Communications Senior Officer

UNOPS Myanmar is one of UNOPS’ leading offices in Asia, acting as fund manager for three of the largest development programmes in the country, namely the Access to Health Fund, the Livelihood and Food Security Fund (LIFT) and the Joint Peace Fund (JPF). In addition, UNOPS is Principal Recipient for the Global Fund in Myanmar and for the Global Fund’s regional artemisinin-resistance initiative towards elimination of Malaria, which works to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination in the greater Mekong sub-region. UNOPS provides procurement, infrastructure and project management services to a wide range of organisations in the country, including the Government of Myanmar, international development partners, other UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs. UNOPS plays a critical role in ensuring that the quality of services provided to its partners meets stringent requirements of speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness.

In partnership with the Government of Myanmar and other partners, the Access to Health Fund strengthens the national health system at all levels, extending access for poor and vulnerable populations to quality health services. The Access to Health Fund has a particular focus on improving health equity in Myanmar, with emphasis on the hardest-to-reach and most vulnerable populations, many in conflict-affected areas. Focus areas of the Fund include maternal, newborn and child health, combating HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and health system strengthening to deliver sustainable, efficient and responsive healthcare across Myanmar. The Fund is aligned to the Ministry of Health and Sports priorities and National Health Plan, which is aimed towards universal health coverage by 2030.

The Takeda Project aims to sustainably improve the health and well-being of people in Shan by working on three pillars: infrastructure and equipment (assets), people, and health systems strengthening.

The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.

The Communications and Media Officer is responsible for implementing the Takeda Project Communications Plan under the guidance of the Manager, Fund Directors’ Office and Communications Unit. Primary responsibilities will be in communications, media relations, and event management.

Functions will consist of the following:
1. Refine and implement the Takeda Project Communications Plan, which has four pillars:

• CAPACITY BUILDING and DEMAND-GENERATION: Improved health knowledge and increased utilization of services for community members in 6 townships in Eastern Shan State through strengthening the communications capacity of local health actors, including ethnic and community-based health organizations and youth leaders
• VISIBILITY: Promoting donor visibility in the project coverage area, in Myanmar, and globally as relevant
• TRANSPARENCY: Modelling transparency and accountability for project activities, via reporting, social media and website
• LEARNING: Capture and share lessons from innovative project activities to shape broader developments in Myanmar’s health system 

4. Monitoring and Progress Controls

The Manager, Fund Directors Office and Communications, Access to Health Fund will monitor the performance of the incumbents in line with his/her assignment. 

• Master’s degree in communication, media studies, journalism, international relations, public/media relations, public relations, event management, English or any other related field is required.
• A Bachelor's Degree in combination with 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s Degree.

Work Experience    

• Two years of experience in communications, event management, advocacy/government relations, digital media, journalism/press, public health, public/media relations, marketing, international relations, writing/editing (including grant/proposal writing), research or any other related fields is required.
• Experience working with Myanmar and international media is highly preferable.
• Experience working in advertising, public relations, social behavior change communications would be an asset.
• Experience in developing strategy and plans for communications and helping in the organisation events (and associated materials) is highly preferable.
• Previous working experience in a similar position with media organisations, UN, NGO or private organisations would be an asset.
• Previous experience with health would be an asset.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills in English and Myanmar, with an understanding of drafting press statements and web articles is required     .
• Excellent skills in translation from English to Myanmar and Myanmar to English is required.

Language

• Fluency in both written and spoken English and Myanmar Language is a strong requirement.      

Contract type - Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA) Contract level-  LICA 9
Contract duration - Open-ended(subject to satisfactory performance and fund availability)

THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION. ONLY MYANMAR NATIONALS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL BE REJECTED.


For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.  Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

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 recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

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