Communications Officer

Indonesia has joined the rank of middle-income countries. It is expected that the growing middle-class and their consumption continue to boost the aggregate demand, generating room for employment and wage growth. At the same time, Indonesia has been losing its competitiveness as a low-cost producer in the region. As the production gradually shifts to higher value-adding products and adopts labour-saving technologies, adjustments in the labour market are inevitable. Further, adjustment of labour input occurs frequently in the sectors that face fast changing consumer demand. In this light, mitigating the impact of such structural changes and labour adjustments on workers and facilitating the shift of affected workers from declining to emerging sectors are a top policy priority.

Unfortunately, the existing mechanisms fail to protect workers effectively in cases of job losses. Given a lack of employment insurance, severance pay and withdrawal of old-age saving (JHT) are main income protection against unemployment. However, severance pay is not often provided due to low compliance, especially in cases of insolvencies. Withdrawal of JHT reduces income security in retirement. While public employment services and re-training of workers are expected to help shift workers from one job to another, or from a declining sector to an emerging one, their capacity is rather modest in providing much needed services to jobseekers and incumbent workers whose jobs are at risk. If the unemployed cannot find a new job soon and afford a long period of joblessness, they are pushed into the informal economy. In addition, some of them may risk poverty particularly when their financial buffer against unemployment is thin. Socio-economic welfare of family members of the unemployed is affected including child education and access to health care.

Against this backdrop, the ILO will implement a 2-year project to strengthen the protection against unemployment in Indonesia. The project will provide technical assistance to the government and social partners on employment insurance and broader social protection reform, generate a training package for public employment service staff, and create training programmes on digital skills. The project responds to the request of the government and social partners.

The project team will consist of one half-time international Social Protection technical officer (P3), one National Project Officer on Social Protection (NO-B), one National Project Officer on Active Labour Market Policy (NO-B), one Communication Officer (NO-A) and one administration and financial assistant (GS-5). Technical specialists will backstop the project. The project will receive overall guidance from the Country Director of the ILO Jakarta office.  

The incumbent will work under the supervision of the Employment Specialist of ILO CO Jakarta. He or She will perform under the technical guidance of social protection technical officer and uder general supervision of the Director of the ILO Country Office in Jakarta and in close collaboration with the other Project team members.

1. Develop and implement the project communications and knowledge sharing strategy, in line with ILO communication guidelines and approach, whilst taking into account national priorities and audiences.
2. Design and oversee the preparation of quality written and visual content for project promotional materials, such as flyers, presentations, videos, testimonies, infographics and event summaries.
3. Develop and maintain the project website and social media accounts, in line with ILO standards, policies and guidelines.
4. Engage with the media through, for example, drafting press releases, organisation of press conferences, following-up on journalist enquiries, and tracking media coverage of the project and related ILO programmes.
5. Liaise with the ILO Jakarta Communication Officer, in support of effective national and global communications and knowledge sharing.
6. Ensures proper communication structures are in place and utilised to contribute to the prevention of crisis where possible.
7. Communicate project activities, achievements and their impact to the donor and the public. This includes communication through the ILO web site and official social media accounts, project briefs and reports, and other forms of conveying key messages.
8. Maintain lines of communication and working relations with representatives of the media, NGOs and or other groups to develop an understanding of information required
9. Organize project’s activities, meetings and special events
10. Assists as required in the translation of media release and information regarding the project activities into English and vice versa.
11. Organise seminars, workshops, training and other events with technical supports of national officers, the technical officer, specialists.
12. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the supervisors.

University degree in communication, journalism, data journalism or other relevant fields, or equivalent in experience. Knowledge and skills related to graphic designs and digital communication will constitute an advantage.

At least two to three years of professional experience in a relevant field. Experience in working for/with private enterprises will be an asset.

Excellent written and oral command of English and Bahasa Indonesia.

1. Proven ability to act with integrity and transparency, in conformity with social, ethical and organisational norms, maintaining the neutrality of the ILO;
2. Strong sense of responsibility and commitment to deliver assigned outputs within the prescribed time and authorized budget, meeting the ILO quality standards;
3. Good interpersonal skills with a proven ability to tackle challenges with a range of internal and external partners, to deal with people with tact and diplomacy
4. Demonstrated skills and ability to communicate effectively, including written and oral communication;
5. Proven skills to plan and organize activities paying attention to the details. Demonstrated ability to execute tasks with precision;
6. Ability to build networks, influence and engage stakeholders in project activities;
7. Proven skills to carry out desk research and gather information. Excellent writing skills for PR articles in English.
8. Proven knowledge and skills to (guide to) design visual/audio materials including infographics, videos and other digital products.
9. Ability to work in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate gender-sensitive and non- discriminatory behaviour and attitudes.