Communication Officer (Media Visibility & Advocacy)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, 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 committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF is known for its passionate culture and attractive compensation and benefits package, aiming to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the children it serves.

Job Overview:
The Communication Officer (Media Visibility & Advocacy) position at UNICEF Ecuador is designed to support strategic advocacy, media engagement, and public positioning efforts that advance children's rights and influence national dialogue and decision-making. This role requires a combination of analysis, strategic advisory, and execution, contributing to the development of evidence-based advocacy actions and public positioning strategies. The officer will play a crucial role in strengthening UNICEF Ecuador's advocacy and public positioning by producing strategic intelligence and analysis to inform decision-making, supporting the design and implementation of advocacy strategies, leading the execution of positioning actions across media and public platforms, and ensuring coherence of institutional narrative across programs and partnerships. The position is pivotal in navigating the complex political and social environment in Ecuador to effectively advocate for children's rights.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key accountabilities for this role include:

• Political, Social and Media Monitoring: Conducting thorough monitoring of political, social, and media landscapes to gather insights that inform advocacy strategies.
• Advocacy & Communication Support: Providing support for advocacy actions, events, and public engagement initiatives that align with UNICEF's mission.
• Internal Coordination & Learning Support: Facilitating internal coordination and learning among teams to enhance the effectiveness of advocacy efforts. The officer will be responsible for producing strategic intelligence and analysis, supporting the design and implementation of advocacy strategies, leading media engagement efforts, and ensuring that all communication aligns with UNICEF's institutional narrative.

Required Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, candidates must possess a completed first-level university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) in Communications, Journalism, Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, or any related field. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of 1 year of relevant professional experience in communication, advocacy, public affairs, or related fields. Fluency in both Spanish and English is required, while knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, or Russian) is considered an advantage. Candidates should also have experience in analyzing political or social contexts and developing strategic communication or advocacy inputs, as well as experience working with media, public positioning, or campaigns.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a completed first-level university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) in fields such as Communications, Journalism, Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, or any other related discipline. This foundational education is essential for understanding the complexities of communication and advocacy in the context of children's rights.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 1 year of relevant professional experience in communication, advocacy, public affairs, or related fields. Experience in analyzing political or social contexts, developing strategic communication or advocacy inputs, and working with media and public positioning is highly desirable. Familiarity with emergency situations and relevant experience at the country level, particularly in development, fragile settings, and humanitarian contexts, is also preferred.

Languages:
Fluency in Spanish and English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, or Russian) is considered an advantage and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes, requiring additional vetting and assessment. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities. The organization offers a wide range of benefits, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment process and has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its aims and objectives. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and appointments are subject to medical clearance and visa requirements.