Social Media Specialist (Home based)

Remote | New York City

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Remote | New York City
Grade: Mid level - IPSA-10, International Personnel Services Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Communication and Public Information
- Sales and Marketing
- Marketing (Digital, Advertisement, Brand, Promotion)
Closing Date: 2024-11-22

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis and fragility related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery, as defined in UNDP’s Crisis Offer. The Bureau has the responsibility for support to prevention, crisis response, resilience, recovery and peacebuilding work under the auspices of UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025. Crisis Bureau (CB) staff provide global strategic advice to UNDP management and technical advice to Regional Hubs and Country Offices; advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. As part of the Global Policy Network (GPN), the Crisis Bureau works in an integrated manner with UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) ensuring that issues are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Crisis Bureau Communications Specialist, the incumbent will be responsible for enhancing the information flow and visibility of UNDP’s work in crisis contexts on digital communications and social media platforms. Specifically, the incumbent will develop engaging and creative visual assets that can help communicate knowledge and results produced within the Crisis Bureau, and across UNDP Country Offices in crisis contexts, to a variety of target audiences, including other development actors, everyday citizens, governments, and donors.

Key tasks/deliverables include:

Lead Social Media Strategy Design and Delivery
- Develop a social media strategy aligned with the Crisis Bureau communications workplan and UNDP External Engagement Plan that helps increase visibility and understanding of UNDP’s work in crisis among a general audience while also influencing target audiences (donors, other UN agency, development and humanitarian actors, Member States and more).
- Maintain, monitor and engage with selected social media platforms.
- Develop and maintain a Trello calendar of social media content aligned to key moments, themes and issues of priority for the Crisis Bureau.
Lead Content Creation
- Research, edit, write and develop high-impact social media content including copy, graphics, videos and other multimedia formats that effectively informs and engages external audiences and supports campaigns. To be used across all UNDP digital channels (including website, including X, Instagram and LinkedIn) in three languages, including for the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Crisis Bureau Director’s official accounts.
- For key moments and campaigns, develop complete social media kits that can be used across the whole organisation and by partners to increase visibility of UNDP work around these issues.
Measure web and social media performance
- Produce regular analytics report for web and social media, specifically campaigns and monthly and yearly reporting, using different tools. Measure the impact of the social media strategy and adjust activities in order to increase/maximise impact according to evolving trends and technology.
Perform additional responsibilities as required.
- Create infographics, presentations and other communication materials as needed to amplify UNDP’s work aligning with UN International days, UN Global Conferences.
- Facilitate in general editing and fine-tuning think pieces, press releases, blogs and stories.
- Facilitate in uploading and disseminating statements, press releases.
- Use mail chimp to design internal newsletters and policy messages for dissemination to internal/external UNDP audience, as and when required.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Institutional Arrangement

Reporting to the Crisis Bureau Communications Specialist, the incumbent will be an active member of the wider Crisis Bureau communications team, made up of communications focal points in the different Crisis Bureau teams. The Specialist will also participate in regular UNDP Global Policy Network Communications Team meetings.

This is a home based position and the incumbent will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment.

If travel is required, such travel shall be at UNDP’s expense and processed in accordance with UNDP’s travel guidance and policy.

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results:	LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively:	LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously:	LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility:	LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination:	LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner:	LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:	LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Digital and Innovation	Social Media	Knowledge of social media and ability to advise the use of social media for development outcomes.
Business Development	Knowledge Generation	Ability to turn research and policy information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
Business Management	Communication	Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Business Management	Working with evidence and data	Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making
Business Development	UNDP representation	Ability to represent UNDP and productively share UNDP knowledge and activities; advocate for UNDP, its values, mission and work with various constituencies
Business Direction and Strategy	System thinking	Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements	An advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in journalism, communications, digital communications or related field is required, OR A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned areas, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Min. years of relevant work experience	A minimum of five (5) years (with master’s degree) of professional experience producing digital communications content and advocacy material via various media (i.e. print, video, animation, websites, social media), OR A minimum of seven (7) years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional experience producing digital communications content and advocacy material via various media (i.e. print, video, animation, websites, social media).
Required skills	Demonstrated experience of social media friendly video production from conceptualization to publication on digital channels. Proficiency and experience in graphic design, video production/editing and/or animation using software, such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, and the rest of Adobe Creative Suite. Demonstrated experience of graphic production and/or animation, from conceptualization to final product. Experience providing support and guidance on the production and dissemination of communication products, including reports/publications, newsletters, graphics, social media assets, social media friendly videos. Demonstrated ability to translate complex and technical messages into plain language for audience appeal and impact.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section	Familiarity with the UN system in general and/or with UNDP’s mission in particular is an asset. Experience and understanding of international human development, poverty, human rights and other related issues is an asset.
Required Language(s)	Fluency in English is required.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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