Re-advertisement - UN Women: UN Women: Chief of Communications and Advocacy

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

In this role as the global voice and advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women, UN Women must deliver to an ambitious agenda as a centre of excellence on knowledge, partnerships, advocacy and social mobilization, as well as a convener, thought leader and champion of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

UN Women will take a lead role in helping to drive commitment and action on gender equality, women’s rights and women’s empowerment as the imperative of our time. Such leadership is especially urgent at a time when Member States and all stakeholders have committed to accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 20 years after its adoption, in the context of the fact that no country has fully achieved gender equality and the empowerment of women, and the intention of realizing that goal by 2030.  It is also urgent at a time when Member States are committed to adopting a transformative post-2015 development agenda with gender equality and the empowerment of women as a stand-alone goal and with gender-specific targets integrated across the entire agenda. 

The Communications & Advocacy Section is responsible for proactively advancing the strategic positioning of UN Women and its mandate in this context through effective outreach. Since the inception of UN Women, communications and advocacy demand and output have grown exponentially.  The Chief of Communications and Advocacy is the driver of those, and oversees a fast-growing portfolio with increasing responsibility and a global audience counting hundreds of millions.

UN-Women has for instance increasingly and with measurable success and impact used campaigns to drive awareness and engagement on gender equality issues; these are conceptualized and spearheaded by the Section Chief and implemented by a diverse team of professionals. A case in point is the campaign leading up to the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action. This campaign demonstrates the central role that communications plays in driving UN Women’s advocacy.  Titled “Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture It!”, the campaign kicked off in May 2014 and helped reignite debate around gender equality and women’s empowerment, engaging Governments, the UN system and the wider public and reaching more than 360 million people.

Under the general direction and guidance of the Director, Strategic Partnerships Division, D-2 (primary) and Deputy Executive Director, Intergovernmental Support and Strategic Partnerships Bureau (ASG) (matrix manager). The Chief of Communications & Advocacy works under the supervision of the Director, Strategic Partnerships Division and heads a team of currently 15 staff. In addition, the Chief of Communications & Advocacy guides and coordinates the work of over 150 UN Women communications officers and focal points around the world on global campaigns and initiatives and provides guidance through corporate communications policies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead UN Women on Strategic Positioning, Branding and Messaging:

• Lead development and implementation of a global positioning, branding and communications & advocacy strategy in line with UN Women’s Strategic Plan to position UN Women and its mandate to global audiences, outlining the brand, messages, audience, and communication channels to reach the intended audiences, and ensure that UN Women’s message is consistently communicated;
• Conduct stakeholder analysis and device tactics and channels that convey the key messaging in ways that position UN Women as intended and strengthen brand recognition as well as value
• Guide and oversee application of UN Women’s brand and message. Ensure messaging and branding is uniformly applied across the organization, its programmes and activities; Lead the provision of branding and communications policies and guidelines to direct activities activities and ensure organization-wide coherence and consistency;
• Provide strategic communications advice to UN Women senior management, including key messaging, crisis management communication and expert advice as well as coaching on high-level media engagement to drive key issues on the organization’s agenda; provides advice and guidance on crisis communications;
• Develop global campaigns and messaging to advance UN Women global advocacy priorities and fundraising goals. Ensure that campaign strategies and messages are audience appropriate to enhance UN Women reach and visibility among all stakeholders.
• Develop strategic partnerships with private sector, incl. media, and civil society to enhance public awareness on women’s empowerment and gender equality issues and position UN Women and its mandate; to that end, seeks opportunities for marketing, advocacy and editorial collaboration;
• Coordinate the direct engagement of UN Women Goodwill Ambassadors to amplify UN Women’s cause in the context of campaigns and events; plan and prepare public events and ensure that messaging is in line with the organization’s strategic priorities and advocacy;
• Develop and maintain partnerships within the UN system for joint communications and collaboration around overarching issues on the international agenda; ensures that women’s empowerment and gender equality issues are positioned in this context and UN Women is well positioned;
• Monitor and report on the success of strategies implemented including through stakeholder feedback and surveys. Course correct as needed.

Lead the communications & advocacy team and guides and supervises all communications initiatives:

• Develop UN Women’s public campaign framework and annual plan in consultation with all Divisions. Integrate fundraising tactics as appropriate
• Guide the development and implementation of event-specific, integrated communications strategies to advance UN Women’s advocacy and position the organization, such as for intergovernmental meetings, international conferences, launches of UN Women flagship reports; International Women’s Day etc in line with corporate positioning, branding and communications and advocacy strategy.;
• Direct and coordinate relationships with the media at the global level. Develop and nurture media networks, to educate and sensitize journalists to UN Women’s mandate and work; provide support and facilitate coordination of UN Women’s global communication network;
• Develop and lead implementation of the digital strategy that furthers UN Women’s positioning, branding and communication as well as advocacy objectives. Oversee the expansion and strategic direction of UN Women’s digital presence through web sites and social media channels;
• Guide the development of audio-visual and print products to inform about UN Women’s work and enhance the organization’s visibility;
• Provide advice and oversight to HQ Sections and Field Offices on communications initiatives to ensure effective coordination and consistent messaging and outreach;
• Develop and manage the global communications budget and network of communications and advocacy focal points. Ensure that the organization adequately provides for communications and advocacy activities by devising cost sharing, fund pooling, cost recovery or other methods.

Provide substantive lead and guidance for UN Women’s work on gender and media:      

• Develop sustainable media partnerships for multi-year support and visibility of UN Women;s work in mainstream media
• Develop advocacy opportunities, in collaboration with partners in media, UN system and civil society to advance women’s representation in media;   
• Identify research initiatives in collaboration with partners to enhance availability of data and knowledge on gender and media;
• Advise UN Women offices on their work on gender and media.

Manage the Unit:

• Exercise oversight of the Communication and Section to ensure the delivery of quality results according to UN-Women’s standards and goals established in the Section;
• Manage the performance off staff and ensure compliance to the performance management process; Promote teamwork and establish a working environment that is conducive to delivering results;
• Manage financial resources and take responsibility for the integrity of financial systems and consistent application of the internal control framework and/or UN Women/UN rules and regulations;
• Identify and integrate efficiency gains and cost reductions in all operations;
• Build staff capacity through planned training, learning programs, mentoring and coaching;
• Support strategic evaluations and that learning from evaluations;
• Oversee security requirements for team.

Key Performance Indicators:

The Chief of Communications & Advocacy is a key function in positioning UN Women and its mandate to external audiences. The incumbent is a major driver of the organization’s global advocacy on women’s empowerment, women’s rights. As such, the post is critical in advancing the international gender equality agenda.

Key performance indicators include:

• Implementation of UN Women strategy on Communication and Advocacy on time, on scope on budget;
• implementation of event-specific, integrated communications strategies to advance UN Women’s advocacy and position the organization on time, on scope and on budget;
• Development of partnerships and initiatives and outcomes as a result of partnerships with private sector, incl. media, and civil society;
• Performance of staff;
• Implementation of the “no programme without security, no security without resources” strategy in all activities. 

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity;
• Integrity;
• Professionalism.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

Functional Competencies:

• Proven knowledge and expertise in leading strategic communications at the international level;
• Proven ability to conceptualize and implement communications & advocacy strategies and campaigns;
• Excellent knowledge of news media and media relations; digital media and other communications channels and proven ability to apply these for effective outreach;
• Proven ability to develop partnerships for communications & advocacy;
• Outstanding written and oral communications and editing skills; proven ability to position issues effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Demonstrated experience and skill in effectively managing teams and creating an enabling working environment; 
• Familiarity with UN Women and the UN system;
• Strong knowledge of gender issues.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in one or more of the following disciplines: communications, international development, social studies, and other related fields.
• First level degree with additional years of qualifying experiences may be accepted in lieu of the Master degree.

Experience:

• At least 15 years of management experience in global strategic communications, preferably with an international organization;  
• Experience in leading strategic communications at the international level;
• Management experience.

Languages:

• Written and oral proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN working language is an asset.

Application:

• All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.