UN Associate Communications Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development System was reformed on January 1, 2019, to enhance its effectiveness in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO) play a crucial role in this reform, led by an empowered UN Resident Coordinator who represents the UN Secretary-General at the country level. The Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) was transformed into a stand-alone office within the UN Secretariat, overseeing the resident coordinator system. In 2026, DCO recalibrated to ensure optimal support for the 2030 Agenda, focusing on data, digital innovation, and a mission-driven culture. The organization emphasizes collaboration and partnerships to achieve development priorities.

Job Overview:
The Associate Communications Officer is responsible for maintaining relationships with management, other communications specialists, and various stakeholders to facilitate information exchange and coordinate communication activities. This role involves supporting reporting efforts, providing updates on activities, and assisting in crisis management and training activities. The officer also engages with external counterparts, including UN agencies, government officials, civil society, and media, to build partnerships and coordinate activities that enhance information integrity. The position is located in the UN Resident Coordination Office in Maputo, Mozambique, under the supervision of the Head of the Office. The officer will contribute to gathering insights from media monitoring, implementing communication strategies, drafting narratives, and creating compelling content across various platforms.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The incumbent will be responsible for several key duties, including: gathering insights from media monitoring to inform communication strategies; implementing strategies that raise awareness and drive engagement; drafting narratives and messaging for target audiences; fostering relationships with media outlets; developing media lines for crisis situations; planning and coordinating press events; acting as a spokesperson when required; creating optimized content for various platforms; producing communications products like press releases and reports; developing strategic communications partnerships; delivering outreach and advocacy strategies; creating content for UN radio channels; updating policy and training related to strategic communications; preparing reports for governmental bodies; maintaining confidentiality and integrity in handling sensitive information; monitoring and analyzing communication strategies; and performing other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess critical thinking skills, public speaking abilities, and knowledge of digital design. They should demonstrate professionalism, efficiency, and a commitment to gender perspectives in their work. Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential, along with the ability to tailor messages for diverse audiences. Strong planning and organizational skills are required, including the ability to set clear goals, prioritize tasks, and allocate resources effectively.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, digital communications, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Completion of programs in data analytics or related fields is advantageous.

Experience:
A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in developing and implementing communications strategies is required. Candidates should have demonstrated knowledge of strategic communications principles and practices, as well as skills in creating engaging content. Experience in conducting research and analyzing information from various sources is desirable, along with familiarity with current digital media platforms and the ability to draft clear messages for diverse audiences. Experience in data analytics is also a plus.

Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, proficiency in English is required at UN Level II, and proficiency in Portuguese is required at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Additional Notes:
This is a Fixed Term position available for a duration of one year, with no expectation of renewal. The appointment is subject to budgetary approval and the availability of the post. The position is open to nationals of Mozambique only, and candidates must be recruited within the country or commuting distance of the office. If no suitable local candidates are found, Mozambican nationals residing elsewhere may be considered, with the candidate responsible for relocation costs. The UN is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. All applicants must follow the online application process and provide accurate information regarding their qualifications.