NATIONAL COMMUNICATION OFFICER
OVERVIEW
Parent Sector: Education
Duty Station: Islamabad
Type of contract: Service Contract
Level: SC8
Duration of contract: 1 year with a possibility of extension on the satisfactory performance and availability of fund
Recruitment open to: External as well as Internal
Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 31 March 2025
UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism
OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST
As a specialized United Nations agency, UNESCO has been working in Pakistan as a long-term strategic partner in support of achieving Pakistan’s national development plans and priorities in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication. UNESCO’s support to Pakistan is built around the United Nations’ common support framework for Pakistan, and its shared purpose ‘Delivering as One’ to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with the Government’s priorities.
The National Communication Officer, under the authority of the Head of Office of UNESCO Pakistan Office, is responsible to enhance the communication and visibility of the work streams of the office, particularly the Italian-funded Project titled “Radio Education: Promotion of Learning through Radio in Isolated Areas of Pakistan”. This involves developing and refining UNESCO’s communication and outreach strategy, with wider engagement online platforms identification and enhanced stakeholder engagement including but not limited to online platforms. The incumbent will manage the diverse content creation and outreach across its diverse stakeholders (internal and external) and serve as the focal point for providing and implementing the comprehensive strategy in maximizing visibility, awareness, and visually depict impact of various interventions of the Office in Pakistan across the four programming sectors: Education, Science, Culture, and Communication & Information. Additionally, the development of a range of communications materials for online and offline audiences, including but not limited to press releases, news briefs, factsheets, content for UNESCO online platforms, inputs for office website and publications will fall under the functional responsibilities of the National Communication Officer.
Long Description
The National Communication Officer will be responsible for the following functions:
1. Devise/revise UNESCO’s communication and outreach strategy, with wider engagement online platforms identification and enhanced stakeholder engagement including but not limited to online platforms.
2. Draft, implement and monitor annual and monthly communication workplans and budgets. Prepare related reports.
3. Draft the part of project proposals related to communication.
4. Oversee the implementation of the UNESCO’s branding, communication, and visibility work in coordination with programme teams including publications, website, social media strategies/posts, communication campaigns and sectoral programmes visibility.
5. Identify, implement and use related communication tactics, tools and activities, contributing to the achievement of the projects’ objectives and results as well as in the sustainability of the latter. Guide and oversee the creation of the brand (branding) and visual identity of projects and processes; guide and oversee the development of related products.
6. Develop tools/guidelines for the implementation of the communication and outreach strategy.
7. Strengthen the capacity of the office personnel in communication and outreach best practices, including media relations, public speaking, and social media engagement to enhance their skills and confidence, by developing training materials and leading sharing sessions with the office personnel.
8. Identify and maintain contacts, relations and partnerships with media counterparts and key stakeholders, such as digital/social media platforms, creators, and influencers that contribute to the development and implementation of UNESCO interventions on social media.
9. Plan and produce materials for public outreach, the Office's webpage and online platforms, including multimedia assets (i.e., static, and animated graphics, short videos/reels), to publicize UNESCO’s results, campaigns, events, and other activities across all four programming sectors.
10. Increase UNESCO's presence on social media platforms and strengthen UNESCO's brand awareness among target audiences. Promote in-house social media usage, event promotion and engagement.
11. Provide the Office's webpage and online digital media content for critical fundraising moments throughout the year.
12. Develop, review and disseminate regular programme updates to donors, internal and external audiences and media, including drafting success and impact stories, briefs, lines to take, newsletters, factsheets, presentations, and other communications materials.
13. Maintain working liaison with UNESCO Headquarters, regional office, and the Pakistan Office’s programme teams, represent UNESCO in the UN Communications Group and liaise with communication focal points in the UN system and beyond.
14. Support the planning of visibility activities, ensuring adequate visibility at workshops, training, meetings, public events, etc.
15. Support the production of publications including editorial direction, quality control, design, production, and distribution.
16. Undertake any other actions related to communications as requested by the head of office.
COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Advanced university degree in communications, media, journalism, public relations, or other relevant field.
Work Experience
a. Minimum 3 years of professional experience in strategic communications, particularly with projects implemented by national/ international NGOs and donors/ UN organizations.
b. Ability to work with various tools of graphic design, photo-editing software and video editing tools.
c. Proficiency of using photo editing software would be an advantage.
Skills and competencies
- Excellent writing, communication and organization skills.
- Practical skills and competencies in at least one of the following functional areas: graphic and layout design; animation/video production and editing; photography and image-processing.
- Background knowledge on development issues and /or areas related to the UNESCO’s mandate.
- Ability to work with diverse teams to develop joint communication and messaging for different platforms by developing and introducing innovative and creative messages.
- Proficient in software tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro).
- Experience in working across a range of media platforms.
- Good planning skills and ability to meet the established deadlines.
- Experience in photo editing and in the video production process.
- Ability to build and maintain partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with proven ability to maintain effective working relations within a multi-cultural environment.
- Strong digital content creating skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations.
- Strong analytical, writing, reporting and presenting abilities.
Languages: Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and good knowledge of Urdu.
Long Description
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Master's Degree in Social Marketing. An additional qualification in the field of communication resources management, sustainable development, development cooperation, social science, international affairs, would be an advantage.
Work Experience
- As least 3 years of professional experience on communications related to any of the following: communication resources management, sustainable development, development cooperation, social science, international affairs, or related fields.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining content for wider dissemination for online platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Languages
Good knowledge of other local languages.
SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.
The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as an interview.
UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.
Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.
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