External Relations Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which was established in 195

• Its mission is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries, providing assistance and protection to millions of individuals who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or violence. The organization works to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country, and it strives to promote durable solutions for those in need, including voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement to a third country. UNHCR is committed to upholding international refugee law and advocating for the rights of displaced persons globally.

Job Overview:
The External Relations Officer plays a crucial role in managing UNHCR's relationships with external stakeholders, including partners, media, government embassies, and other international organizations. This position requires a solid understanding of the regional and operational context, particularly in humanitarian or displacement settings. The officer will assist in planning consultative processes with UNHCR colleagues and external actors to develop and implement protection and assistance strategies. The role also involves implementing a communications strategy to generate support for UNHCR's operations, articulating the needs of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, and ensuring that these priorities are reflected in UN Country Team publications. The officer will engage in dialogue with donors and embassies, organize briefings, and prepare reports to provide accurate information about UNHCR's operations and funding needs. This position demands strong organizational, planning, and teamwork skills, as well as high-level stakeholder engagement capabilities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the External Relations Officer include staying informed about the political context and humanitarian operations related to forced displacement, assisting in the planning of consultative processes with UNHCR colleagues and external partners, and implementing a communications strategy that supports UNHCR's operations. The officer will also inform the UNHCR Country Team about priorities, assist in donor dialogue, propose new funding sources, and disseminate information on UNHCR's global funding situation. Additionally, the officer will participate in inter-agency cooperation, support senior management in representing UNHCR, manage information flows, consolidate information for campaigns, coordinate the drafting of reports and communication materials, manage media relations, and approve fundraising messages and expenditures. The officer is expected to identify and manage risks while seizing opportunities that impact objectives in their area of responsibility.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the External Relations Officer position include a minimum of six years of relevant experience with an undergraduate degree, five years with a graduate degree, or four years with a doctorate degree. Candidates should have experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment, excellent knowledge of local institutions, politics, and culture, and desirable knowledge of UNHCR operations at both headquarters and field levels. Experience in fundraising, programming, and social media management is also beneficial. Essential functional skills include drafting and documentation, inter-agency external relations, and computer literacy.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an educational background in fields such as Political Sciences, Social Sciences, International Relations, Journalism, or other relevant areas. A Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations, Journalism, Political Science, or Social Science is preferred, and relevant certifications may enhance a candidate's profile.

Experience:
The position requires a significant level of experience, specifically six years of relevant experience for candidates with an undergraduate degree, five years for those with a graduate degree, or four years for those with a doctorate. Essential experience includes working in humanitarian operations in a field environment, which is critical for understanding the complexities of the role and the context in which UNHCR operates.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, and knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable. For international professional and field service jobs, knowledge of the UN working language of the duty station is required if it is not English. For national professional jobs, knowledge of English and the local language is necessary.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the UNOPS IICA2 staff member/affiliate type and is not home-based. The target start date for the position is April 1, 202

• The role is categorized under a hardship level of E, indicating a challenging working environment. The organization encourages qualified female candidates to apply, and shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo a written test and/or oral interview. The position does not require functional clearance and is not remote.