Communications Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Communicable Diseases, Environment andHealth (CDE) assists country efforts to reduce the burden ofcommunicable diseases and addresses the social, economic and environmentaldeterminants of health, and promotes policies and actions for health throughstewardship of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. It focuses on healthpromotion measures, behavioural insights; communicable diseases such astuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and vector-borne and neglected tropicaldiseases; elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases and advocacyfor increased use of vaccines; containing and controlling antimicrobialresistance; addressing existing and emerging environmental health risks andsupporting violence and injury prevention. A determination to ensure universalaccess to people-centred quality health services across the continuum of careis matched by enriching the evidence base for policy design and interventionsusing social, cultural and behavioural approaches, to drive implementation ofinnovation at national, regional and local levels”.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The purpose of thisposition is to produce accurate, time-sensitive and engaging news and contenton WHO/EURO's work in the area of communicable diseases, environment andhealth, and behavioural and cultural insights in the European region formultiple communications channels and platforms. The aim of this work is toenhance the visibility and impact of the technical programmes and activitiescarried out by WHO/EURO both at the national and regional levels.Key duties: Strategy and cross-organizational planningAdvocate for communicablediseases, environmental health and behavioural and cultural insights featuringheavily in WHO/EURO's communications and suggest new approaches on how tocommunicate these topics. Stay abreast of the division'swork and advise on and prioritize which elements and work lend themselves toexternal communication. Act as a focal point for thecorporate communications team and the EDD on all issues under CDE that have anexternal communications aspect. Contribute to productionschedules and annual and regular planning of the corporate communications team.Shoulder responsibility andmanage CH communication projects and products, working together with relevantunits and experts, throughout the entire production, publication anddissemination cycle.News and content developmentSourcing, developing andwriting relevant, accurate, time-sensitive and engaging news and other contentfrom across the CDE Division for WHO/Europe communications channels andplatforms. Ensure that all content is reviewed and edited, with the aim ofmaking complex topics easily understood by the general public.Researching multiple internaland external sources for possible news products/subjects, taking account ofWHO's regional and global health goals and priorities; Maintain an overview of theunit's events and publications that are newsworthy, ensure the corporatecommunications team is timely informed and involved when needed throughcareful, methodical planning and project management. Act as focal point between theunit's director/technical officers and the corporate communications team whendeveloping or drafting content for external use. Support with writing andediting technical talking points from the division, before media interviews. Support with drafting speechesor presentations of the divisional director and other colleagues as relevant,including providing input for speeches and other material for the RegionalDirector on issues under the CDE Division. Social media content productionDeveloping new social mediacontent, including graphics/visuals; in close coordination with the WHO/EURO socialmedia officer/team;Adapting relevant existingcommunications products to social media platforms; Producing social mediatoolkits for strategic campaigns/activities/events and disseminating amongpartners and Country Offices; Providing content and strategicguidance to CDE technical programmes on the use of WHO/EURO's social mediaaccounts and regularly liaising with WHO/EURO corporate communications team,ensuring alignment of all messages with WHO/EURO corporate communication goalsand practices.Analytics and reportingDeveloping criteria andbenchmarks for social media analytics and producing regular social mediaanalytics reports in collaboration with the WHO/EURO corporate communicationsteam; Providing recommendations forimprovement and lessons learned to CDE technical programmes with the aim ofenhancing the impact of CDE division's communications.Targeted events supportSupport CDE units with relevant communicationwork at key events of the organization involving the CDE Division such asministerial conferences, high-level meetings and other key visibility events,by leading the production of: social media material, pitches to the media,multimedia content and news/human impact stories.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (bachelor's level) incommunications, journalism, media or other related field.
Desirable: Advanced university degree (Master's level) in the above-mentioned areas.

Experience

Essential: At least two years of experience in communications in an internationalsetting. Writing/journalistic experience.
Desirable: Relevant experience in the area of communicationswith WHO or other international organizations with focus on public health.Experience coordinating multilingual communicationactivities and campaigns. Experience within WHO or the United Nations indelivering communications trainings.

Skills

Excellent writing and editingskills. Demonstrated knowledge ofcommunication key concepts, strategies and methods. Proficient knowledge of socialmedia platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.Knowledge of the work of WHOand the UN. Desirable: demonstratedknowledge of basic graphic design and editing. Demonstrated knowledge ofmultimedia production, in particular video and photography production. Ability to work in afast-paced environment.Ability to identify and manageone's own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Knowing and managing yourself
Producing results

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French,Russian,Germa.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 50,377 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 3304 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

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• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

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• For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.

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