Communications Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and has a workforce of approximately 4,000 employees. The organization is dedicated to addressing the complex global environment through its Strategic Plan for 2026-2029, which aims to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 203

• UNFPA's mission is pursued through four interconnected outcomes: ending unmet need for family planning, preventing maternal deaths, eliminating gender-based violence and harmful practices, and adapting to demographic changes through evidence-based policies. UNFPA emphasizes the importance of principled and ethical staff who embody international norms and standards, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building, and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development landscape.

Job Overview:
The Communications Specialist position is situated within the Humanitarian Response Division (HRD) of UNFPA, based in Geneva. The role is crucial for standardizing humanitarian communication responses, enhancing visibility for UNFPA’s humanitarian activities, and improving media content during emergencies. The HRD's overall purpose is to facilitate the delivery of UNFPA's mandate by leading emergency responses and supporting humanitarian preparedness actions in increasingly complex situations. The Communications Specialist will provide technical support to enhance UNFPA's role in emergency information management, maintain collaborative partnerships across the organization and with external partners, and ensure high-quality information products and services related to UNFPA’s work in emergencies. This position requires a proactive approach to managing communications and ensuring that UNFPA's humanitarian efforts are effectively communicated to internal and external audiences, including donors and stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Communications Specialist will be responsible for several key tasks, including: contributing to the development of UNFPA's global humanitarian outreach efforts; coordinating the Global Humanitarian Action Overview (HAO); providing quality assurance for UNFPA flash updates, situation reports, and other public humanitarian documents; collaborating with the Global Emergency Response Team (GERT) to coordinate compelling stories from the field; managing the consolidation of HRD inputs for the humanitarian section of UNFPA's Annual Report; ensuring systems are in place for effective information consolidation on UNFPA’s actions in emergencies; integrating HRD information into UNFPA’s social media outreach; drafting updates and information materials on humanitarian emergencies; supporting the organization of HRD-led discussions and launches; contributing to system improvements for HRD productivity; ensuring quality assurance of HRD publications; and representing UNFPA/HRD in external and internal meetings.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in International Relations, Communication, Media, or Social Sciences. They should have at least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in humanitarian communication response, preferably with international organizations. Experience in humanitarian communications is a distinct advantage, along with skills in photography, videography, social media, and storytelling. Proficiency in using computers and office software, as well as web-based management systems and multimedia design tools, is essential. Experience in planning and managing public events and using technology for communication is also beneficial. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to take initiative, multitask, work independently, and possess excellent English reading/writing and analytical skills.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree in fields related to International Relations, Communication, Media, or Social Sciences. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of humanitarian communication and the broader context of UNFPA's mission.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 5 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in humanitarian communication response, ideally within international organizations. Experience in the UN humanitarian system is particularly valuable, as it provides insight into the specific challenges and dynamics of humanitarian communications.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. A working knowledge of other UN languages is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in diverse environments and with various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other applicable benefits. UNFPA promotes a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. The organization encourages applications from women, individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA is committed to equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all candidates, regardless of personal characteristics.