Sr. Communications Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that aims to promote social justice and fair labor practices. Established in 1919, the ILO has a mission to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues. The organization operates in over 180 countries and has a diverse workforce committed to improving labor standards globally. The ILO values diversity and inclusivity, actively encouraging applications from women and individuals with disabilities.

Job Overview:
The Sr. Communications Officer will play a pivotal role in leading the communications function for the PROSPECTS Partnership Programme in Uganda. This position is crucial for enhancing the visibility of the program's results, particularly for forcibly displaced persons and their host communities. The officer will be responsible for planning and producing high-quality visual and digital communications, focusing on field-based storytelling and multimedia production. The role requires a strategic approach to communications, ensuring alignment with the ILO's communications guidelines and donor visibility requirements. The officer will work closely with various stakeholders, including the PROSPECTS Communications Officer in Geneva and other communications colleagues at different organizational levels, to ensure coherence and effectiveness in messaging and branding. The incumbent will also be expected to develop and execute a comprehensive communications plan tailored to the Ugandan context, producing regular digital and visual content from project locations to engage diverse audiences effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Sr. Communications Officer will have a wide range of responsibilities, including identifying communication needs and providing strategic guidance to the PROSPECTS team. The officer will develop and implement a communications strategy that aligns with inter-agency efforts and the ILO's global communications strategy. Key tasks include producing high-quality multimedia content, managing digital dissemination of content, maintaining a library of program activities, tracking communications performance, and engaging with national and international media. The officer will also provide capacity-building support to ILO PROSPECTS staff and partners, ensuring consistency with the ILO PROSPECTS brand. Additional duties involve reviewing partners' communications materials, participating in conferences and workshops, and undertaking field visits to document progress and capture stories from refugee settlements and host communities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in a relevant field such as Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or Information Management. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with additional relevant experience will be accepted. The position requires at least three years of professional experience in communications, particularly in contexts related to refugee and displacement policies. Familiarity with ILO policies and experience working with the United Nations or in crisis settings will be advantageous. Strong drafting, reporting, and communication skills are essential, along with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and demonstrate gender-sensitive behavior.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Information Management, social sciences, public administration, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in one of these fields, combined with two additional years of relevant experience, may also be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in communications, particularly in the context of refugee and displacement policies. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in producing digital and visual communications content, including photography and short-form video. Experience working with youth-led storytelling and community-based content creation in displacement or humanitarian-development contexts is considered an asset. Familiarity with ILO policies and experience working with various ministries and agencies will also be beneficial.

Languages:
Excellent command of English is mandatory, along with working knowledge of at least one local language from the PROSPECTS target locations in Uganda. Proficiency in additional languages will be considered a plus, enhancing the ability to engage with diverse communities effectively.

Additional Notes:
The position is a fixed-term contract for 12 months, with the possibility of extension based on various factors, including the availability of funds and the continuing need for the functions. The entry-level salary for this position is 194,017,000 Ugandan Shillings per year. The ILO emphasizes diversity and inclusivity in its hiring practices, encouraging applications from qualified female candidates and individuals with disabilities. The recruitment process for external candidates will adhere to specific local recruitment and eligibility criteria.