Communication Specialist - Advocacy (P3), PG - Health (MNCAH) at UNICEF

For every child, health for all

• The Communications Specialist will be responsible for UNICEF’s DH&IS external communication and advocacy work.
• In coordination with the PG Health Partnership and Communication leads, the incumbent will be responsible for implementing and continuously updating the DH&IS’s communications and advocacy strategy. This includes increasing visibility and strategic positioning of UNICEF’s digital health and information system priorities and contributions within the global health discourse, ensuring UNICEF’s work is well documented and amplified to internal and external stakeholders, and supporting the transition of the DICE partnership out of COVID19 response activities. A wide range of communication assets and materials will be produced to support public advocacy and awareness raising and distributed via various communication platforms including traditional and social media.

How can you make a difference?

Communications and Advocacy

• Implement the PG Health DH&IS communications and advocacy strategy, supports UNICEF’s strategic goals and elevates the efforts of UNICEF and its key partners, including donors, to a wider audience.
• Support integration of DH&IS priorities and outputs within PG Health’s communications and advocacy strategy
• Engage with external partners, including WHO, GAVI, Global Fund, USAID and the World Bank, to align communications and advocacy strategies, and position UNICEF priorities within their communications efforts.
• Provide overall design support to create standardized templates for DH&IS presentations. Review and compile existing content, and create generic decks based on priorities identified at HQ and Regional Level.

Content Creation

• Oversee the production of compelling high-quality policy advocacy and communications materials based on complex themes for print and digital platforms.
• Support UNICEF Regional and Country Teams, including building capacity and awareness of UNICEF’s Approach to Digital Health, to produce relevant content, including original audio, video, written and visual content.
• Support the production of advocacy and communications content by UNICEF partners; quality assure all content to maintain strong visual and editorial identity, and reputation.
• Operationalize a comprehensive media strategy including in the preparation of news articles, press releases, media pitches, and op-eds etc.

Risk Management

• Provide risk and strategic guidance to the DH&IS team on potential issues that may emerge, especially those that may pose a reputational risk

Communications Channels and Social Media Sites

• Manage DH&IS internal / external websites and social media channels, coordinating regular updates of content.
• Track outreach benchmarks and KPIs to measure content effectiveness and optimize digital communications content, campaigns, community features and function.
• Oversee the monitoring and analysis of social media and web content metrics and use this for course correction to ensure effective communication strategies, planning and advocacy.

Events

• Lead the planning, set up and promotion of digital and in person events organised by DH&IS
• Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
• Develop compelling value propositions and proposals for DH&IS
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key media partners.
• Identify and cultivate key influencers within and external to UNICEF to strengthen DH&IS’s outreach and visibility

Internal Communications

• Support preparation and provide quality assurance, to UNICEF internal reports, presentations, concept notes, investment cases, proposals and donor reports.
• Oversee production of DH&IS Annual Report

Management

• Develop a work plan for communication activities, monitor compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met.
• Plan and monitor the use of communication budgetary resources. Approve and monitor the overall allocation and disbursement and liquidation of funds. Take appropriate actions to optimize use of funds.
• Identify, recruit and supervise staff, technical resources and consultants as necessary. Conduct and implement effective performance planning, monitoring, performance development programme as required.
• Ensure communication effectiveness, efficiency, and delivery as well as a rigorous and transparent approach to planning, monitoring and evaluation.

 To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master or higher) in communications, international development, public health, international affairs, or other relevant discipline or in the field of international development is required.
• A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in professional work experience at the national and international levels in strategic communications, managing digital advocacy and communications, developing campaigns and strategic plans, developing and managing partnerships in international development is required.
• Editorial experience overseeing and managing the production of written and visual/audio content in a relevant field, including digital social media.
• Experience as a strategist, planner and content creator with a proven track record of developing creative ideas and campaigns, including a focus on profile-raising.
• Extensive experience with digital platforms, including organizing and managing and developing online blogs, consultations, outreach, and social media, including Drupal, Wordpress and other content management systems.
• Experience working in UNICEF Programme Countries. Multi-regional experience preferred.
• Experience developing Communications materials for Public Health, including Digital Health, Health Information Systems, and / or Health Systems Strengthening.
• Experience with the UN, including UNICEF.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, French or Spanish) is an asset.