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for personal and professional development, fostering a culture that helps staff thrive while providing an attractive compensation and benefits package. In Brazil, UNICEF has its main office in Brasília and nine field offices, working closely with national and sub-national governments, corporate partners, youth, and civil society organizations to effect significant transformations for children and adolescents.

Job Overview:
The Communication Specialist position is based in the Belem office and reports to the national Chief of Advocacy and Communications. The role involves close coordination with the Chief of Field Office in Belem and collaboration with national Communications teams and other regional teams in Manaus and Boa Vista. The Specialist is responsible for developing, managing, coordinating, and implementing advocacy and communication strategies aimed at raising awareness and engagement for children's and women's rights. This includes establishing strong relationships with local media, building networks and partnerships to advance UNICEF’s advocacy objectives, and supporting resource mobilization efforts. The Specialist will also evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies and prepare comprehensive reports to track progress and results.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Communication Specialist include:

• Developing, implementing, and monitoring advocacy, communication, and social behavior change (SBC) strategies aligned with national priorities for the North region.
• Establishing strong relationships with local media to effectively communicate UNICEF’s story and collaborations.
• Building and expanding networks and partnerships that advance UNICEF’s advocacy objectives, including collaboration with the UN Country Team and influencers.
• Supporting national and global resource mobilization efforts in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Leading communication and advocacy efforts for targeted national initiatives.
• Establishing communication baselines and regularly evaluating the effectiveness of strategies and activities.
• Preparing and sharing comprehensive reports to track progress and results.
• Providing expert advice and guidance on external communication strategies and activities to senior management, while supporting capacity building.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, candidates must possess an advanced university degree (master’s) in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field. Additionally, candidates should have five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, including strategy development and implementation. Experience in communication for human rights in a development context at a local level is essential, along with skills in developing strategic communication materials, event organization, project management, and donor reporting. Excellent writing skills and experience in liaising with media as a spokesperson for institutional communication are also required.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have an advanced university degree (master’s) in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of communication strategies and their implementation in a development context.

Experience:
The position requires five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, including experience in strategy development and implementation. Candidates should have a background in communication for human rights, particularly at a local level, and experience in developing strategic communication materials and managing projects effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in Portuguese and English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly in the context of the North and Amazon region, which includes understanding the social and political landscape, government stakeholders, indigenous populations, and local media outlets.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and based in Belem, Brazil. UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds, including afro-descendants, indigenous individuals, and other minorities, to apply. The organization offers flexible working arrangements and has policies in place to support employees with disabilities. UNICEF does not charge any processing fees during the recruitment process and emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and appointments are subject to medical clearance and visa requirements.