By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

Chief of Communication, P-5, New Delhi, India, South Asia Region (SAR), Post Number- 20222

New Delhi

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: New Delhi
  • Grade: Senior level - P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Communication and Public Information
    • Senior Leadership Vacancies
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

The Chief is responsible for leading and managing the CAP Section and establishing the plans of action to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable programme results, according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children.

Across 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world. And we never give up! 

Click here to learn more about UNICEF:   https://youtube/E1xkXZs0cAQ

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job: 

Accountable for developing, managing, coordinating, networking, implementing and monitoring an advocacy and communication strategy and associated products and activities on a regular and on-going basis with public audiences, with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for children’s and women’s rights, and support for UNICEF's mission, priorities and programmes in the country office and at a global level and those of the UN Country Team.

Advice on the articulation of policies and strategies, with an emphasis on those that promote gender equality and equity.  

Key End Results:

  • Communication strategy: The Country Office has a clear communication strategy and associated work plan to get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.  The Country Office has a situation analysis and strategy for the communication components of the country programme that are based on research and analysis of political, economic and social situations in the country and that effectiveness is evaluated, particularly during the annual and medium-term programme reviews.
  • Advocacy: The Country Office has a clear, well-managed advocacy strategy that includes the adaptation and dissemination of advocacy materials from UNICEF to identified target audiences, arranging translation into local language(s) as necessary, and identify the need for additional materials/activities to advocate and promote organizational goals within the country and to target audiences. Media relations: The Country Office has a well-managed country communication team that maintains and continually develops a 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 cooperation to a wider audience. New ways are identified to increase positive exposure and leverage that prominence for new opportunities for UNICEF.
  • Networking and partnerships: The Country Office has well developed partnerships with individuals, groups and organizations whose support is essential to the achievement of advocacy and communication objectives. The Country Office has a well-managed country communication team that maintains and continually develops a contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and fora, whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives of the communication strategy. Network is developed, strengthened and maintained with the UN Country Team, UN communication counterparts and high-level counterparts in key partner organizations. 
  • Celebrities and special events: The Country Office has a well-managed national celebrity relations programme with a well maintained and continually developed contact list of appropriate, nationally-known personalities who have been identified, engaged and support UNICEF’s efforts and who actively participate in special events and activities that support country programme goals. Among these high-profile individuals a handful are identified whose recognition level extends beyond national borders and co-ordinate closely with DOC and the regional office in extending their impact and use beyond national borders.
  • Global priorities and campaigns: The Country Office has an effective process in place for integrating and taking action on UNICEF’s global communications priorities, campaigns and partnerships, disseminating these elements in a locally-appropriate way, as well as providing/enabling coverage of the work in the country for global use.
  • Resource mobilization support: Global and country level fund-raising activities are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities.
  • Management: The human resources (the communication team) and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) for the communication section of the Country Office and are both effectively managed and optimally used.
  • Monitoring and evaluation: Communication baselines are established against which the objectives of the communication strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy, approach and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.
  • Capacity building and support: The Representative and the country programme team are provided with expert advice on all aspects of external relations communication as required Opportunities for development among the country communication team and other colleagues are identified and addressed; opportunities to build communication capacity among media and other relevant partners are identified and addressed.
  • Advisory support and communication for strategic results:  Develops communication approaches and guidelines, including those most effective for gender mainstreaming across all programmes.  

Key Accountabilities and Duties & Tasks: 

Within the delegated authority and the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be accountable for all or assigned areas of the following major duties and end results.

Communication and Advocacy strategy:

Ensure that the Country Office has a clear communication strategy and associated work plan to support the country programme objectives and get children’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.

Duties & Tasks:

  • Develop, maintain and update the country advocacy and communication strategy and associated work plan. Strategy and work plan include an environmental and stakeholder assessment; objectives; target audiences, messages and media mix; resources; specific actions, activities and products; monitoring and evaluation of impact, success and opportunity for improvement; ongoing refinement of the strategy.
  • Draw on extensive strategy development experience and ensure optimum leverage and impact of communication activities on programme, policy and advocacy activities. UNICEF’s rights- and results-based programming approach is appropriately reflected in the communication strategy, work plan and products. Strategy and work plan incorporate and reflect key programme priorities and processes.
  • Ensure adequate and ongoing assessment of trends, social and political change and public interest. Factor these environmental variables back into communication strategy and refining its execution.
  • Maintain close coordination with Regional Communication Advisers and HQ Communication Officers for effective overall collaboration in communication strategy.

Media relations:

Ensure that the Country Office has a well-managed country communication team that maintains and continually develops a 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 cooperation to a wider audience. New ways are identified to increase positive exposure and leverage that prominence for new opportunities for UNICEF.

 Duties & Tasks:

  • Manage a country communication team that effectively executes a proactive and comprehensive media relations work plan encompassing the elements noted below.
  • Promote a better understanding of, respect and support for children's and women's rights and issues by carrying out media, information and education activities in support of UNICEF-assisted development programmes or humanitarian efforts in the country.
  • Develop, maintain and grow partnerships with key media outlets/organizations for local and global use. Seek new ways to increase positive exposure and leverage that prominence for new opportunities for UNICEF.
  • Ensure rapid and accurate information dissemination to the media, National Committees, NGOs, the field and other appropriate audiences.
  • Identify, develop, distribute and evaluate variety of media materials in multiple, appropriate formats. Ensure or enhance the quality, consistency and appropriateness of country specific communication materials, activities, processes and messages transmitted to the press, partners, public and other audiences.
  • Collaborate with mass media through activities such as organizing project site visits, facilitating photo coverage and TV footage and utilizing both web-based and traditional media as appropriate.
  • Maintain close collaboration with Regional Communication Advisers and HQ Communication Officers for effective overall coordination.

Communication, networking and partnerships:

Manage a country communication team to ensure that the Country Office has a well maintained and continually developed contact list of individuals, groups, organizations and for a, whose support is essential to/can assist in achieving the advocacy and communication objectives of the communication strategy. Network is developed, strengthened and maintained with the UN Country Team, UN communication counterparts and high-level counterparts in key partner organizations. 

Duties & Tasks:

  • Manage a country communication team that effectively executes a proactive and comprehensive networking and partnerships strategy encompassing the elements noted below.
  • Develop partnerships with individuals, groups and organizations whose support is essential to the achievement of advocacy and communication objectives, and strengthen their capacity through appropriate advocacy and communication training, access to updated information, supplies and equipment and through experience-sharing.
  • Monitor and evaluate results and effectiveness of working with partners and share results and findings with regional and HQ communication colleagues.
  • UNICEF to be a reliable partner in national programme planning and development, pursuing gender mainstreaming and principles of gender equity.  

Celebrities and special events:

Ensure that the Country Office has a well-managed national celebrity relations programme with a well maintained and continually developed contact list of appropriate, nationally-known personalities who have been identified, engaged and support UNICEF’s efforts and who actively participate in special events and activities that support country programme goals. Among these high-profile individuals a handful are identified whose recognition level extends beyond national borders and co-ordinate closely with DOC and the regional office in extending their impact and use beyond national borders.

Duties & Tasks:

  • Manage a country communication team that effectively develops, maintains and updates celebrities contact list/database.
  • In close co-ordination with DOC’s celebrity relations staff, identify, develop, maintain and grow relationships with personalities with reach beyond national boundaries for local and global use.
  • Establish, document, review and refine process of working with celebrities, including special events, media opportunities, field trips etc.
  • Participate in global advocacy activities by planning visits of Goodwill Ambassadors, National Committee representatives, Executive Board members etc. including preparing information materials (e.g., press releases, programme summaries, country fact sheets and media kits), and necessary logistic arrangements. Apply country communication resources to highlight the achievements of the country programme. Maintain close collaboration with Regional Communication Advisers and HQ Communication Officers for effective overall coordination.

Global priorities and campaigns:

In addition to local/national campaigns, ensure that the Country Office has an effective process in place for integrating and taking action on UNICEF’s global communications priorities and campaigns, both disseminating these elements in a locally-appropriate way, as well as providing/enabling coverage of the work in the country for global use.

Duties & Tasks:

  • Manages the work of the country communication team to include support for UNICEF’s global communications objectives and strategies through development of complementary country specific and local community materials and activities. Work plan should anticipate the inclusion of work on global priorities and campaigns.
  • Use established contacts, networks, resources and processes to support these global elements.
  • Use country office communication capacity to gather/facilitate the gathering of content and coverage of relevant country efforts. Use the opportunity to identify and draw attention to effective relevant programme activities and results.

Resource mobilization support:

Ensure that global and country level fund-raising activities are supported by effective advocacy and communication strategy and activities.

Duties & Tasks:

  • Develop, deploy and mobilize country office communication team capacity to support and gather/facilitate the gathering of content and coverage of relevant country efforts that support national and global resource mobilization efforts. Use the opportunity to identify and draw attention to effective relevant programme activities and results.
  • Assist HQ and the Regional office in identifying and obtaining feature stores and other material to facilitate global/regional advocacy and fund-raising activities, particularly in support of National Committee efforts to mobilize resources.

Management:

Ensure that the human resources (the communication team) and financial resources (budget planning, management and monitoring) for the communication section of the Country Office are both effectively managed and optimally used.

Duties & Tasks:

  • Develop a work plan for communication activities, monitor compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met.
  • Plan and monitor the use of communication budgetary resources. Approve and monitor the overall allocation and disbursement of funds, make sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Take appropriate actions to optimize use of funds.
  • Identify, recruit and supervise communication staff, technical resources and consultants as necessary.

Monitoring and evaluation:

Ensure that communication baselines are established against which the objectives of the communication strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy, approach and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.

Duties & Tasks:

  • Provide technical support to ensure that a set of communication performance indicators is identified and adjusted as necessary. These may have multiple uses in the Annual Management Plan, Annual Work Plan etc.
  • Conduct timely and accurate monitoring and evaluation activities to ensure the communications objectives are met and the strategy is effective.
  • Undertake lessons learned review of successful and unsuccessful communication experiences and share observations/findings with country, regional and HQ colleagues so best practices and insights can benefit UNICEF’s communication work.

Capacity building and support:

Ensure that the Representative and the country programme team are provided with professional expertise and advice on all aspects of communication as required; opportunities for development among the country communication team and other colleagues are identified and addressed; opportunities to build communication capacity among media and other relevant partners are identified and addressed.

Duties & Tasks:

  • Advise UNICEF management, colleagues and staff on media strategy and implications for action and policies proposed. Advise the Representative and the country programme team on the effective us of tools of mass communication, including press briefings and convers and media interviews to achieve country programme objectives.
  • Support communication activities through knowledge management, information exchange and building the capacity of the country communications team. Enable appropriate advocacy and communication training, access to information, supplies and equipment, and developing training and orientation material.
  • Build the Country Office communication capacity to independently produce, transmit and distribute content in multiple media formats – print, photos, audio, video, web etc. – for local and global use, adhering to the quality standards and production guidelines set by DOC.

Advisory support and communication for strategic results:

Implementation of UNICEF programme (regional) plans, ensuring communication on gender and equity issues are mainstreamed across all programmes. 

  • Emergency preparedness and response plans addresses gender issues that may be expected to intensify during emergencies. 

Qualification:

Education:

  • Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations or other related fields of disciplines.
  • (Or an undergraduate degree plus at least 14 years of demonstrated professional experience in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, public relations or corporate communications.)

Work Experience:

  • Advanced degree plus ten years (or undergraduate degree plus 14 years) of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience 
  • International and national work experience in both developed and developing countries.
  • Professional experience in communication, print, broadcast, new media.
  • Background/familiarity with Emergency situations is an asset.

Language Proficiency: 

  • Fluency in English. Fluency in another UN language is an asset.

Competencies and level of proficiency required:  

Core Values: 

  • Care
  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Trust
  • Accountability

Core Competencies:

  • Communication [III]
  • Working with People  [III] 
  • Drive for Results  [III]

Functional Competencies:

  • Leading and Supervising    [III]   
  • Formulating Strategies and Concepts   [III]  
  • Analyzing   [II]             
  • Relating and Networking    [III]                      
  • Persuading and Influencing   [III] 
  • Entrepreneurial Thinking [III]       

 To view our competency framework, please click here.       

Remarks:  

  • Selected applicant will have an initial two (2) year fixed-term contract, with possibility of extension, subject to satisfactory performance.
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
  • UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training etc. UNICEF is a nonsmoking working environment.     
This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: