Advocacy and Public Affairs Officer (P-2) At United Nations University

United Nations University (UNU)

UNU is an international community of scholars engaged in policy-oriented research, capacity development and dissemination of knowledge in furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.

For the past four decades, UNU has been a go-to think tank for impartial research on human survival, conflict prevention, sustainable development, and welfare. With more than 400 researchers in 12 countries, UNU’s work spans the 17 Sustainable Development Goals’ full breadth, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU maintains more than 200 collaborations with UN agencies and leading universities and research institutions across the globe.

United Nations University for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES):

UNU-FLORES is one of 13 research and training Institutes that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-FLORES develops strategies to resolve pressing issues in the sustainable use and integrated management of environmental resources such as water, soil, waste, energy, and other geo-resources that are of concern to the United Nations and its Member States – particularly in developing and emerging economies. Based in Dresden, Germany, the Institute engages in research, capacity development, postgraduate teaching, advanced training, and knowledge dissemination to advance the Resource Nexus. For more information, please visit https://flores.unu.edu/

Responsibilities

Under the overall authority and direct supervision of the Director of UNU-FLORES, the incumbent shall be responsible for the following duties:

1. Strategic Planning: Leads the design, development, and implementation of advocacy strategies in collaboration with the Director, Research leaders, and UNU Office of Communications;

• Develops, implements, and continuously updates the Institute’s advocacy strategy in line with the Implementation Plan;
• Conducts liaison and coordination activities with the UNU network and the Partnerships and Liaison Officer to define the UNU-FLORES strategy to support the Institute in attracting partners both traditional and non-traditional, including governmental, private sector, and public sector;
• Leads the strategic communications initiatives for UNU-FLORES, ensuring the Institute’s message is communicated locally and globally;
• Manages the Institute’s advocacy and communications (A&C) team, including daily operations, setting strategic priorities, and manages team planning and work allocation;

2. Advocacy and Public Affairs: Support the implantation of scientific advocacy strategies, including keeping abreast of the latest trends and policy/political developments related to the assignment and provides inputs and advice to staff

• Prepares and oversees the preparation of briefing papers, discussion points, speeches, statements, op-eds, presentations, and press releases as required on UNU-FLORES activities in English (and associated German translation) and manages the effective distribution;
• Oversees communications products to ensure consistency of the UNU-FLORES brand and provides editorial and copyediting support as required;
• Plans, leads, and manages public engagement with the UNU-FLORES mission and work, including facilitating dialogues with partners to improve public engagement and participatory approaches to increase understanding of the Resource Nexus, including building close relationships with the media;
• Oversees the execution of the Dresden Nexus Conference (DNC) Communications Plan;

3. Brand Management: Plans and facilitates substantive support for publishing and branding management; provides advice on digital communications, expanding engagement, and capacity development

• Plans and facilitates substantive support for publications and branding management and advises on digital communications and expanding public engagement;
• Engages in the planning and implementation of advocacy and communication strategies and provides guidance to the Institute’s staff to increase visibility, including providing communication trainings;
• Produce in-house and commission multimedia products, including videos, photography and design;
• Ensures consistent branding across all UNU-FLORES outputs and materials (including social media), approving all communications and advocacy strategies;
• Collaborate with academic programmes to develop new concepts for transformative communication;
• · Strengthens the UNU-FLORES brand via events, media and public relations opportunities targeted to diverse partners;

4. Knowledge Sharing: Promotes knowledge management, builds, and designs communications and advocacy channels to capture lessons learned from outreach activities, and promotes a network of development activities

• Conducts educational outreach activities, including organising public-speaking opportunities at local educational institutions with support from the Event Coordinator and scientific staff;
• Develops expertise and maintains database of the knowledge sources and resources across the UNU System for retrieving data and references, graphics, infographics, and photos;
• Conceptualises, research and advise on the latest trends, best practices and benchmarks in social media outreach with a focus on digital storytelling and provides recommendations for suitable tools, formats and innovative approaches;
• Identifies, manages, and directs strategic UNU-FLORES initiatives including the DNC and UN Day;

5. Manage the UNU-FLORES social media outreach, enhancing engagement across all platforms and increasing the visibility and prominence of UNU-FLORES within the scientific community

• Leads the development, implementation, and execution of innovative social media campaigns and content to increase the visibility of UNU-FLORES, as well as its projects and programmes;
• Oversees and manages all UNU-FLORES social media accounts and increases engagement by analysing data and identifying the interaction trends of users through the utilization of social media management and evaluation tools;
• Guides UNU-FLORES staff on their professional social media profile, strategy, and implementation;

6. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Key Performance Indicators

• Personnel within the unit meet their objectives and produce quality knowledge products
• Timely and quality development and implementation of the outreach, advocacy and impact strategies of the Institute
• Timely and quality delivery on building the UNU-FLORES brand and increasing engagement with the Institute’s work
• Quality and level of engagement with senior scientists to promote their research

Competencies

Values:

• Inclusion – Take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity.
• Integrity – Act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour or any other breach of UN standards.
• Humility – Demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others.
• Humanity – Act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet.

Behaviours:

• Connect and Collaborate – Build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN
• Analyse and Plan – Seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action
• Deliver Results with Positive Impact – Hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves
• Learn and Develop – Pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others
• Adapt and Innovate – Demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

• A master’s degree in mass communication, media, journalism, international relations, environmental sciences, or other relevant social sciences with at least four (4) years of post-graduate-MS, relevant, and progressively responsible experience in journalism, communications, advocacy and/or public affairs in an international setting or a PhD degree with at least two (2) years of qualifying experience is required; more than five (5) years of experience would be highly advantageous;
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing advocacy strategies for projects and programmes is mandatory;
• Must have excellent written English and editing skills;
• At least two years of experience managing a professional social media presence at a senior level in an international setting is required;
• Experience working within environmental policy, sustainable development, and/or climate change pertaining to advocacy is mandatory;
• Familiarity and experience within the UN(U) system would be highly advantageous;
• Experience implementing global social media campaigns is mandatory;
• Experience in drafting complex reports, communications, and presentations is required;
• Knowledge and experience with social media management and evaluation tools, CMS, Microsoft Office and working knowledge of and experience using Photoshop, Premiere Pro and AfterEffects is required;
• Excellent knowledge and experience in handling web-based management systems;
• Experience in advocacy related explicitly to scientific content, protocol, and high-level communications with governments, the scientific community, and donor agencies would be highly advantageous
• Experience with innovative advocacy tools as well as video and audio editing tools ;
• Graphic design skills and experience would be highly beneficial;
• Familiarity with the consistent application of the UN style guide is desirable.
• Strong planning, organisation, and time management skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and efficiently;
• Must be flexible with the ability to establish priorities and work within prescribed timeframes;
• An excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills, as demonstrated by the ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• Fluency in English is required, and Fluency in German is highly desirable; Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Remuneration

UNU offers an attractive, tax-exempt compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), 30 days of annual leave, dependency benefits, a pension plan and a health insurance scheme. For more information, please see: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=SAL

Duration of contract

This is a full-time, fixed-term appointment. The initial appointment will be for one (1) year with the possibility of renewal on a fixed-term appointment basis, subject to satisfactory work performance.

For academic positions, the combined duration of fixed-term appointments with UNU may not exceed six (6) years. The mandatory age of retirement for United Nations staff is 65 years.

Starting date

As soon as possible

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview, background checks, and references.

Special Notice

Staff members of the United Nations University are international civil servants subject to the Rector’s authority. They may be assigned to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations University. The Rector reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level below that advertised.

UNU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply and become part of the organisation. Applications from developing countries, and from women are strongly encouraged. Eligible internal applicants are also encouraged to apply.

UNU has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNU, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.

Information about UNU rosters

UNU reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNU at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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