Communications Specialist

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.

UNOPS, through ECR AUMCO (Austria Multi Country Office), is partnering with the Government of Albania and the European Union, as well as with the UN system, to facilitate the post-earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction of a large number of key cultural heritage sites, museums, and cultural hubs and to promote tourism and economic development of the sites. 

On 26 November 2019, Albania was hit by its most deadly earthquake in a century. The earthquake measured 6.4 on the Richter scale and caused significant casualties and property damage, resulting in 51 deaths, over 1000 injured, and nearly 14,000 people displaced. To measure and assess the economic damage, a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) was conducted, estimating the total economic losses at nearly EUR 1Billion.  

The PDNA documented the destruction of public and private infrastructure. Of particular concern was the destruction of cultural heritage monuments and property, as 53 cultural heritage properties were significantly damaged by the earthquake. This project seeks to remediate the effect of the earthquake on Albania’s cultural heritage through the rehabilitation of monuments, as well as contribute to Albania’s socio-economic recovery through the construction and upgrade of these sites. It will be important also to support improvements in the capacity of institutions responsible for the management of these cultural monuments and sites to better accommodate tourism. A final outcome of the project is the effective communication of project results to the wider public and developing and implementing an advocacy platform resulting in better recognition of the important role of culture in the social and economic well-being of Albanian citizens.

Under the direct supervision of the Country Manager and in liaison with the Cultural Heritage expert and team members, the Communications Specialist will carry out the following duties, in full compliance with UNOPS rules, regulations and policies to support the Albania Office within UNOPS key focus and service areas:

Communication and Visibility Strategy and Plan

●       Coordinate the Communications team and the personnel assigned to guarantee the successful implementation, update and monitoring of the Project Communication Strategy and Visibility guidelines, maximising the impact of outreach activities to multiple audiences

●       Responsible for ensuring effective planning and management of communication, visibility and outreach activities, upholding high communication standards, processes and content creation

●       Collect inputs from and coordinate with the different office units and with other implementing partners, the EC and the Government of Albania, guaranteeing prompt circulation of updated information and ensuring the production of consolidated reports, presentations and other written documents for internal and external use

●       Lead coordination of activities of the project related to design, photography, high profile and visibility events and engagements, visits, meetings, printouts, and other materials (Newsletters, flyers, brochures, corporate PowerPoint presentations, speeches etc.). 

●       Manage key communication platforms and publications (website, social media, reports, etc.) including posting of messages communicating events and results and responding to comments. 

●       Deliver audience focused communication tools and materials which captures the project approach and priorities 

●       Coordinate project planning for all communication projects – from conception, content creation, review, design, publication, dissemination to evaluation of impact – involving relevant team members,  and develop high impact content, including talking points, speeches and creative communications content  

●       Ensure all Communication materials are up to date, relevant and tailored to the relevant stakeholder groups. This involves revamping and upholding the project communication guidelines, including email templates, logo usage, letterheads, business cards - ensuring consistent use. It also includes the management of the inventory of printed materials, ensuring regular stock of documentations needed for meetings and missions.

●       Coordinate the management of events from design, planning, implementation and follow up, including logistics aspects.

●       Monitor and evaluate communication performance and monitor views and perceptions of the various target audiences of  UNOPS. This includes monitoring social media sites and the press to assess attitudes towards UNOPS, general urban trends and to make recommendations concerning the organisation’s positioning. 

●       Mainstream gender equality and women’s empowerment strategically as well as in all activities related to communication, advocacy and branding.

●       Engage proactively with communication representatives of UN agencies and the communications group in UNOPS.

●       Support the Country Manager to develop a set of communication services that can strengthen communication within the partnerships of the office.

Advocacy activities

●       Elaborate and coordinate implementation of an advocacy plan, focusing on the achievement of the project goal and objectives, in line with UNOPS' global strategic goals, the EU Framework on Cultural Heritage and other relevant EU policies in the field

●       Line manage the team to ensure timely, relevant and quality communication to all relevant stakeholders; and the execution of effective advocacy during key governance and strategic outreach opportunities.

●       Undertake proactive outreach with key media outlets and work to strengthen the awareness on Cultural Heritage as means of local development through print, online and social media.

●       Promote the EU values and contribute to better understanding and participation in EU Projects at different levels in Albania including national, regional and local authorities as well as citizens and private sector. 

●       Support stakeholder management through active outreach to partners and relevant stakeholders

●       Responsible for the design, monitoring, and evaluation of communication material and activities to raise awareness, while ensuring full compliance with both UNOPS guidelines and the donor’s visibility requirements, identifying specific and measurable goals, opportunities and tools for promotion of each result area, as well as target audiences and clear messages. 

Branding the Donor, Project & UNOPS 

●       Establishment of an annual communications work plan and dissemination plan for UNOPS’s materials ensuring effective identification and outreach to targeted audiences at the global and country levels, as well as in line with donor requirements;

●       Provide accurate and timely information on the EU assistance activities and benefits delivered as part of the Project to all key stakeholders and the end beneficiaries

●       Provide support to UNOPS programmes to boost their visibility and awareness including identification of key stories, content and results;

●       Support the membership and partnership development functions of the team with the conceptualisation of fundraising and marketing materials to raise awareness of UNOPS and its work, and with a view to reaching new audiences and potential donors;

●       Compile specialized media coverage press packages for projects as deemed necessary; arrange media briefings and respond effectively to inquiries to media as well as for public information materials.

Reporting/Knowledge Management:

●       Produce and keep up-to-date communication materials and a photo library with project photos.

●       Contribute to communication outputs to share information about Albania Office projects and results achieved, in liaison with relevant project and communication teams. 

●       Suggest/write stories and topics from the work of the Albania Office and its partners for publication in local and other appropriate media. 

●       Share publications, information and knowledge with colleagues, clients and partners.

●       Prepare communication materials as required for events, mission travel and/or discussion with partners.

●       Participate in relevant UN Working Groups or coordination mechanisms and provide necessary UNOPS inputs, including for UN INFO in selected priority countries. 

●       Prepare draft monthly reports to the Regional Office. 

Education

●       Advanced university degree is required.

●       Bachelor’s degree with additional two (2) years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.     

Work Experience

●       Five (5) years of work experience in communications, advocacy, branding and/or other experience closely relevant to the responsibilities of the position is required.

●       UNOPS/UN experience is desired.

Language

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Contract type: International ICA Contract level: IICA-2/LICA-10/ICSC-10
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• 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
• 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 (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• 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.