The Position:
The Communications Specialist (Team Lead) position is located in the Office of Chief, in the UNFPA Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU). The position reports directly to the Chief of SCMU with a dotted reporting line to the Division of Communications and Strategic Partnership. The Communications Specialist (Team Lead) will work closely with other SCMU colleagues, other HQ Business Units, the Regional Offices and the Country Offices and with a number of external partners.
The position plays a pivotal role in providing comprehensive support for communications planning, substantive expertise, and guidance to support the implementation of the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2021-2025 and the UNFPA SCMU Strategic Plan 2023-2025.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA occupies a unique position in the sexual and reproductive health commodity ecosystem as a critical player in supply chain management, a leading public procurer of sexual and reproductive health commodities, a trusted partner to national governments, and one of the few organizations with the scale and partnerships necessary to build accountability for last mile delivery.
The UNFPA Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU) is self-funded and was made operational in January 2022. It is tasked with ensuring that UNFPA is able to effectively and efficiently support the delivery of life-saving reproductive health products and other programme supplies to the end user when and where they are needed. To achieve this, it is important to strengthen the capacity of governments and implementing partners to ensure coordination, end-to-end visibility and accountability on all supply chain and logistics management related activities, in particular for programme supplies, across all UNFPA programmes.
Job Purpose:
The Communications Specialist (Team Lead) plays a vital role in communicating the vision, mission, and impact of UNFPA SCMU globally to key stakeholders, often holding the final pen on much of what is produced externally. The position requires a hands-on, output-oriented approach involving multiple stakeholders and reports directly to the Chief, SCMU. The Communications Specialist (Team Lead) ensures efficient and timely delivery of results in line with the SCMU work plan and ensures that UNFPA’s branding and public messaging about its mandate is consistent with the global communications strategy. In addition, the position collaborates to deliver communications support to partners, and other UNFPA Business Units. The Communications Specialist (Team Lead) will provide oversight and management of a dedicated Communication Team.
You would be responsible for:
You will be responsible to support the Chief of SCMU with:
A. Development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the SCMU communications that highlight the work of UNFPA including:
- Meaningful communications including Donor Relations
- Meaningful communications to governments to advocate for use of domestic resources
- Planning, budgeting, and reporting
- Collaborative Communications with partners, other UNFPA Business Unit and UN City
- Internal Communications including intranet management (UNFPA-wide)
- Internal Communications (SCMU-wide)
- External Communications including website management.
- Content Creation
- Social Media & Digital Communications
- Graphic and Visual Content Creation
- Employer branding
- Communications support to internal SCMU and to Regional Offices and Country Offices
B. Capacity Strengthening
- Implementing UNFPA's capacity-strengthening initiatives.
- Advocate for the training of supply chain professionals
- Coach and mentor UNFPA personnel to strengthen their capacity to provide informed technical guidance in the supply chain management function.
C. Thought Leadership, Knowledge Sharing and Advisory
- Champion UNFPA's supply chain thought leadership through actively engaging with industry experts, participating in relevant forums, contributing to research and publications, and representing UNFPA's expertise in various supply chain management discussions and initiatives.
- Support an environment for knowledge retention and sharing and the creation of a community of practice for supply chain.
- Provide counsel and support on the full range of supply chain management issues, incorporating best practices and continuous improvement across UNFPA.
D. Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
- Contribute to the development of UNFPA’s value proposition and relationships with donors and partners.
- Support SCMU’s collaboration with the Division of Communications and Strategic Partnership to diversify funding opportunities.
- Support SCMU’s oversight of resource mobilisation proposals for quality assurance purposes
E. Collaboration and Representation
- Establish effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders within UNFPA to ensure coordinated and effective tailored solutions for each area of intervention.
- Support relationships with key supply chain partners with the purpose of increasing the efficiency of UNFPA’s supply chain function.
- Represent SCMU and UNFPA in meetings related to supply chain management functions.
F. Team Management (if applicable)
- Create a conducive working environment aligned with UNFPA's 2030 People Strategy.
- Lead and supervise team
- Support all team members with a collegial approach towards achieving a common goal.
G. Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Chief, SCMU.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Advanced university degree is required. An advanced degree in Studies in Communication, Journalism, Digital Marketing, International Relations, International Development, or other related fields is an added advantage. Specialist training on management is an additional asset.
Knowledge and Experience:
- A minimum of five (5) years of relevant progressively responsible experience in Communication and/or multimedia or similar work experience with government, UN or NGOs on issues related to public health or related areas including:
- Demonstrated experience in communications, marketing, website management and strategy and social media.
- Strong advocacy and networking skills with the ability to liaise with and engage government, UN agencies, CSOs, media and other stakeholders in a professional and friendly manner.
- Strong communication skills and proven experience with the use of social media and other channels for effective advocacy, knowledge sharing and campaigning.
- Effective at consensus-building and communicating cross-functionally with external and internal audiences.
- Broad knowledge of best communication practices; experience in crafting plans, work flows and institutional positions;
- Substantive knowledge on, understanding of, and practical experience in communication and advocacy strategies.
- Professional written and spoken presentation skills, including for the development of reports, presentations, and the ability to synthesize complex supply chain documents for both technical and non-technical audiences is required.
- Strong interpersonal skills and capability to develop and maintain broad diversified partnerships is required.
- Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is required.
- Experience in managing a team, particularly within a remote and/or matrix organizational structure is an asset.
- Basic knowledge of the principles and operational aspects of integrated reproductive health care in the global development and humanitarian community, familiarity with UNFPA programmes and policies, knowledge of international development policies and institutions and international politics is an advantage.
- Knowledge of UNFPA mandates, policies, and guidelines is an asset.
Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
Required Competencies:
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
Embracing cultural diversity,
Embracing change
Core Competencies:
Achieving results,
Being accountable,
Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
Thinking analytically and strategically,
Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
Functional Competencies:
- Establish effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders within UNFPA
- Advocacy skills with the ability to liaise with and engage government, UN agencies, CSOs, media and other stakeholders
- Champion UNFPA's supply chain thought leadership
- Support an environment for knowledge retention and sharing and the creation of a community of practice for supply chain.
Managerial Competencies :
- Providing strategic vision and focus,
- Engaging internal/external partners and stakeholders,
- Leading, developing and empowering people, creating a culture of performance
- Making decisions and exercising judgement
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
How to apply
Kindly apply to the position via the below link: