Communications Senior Officer

The Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG) provides policy, standards guidance and support in three UNOPS service lines of Project Management, Infrastructure and Financial Management Services (Grant Support and Fund Management). IPMG leads the design and implementation of a project, programme and portfolio management (P3M) system centered around the needs of UNOPS partners, beneficiaries and frontline personnel. IPMG also drives UNOPS efforts to leverage sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructure and maximize local capacity through grant support management to achieve sustainable development. Through thought leadership, we aim to position UNOPS with its partners, foster innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development, and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes speeding up the implementation of urgent infrastructure and scaling up infrastructure service delivery, particularly in relation to climate action and energy. Our delivery approach to project management, infrastructure and grant support management prioritizes development needs, empowers institutions and communities, builds partners’ capacity, champions gender equality and social inclusion and reduces environmental impact. IPMG translates policy into practice by providing strategic direction, standards and oversight, while facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity-building for UNOPS teams globally.

As part of IPMG’s ambition to communicate in an impactful way to its stakeholders, it seeks to replenish its pool of qualified communications retainers, who provide communications support on an on-demand basis.

** IMPORTANT INFORMATION **

Retainer positions are not full-time positions. They constitute a contract whereby the Retainer may be requested to provide a specific output/deliverable within a specified period of time, on short notice. When holding a retainer contract, individuals may receive ad hoc requests from IPMG and occasionally from other UNOPS project teams or business units. The quantity of requests will vary depending on the current needs. UNOPS shall have no obligation to obtain any minimum quantity of services from the Individual Contractor during the duration of the retainer ICA. It is possible to have multiple consultancy contracts with or outside UNOPS, as long as it is declared to the UNOPS Ethics Office. Read more about the ICA retainer modality here. 

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The functions/responsibilities/key results of this job description are generic and may not always be applicable, nor be comprehensive, for all missions under this job title. The specific tasks and deliverables for each retainer assignment may vary and will be detailed in the terms of reference developed for each assignment. Under this contract type, the assignments will vary in scope and duration - ranging from short-term assignments of a few hours at a time to longer blocks of time (e.g. several days or up to a week). Work may also vary with regards to the time zone/location. Whilst most assignments can be delivered working from home, some may require presence in HQ. Whilst the successful incumbent can be based in different time-zones, they should be able and willing to ensure a degree of time overlap with the teams ordering the retainer’s services. 

All retainer assignments will be handled via the UNOPS online retainer management tool, including the request for the retainer’s services and the provision of feedback for each assignment.

All retainers will be invited to participate in a one-hour induction session (or two 30-minute sessions) where they are guided through UNOPS retainer assignment management tool, the retainer contract modality and their expertise area in the UNOPS context.

While the contract modality for this Vacancy Announcement is an ICA retainer contract on project or assignment basis, UNOPS may offer on a need basis a full-time employment for a specified consecutive period of time (up to one year maximum) - with the possibility to go back and forth between the two contract modalities, pending acceptance of the incumbent of the assignments proposed to him/her.

The candidates shall confirm that they have no actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest that may prevent them from entering into an individual contractor agreement with UNOPS, or that may in any way jeopardize their performance in carrying out their obligations under the agreement. This includes a situation where the applicant intends to maintain in parallel to the retainer opportunity another activity besides the retainer opportunity that s/he applies to which could result in an actual or perceived conflict with the interests of the UN.

It is the responsibility of the selected candidate to make arrangements, to a standard deemed acceptable by UNOPS, for a secure internet connection, laptop and/or equipment necessary for work.

Please attach a cover letter highlighting the experience, knowledge and qualifications relevant for the position.

The Communication Senior Officers (retainer) are communication professionals primarily responsible for supporting technical teams and subject matter experts in transforming specialized knowledge and complex information into accessible, engaging and effective messages and communications solutions. They will collaborate with IPMG and technical teams to analyze communications needs, define product communications plans, recommend suitable communication formats and channels and develop high-quality communications materials aligned with effective communications principles and organizational priorities

1. Communications planning

• Under the guidance of the IPMG Communications Coordinator:
• Formulate product-level communications plans aligned with broader IPMG and UNOPS organizational objectives and the IPMG Communications Strategy.
• Analyze target audience needs and recommend the most effective channels, formats and messaging modalities. Stakeholder mapping.
• Provide support in developing technical specifications for communication-related tenders or Call-Off Orders.
• Collaborate with technical teams and subject matter experts (SMEs) to position complex project management, infrastructure, procurement and grant management topics to external and internal stakeholders.

2. Content creation and revision and knowledge management

• Under the guidance of the IPMG Technical Editor:
• Translate complex and/or technical policies, methodologies, guidance and standards into clear, engaging and accessible communications materials for non-technical and executive audiences.
• Develop and revise audience-specific communications materials, including speeches, intranet articles, community of practice posts, digital campaigns, newsletters, learning materials and presentations, ensuring accessibility, clarity, tone consistency and adherence to UNOPS guidelines.
• Capture and synthesize knowledge assets, facilitating knowledge-sharing mechanisms across global operational units.

3. Visual design and multimedia production

• Under the guidance of the IPMG Visual Designer:
• Design engaging visual communications products, including infographics, fact sheets, policy briefs, flyers, interactive presentations, event banners, short- and long-form videos, podcasts and other multimedia materials.
• Ensure universal accessibility and brand compliance across all visual and digital deliverables in line with international best practice and UNOPS branding.

4. Quality assurance, analytics & continuous improvement

• Conduct rigorous quality assurance reviews on draft communications products prior to release or dissemination, providing recommendations for enhancement and alignment with UNOPS writing and branding guidelines.
• Support the collection of user feedback, pilot testing and engagement evaluations to measure the reach and impact of strategic communications assets.
• Contribute to establishing best practices and standardized templates to continuously optimize team workflows and improve future communications deliverables.
• Document and share key lessons learned during each assignment to elevate the quality of IPMG/PG communications globally.

Master’s degree in communications, translation, journalism, graphic design, social sciences or a related field is required. 

OR

A bachelor's degree in a relevant field combined with an additional two (2) years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a master's degree.

Required

• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in a communications-focused role is required.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud applications is required.
• Experience with professional writing is required.

Desired

• Knowledge of Google Suite is desired.
• Experience working within international organizations, development organizations or the United Nations system is desired.
• Experience supporting technical subject areas such as project management, infrastructure, procurement, engineering, diversity, equity and inclusion or related disciplines is desired.
• Experience working with content management systems is desired.
• Experience with online communications and social media is an asset.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.