Communications senior officer

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage the recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

Background Information - Amman

The UNOPS Hub in Amman implements projects in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, in partnership with bilateral donors, national governments, and other UN agencies.  With an established presence across the region, the office runs operations including large-scale procurement, project development, and technical management, and provides financial, human resources, and infrastructure-related services. The functional objective of the UNOPS Hub in Amman is to deliver its projects efficiently and effectively and in line with the principles, rules, and regulations of UNOPS, to support the response to the current needs and national priorities in the region.

The project team will be based in Erbil, Iraq, and will be supported by the UNOPS Hub in Amman. UNOPS has been active in Iraq since 2004, delivering close to 50 projects worth over USD 260 million. UNOPS has a very strong relationship with its key counterparts at both central and regional government levels in Iraq. 

UNOPS is committed to achieving a fully diverse workforce.

Project Information

UNOPS is providing operational support to UNAMI in Iraq to facilitate electoral preparations and processes, with the primary objective of strengthening democratic institutions in Iraq through the promotion of regional parliamentary elections. The project aims to enhance the credibility and transparency of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and promote inclusion and participation in electoral processes by national legal and policy frameworks. The project aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal 16 and the Iraq Vision 2030 plan. UNOPS will conduct an assessment of the capacity of relevant entities who will organize the upcoming elections and provide training needs, provide technical assistance, carry out a UN communication campaign, support national observation, and conduct post-election activities including a lessons learned workshop. 

UNOPS will recruit a team consisting of local and international staff to provide the requested assistance in the areas of support identified by UNAMI. 

Within delegated authority and under supervision of the communications advisor, the Communication Senior officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Provide technical support to the Communications Advisor with the IHEC electoral project team in planning, developing, and implementing a media and communications strategy for the IHEC using social media;

• Work with the IHEC counterparts on social media used for public relations activities at both national and provincial levels, in particular to the External Media Section, Office of the Spokesperson, and Media Units;

• Support the implementation of guidance and technical advice provided to the IHEC on all media and communications activities using social media, including the development of relevant internal procedures, media relations, information provision (press releases, press conferences, call center, use of print, audio/visual and new media, etc.), development of the website and media monitoring;

• Support the communication advisor to advise the IHEC on the development and implementation of effective social media campaigns for specific electoral events;

• Promote the incorporation of electoral best practices and suggest innovative and effective ways to conduct social media for electoral processes;

• Promote the coordination of IHEC media staff with other IHEC units, including finance, legal, administration, operations, translation and graphic design, etc.;

• Provide analytical support to the IHEC in developing partnerships with relevant opinion leaders (traditional, cultural, media, etc.) for the awareness campaign;

• Work with the IHEC and link with poets, religious leaders, and other community principal personalities who can act as channels for messages and feedback on the constitution-building process;

• Identify storylines for publications and drafting substantive articles contributing to debates on the constitution-making process;

• Incorporate cross-cutting themes such as gender and human rights into the electoral process through social media and communications.

• Provide regular reports on progress and activities;

• Work in the development of social media communications tools;

The Senior Media and Communication Advisor, the Deputy Director and other members of the UN electoral assistance office; senior staff and officers of IHEC and other national institutions involved in the electoral process; other staff and officers working at the UNAMI office in Baghdad.

Education

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in Communications, Journalism, Social Science, or a related field. 

• A first-level university ( Bachelor’s  Degree)  preferably in Communications, Journalism, Social Science, or a related field in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted instead of an advanced university degree. 

Work Experience

• At least two years of progressively responsible experience in media, communications, or advocacy is required; 

• Previous experience with a multilateral or international organization is desired. 

• Technical knowledge of the field of strategic communication, particularly the requirements and methods of communication in the context of elections in post-conflict and transitional societies is desired; 

Languages

• Fluency in written and oral English is required. 

• Fluency in Arabic is required. 

•  Knowledge of Kurdish is an asset

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.