Communication Specialist, P3, Lebanon Beirut, Fixed Term Appointment

UNICEF Lebanon is looking for a Communications Specialist to develop, coordinate, implement and monitor an emergency communication strategy and associated products and activities to support the advocacy efforts of UNICEF Lebanon country office in favour of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The incumbent will promote awareness, understanding, support and respect for Syrian refugee children’s and women’s and Lebanese host community.

For every child, a champion!

The 2014-2015 Country Programme is designed in the context of the on-going major emergency, precipitated by the increasing influx of Syrians into Lebanon. It reflects the programmatic shifts required to adequately respond to that crisis. This strategy builds and expands on the approach adopted by the LCO since the initial phase of the emergency, which is to address the needs of the most vulnerable groups inclusive of all affected communities, especially important particularly in the context of the global equity agenda. Advocacy and communication of women’s and children’s right being an integral part of the strategy to address the persisting crisis initial emergency, short term and standby staffing arrangements are being reviewed and adjusted.
Accountable for developing, co-ordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring an emergency communication strategy and associated products and activities to support the advocacy efforts of UNICEF Lebanon country office in favour of children in Lebanon. The position aims at promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for Syrian refugee children’s and women’s and Lebanese host community.

How can you make a difference?

1. Emergency Communication strategy:
Ensure a clear emergency communication strategy and associated work plan to support the emergency country programme objectives and get Syrian children’s issues and children of Lebanese host families into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.

• Reinforce support for UNICEF’s work on behalf of Syrian children and children of host families in Lebanon by providing information to key national, regional and international audiences. 
• Position UNICEF LCO as an example of UNICEF’s leadership role in rapid response.
• Maintain high media visibility for UNICEF’s emergency work in reaching the affected populations.
• Maintain close collaboration with MENA Regional Emergency Communication Specialist with the aim of coordinating emergency communication material needed for the national committees.
•  Brief UNICEF programme staff and Representative on major issues to address during media interviews.
• Produce emergency communication materials in English to MENA, NYHQ, GRO and National Committees.
• Work closely with Emergency programme Officers in the Lebanon Country Office  to identify projects and programmes that lend themselves to visibility / coverage.

2. Media relations:
Ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of journalists and media outlets covering all media – print, TV, radio, web etc. – and a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the story of UNICEF's emergency programme.

• Direct media relations – pitching, sending media materials, organizing and facilitating media field visits, facts/figures, human interest story opportunities, b-roll, and photos as needed.

• Act as spokesperson if and when needed. Brief senior staff on messaging, media train and assist with dealing with external media.
• Identify and brief UNICEF programme and emergency staff for media interviews.
• Produce emergency information material in English for distribution to MENA, NYHQ, and National Committees.
• Donor communications:  Ensure key donors/government counterparts are aware of UNICEF interventions.
• Ensure rapid and accurate information dissemination to media, National Committees, NGOs, the field and other appropriate audiences.
• Identify, develop and distribute variety of media materials in multiple, appropriate formats. Ensure or enhance the quality, appropriateness of country specific emergency communication materials, activities and messages transmitted to the press, partners and public.
• Collaborate with mass media through activities such as organizing project site visits, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage, utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate.
• Maintain close collaboration with Regional Emergency Communication specialist for effective overall coordination.

3. Resource mobilization support:
Ensure that global and regional and sub-regional level fundraising activities are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and material

• Facilitate gathering of content and coverage of relevant country emergency efforts. Use the opportunity to identify/highlight effective programme activities and results in support of fund-raising.

• Contribute to production of media packages or fundraising material.

To qualify as a champion you will have…

1.Education:
Advanced university degree in Communication, Social Sciences.
(Or an undergraduate degree plus at least 12 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations or corporate communications.)

2.Work Experience:
Five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media is required.
International and national work experience in a development agency, in particular UNICEF/UN, is considered an asset.
Field work experience and exposure to emergency programmes is required.

Technical competence in producing content for various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc. is required.

Fundraising experience is an asset.

3.Language Proficiency:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

For every child, you demonstrate...

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

The successful candidate for this emergency recruitment MUST be available to commence work within 31 days of receiving an offer.