Communications Officer (Private Sector Engagement)

Job Description

Introduction

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

IOM is committed to ensuring a workplace where all employees can thrive professionally, while working towards harnessing the full potential of migration. Read more about IOM's workplace culture at IOM workplace culture | International Organization for Migration.

Internal and external candidates will be considered for this vacancy. 

For the purposes of this vacancy, internal candidates are defined as staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded or ungraded contract, including Junior Professional Officers (JPOs), UN Volunteers with at least twelve (12) months of continuous service in IOM, staff on Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP), and staff members on secondment/loan released by the Organization, unless otherwise specified in their contract. Staff members holding a regular, fixed-term or short-term graded contract will not retain their contract type if appointed to an ungraded position.
 

Context

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Editorial and direct supervision of the Communications Officer (Thematic), and technical supervision of the Head of the Strategic Support Unit, Private Sector Partnerships' Division(PSP), the Communications Officer (Private Sector Engagement) is accountable and responsible for supporting the design and implementation of effective communication strategies and activities to promote IOM’s private sector fundraising efforts, namely for corporates and foundations, as well as the Goodwill Ambassador Programme (GWA) and celebrity engagement, ensuring visibility and facilitating information flow among stakeholders.

The Department of Media and Communications (DMC) at IOM is dedicated to managing and promoting global communications efforts across IOM Headquarters in Geneva and regional offices worldwide. The DMC provides essential media relations support, manages IOM’s global social media presence, curates content, drives branding, and leads global awareness campaigns. As the communications team grows and evolves, there is a need to further develop the creation of compelling and engaging content that captures the work and impact of IOM.

The PSP builds partnerships with the private sector that enable IOM's strategic priorities and engage the private sector as a key stakeholder in migration through impactful and innovative partnerships. PSP leads strategic outreach and engagement with the private sector and provides Headquarters, Regional and Country Offices with assistance and expertise relating to initiating, establishing and maintaining partnerships with the private sector. PSP is responsible for the development and implementation of IOM’s Private Sector Strategy which provides a framework for how IOM engages with the private sector to support safe, orderly and regular migration. PSP oversees engagement with the private sector, establishes and coordinates IOM’s private sector partnerships due diligence process, builds staff capacity in private sector partnership-building and oversees the Goodwill Ambassador programme and celebrity engagement programme.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1. Develop and implement, communications plans for private sector partnerships and Goodwill Ambassador initiatives, ensuring visibility, coherence, and alignment with IOM’s global communications strategies, priorities, and messaging in close collaboration with PSP.

2. Draft, edit, and coordinate high-quality communication materials related to private sector and GWA engagement, including press releases, op-eds, videos, articles, social media content, and partner-facing materials, in close collaboration with DMC editorial, digital, and multimedia teams, and with technical inputs from PSP.

3. Serve as a communications focal point within DMC for private sector engagement and Goodwill Ambassador projects, working closely with PSP to understand objectives, timelines, and audiences, and translating these into clear, consistent, and impactful communications outputs.

4. Ensure consistent application of IOM branding, tone, and messaging across all communication products related to private sector partnerships and GWA activities, in line with DMC guidelines, editorial standards, and clearance processes.

5. Coordinate media coverage and communications support for private sector and GWA-related events, campaigns, field visits, and public engagements, liaising as needed with HQ units, Regional Offices, Country Offices, and external partners.

6. Research, identify, and pitch relevant media outlets to highlight key stories and initiatives, and help to curate key visibility and media moments for major donors, Goodwill Ambassadors and celebrities. Monitor, document, and maintain records of communications activities related to private sector partnerships and GWA projects, including media coverage, digital content, and public-facing outputs, and contribute to reporting on visibility and engagement in coordination with DMC.

7. Support monitoring and evaluation of communications efforts linked to private sector engagement, providing inputs to assess reach, effectiveness, and alignment with broader DMC and organizational objectives.

8. Analyse, compile, and retrieve reports and analytics on the impact of private sector partnerships and Goodwill Ambassador engagements, including qualitative and quantitative results, to support visibility, reporting, and strategic decision-making.

9. Conduct regular social media monitoring to identify new or emerging profiles relevant to private sector engagement and Goodwill Ambassador outreach, supporting audience mapping, risk awareness, and engagement opportunities.

10. Monitor social media GWA and PSP pages to amplify IOM’s work and impact through including News, Storytellers, and other multimedia outputs, to see if stories should be amplified by IOM.

11. Use the global accounts to reach celebrities and influencers on behalf of GWA and PSP.

12. Perform such other tasks as may be assigned.
    
     

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field with five years of relevant professional experience; or,

• University degree in the above fields with seven years of relevant professional experience.

Accredited Universities are those listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database.

Experience

• Proven experience in private sector engagement, corporate communications, or donor relations, particularly in international or non-profit organizations;

• Experience in content creation, including writing and editing for digital media, website content, and social media platforms;

• Proven experience in strategic communications and donor engagement strategies;

• Experience with social media handles and monitoring; and,

• Experience working with private sector stakeholders, businesses, or philanthropies in supporting humanitarian or development initiatives is an advantage.
   

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft messages for diverse audiences;

• Have a good knowledge of private sector engagement strategies and fundraising communications;

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality work under pressure; and,

• Proficiency in content management systems (CMS), multimedia editing tools, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Languages

IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.

Required

For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written).

Desirable

Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.

Competencies

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.

VALUES - All IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
• Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

CORE COMPETENCIES - Behavioural indicators – Level 2

• Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
• Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

Notes

Internationally recruited professional staff are required to be mobile. Please refer to this link for guidance on IOM Job Category.

Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.

Vacancies close at 23:59 local time Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.

IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.

IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.

IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies.
 

Required Skills

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