Strategic Communications & Partnerships Specialist

New York City

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: New York City
Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Communication and Public Information
- External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
Closing Date: Closed

Background

The UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021 embraces the complexity of development and commits the organization to helping countries find faster, more durable solutions to achieve Agenda 2030. In line with this, the organization has begun incubating a number of strategic initiatives aimed at ensuring UNDP is ‘fit for purpose’ to deliver a new generation of solutions in line with the challenges the world faces.

One such key strategic initiatives is the Country Accelerator Lab Network. The initiative is run out of the UNDP’s Executive Office of the Administrator in very close collaboration with the Bureau for Policy and Program Support, Regional Bureaus and Country Offices. The intention is to build the largest and fastest learning global network of Accelerator Labs (initially setting up 60 labs in 60 countries) to apply emerging approaches to development challenges and accelerate progress toward the Agenda 2030. The Labs, embedded within UNDP’s global architecture and country platforms, embody the new organizational offering to transform the collective approach to development. The new offering is premised on leveraging the latest thinking from the fields of complexity science, lead user innovation and collective intelligence toward new development approaches and accelerated learning on most effective and locally appropriate ways of achieving SDGs.

The network will surface and reinforce locally sourced solutions at scale while mobilizing a wide and dynamic partnership of actors contributing knowledge, resources and experience. The initiative is meant to transform our collective approach by introducing new protocols, backed by evidence and practice, which accelerate the testing and dissemination of solutions within and across countries. This will enable the global community to collectively learn from local knowledge and ingenuity at a speed and at a scale that our societies and planet require. This will be achieved by:

Building on locally-sourced solutions, finding things that work and expanding on them;
Rapid testing and iteration to implement what works and go beyond the obvious solutions;
Combining the best understanding, ideas and expertise to generate collective knowledge;
Accelerating progress by bringing expertise, creativity and collective intelligence to bear.

The Strategic Communications and Partnerships Specialist will design and deliver a corporate communication strategy for the Accelerator Lab Initiative. S/he will work under the supervision of the initiative Coordinator and in close collaboration with staff of the Accelerator Lab Network, communications focal points in country offices, Bureaus and Units, and the Communications Unit.

Duties and Responsibilities

Design and deliver partnership and communication strategy

Build a corporate narrative of the role of the initiative within the broader context of the current Strategic Plan, focusing specifically on how it leverages new approaches and methods and support acceleration of progress toward SDGs. The strategy will include, among others, a mission, vision, unique selling proposition of this initiative relative to many others seeking to design structural fixes (e.g. labs) to accelerate progress toward development and policy objectives, relationship with various partners both internally (other UN agencies, development sector) and externally (think tanks, private sector, foundations, etc.), and regionally specific messaging and framing of the initiative in order to respond to very unique needs.

Corporate branding and outreach

Advise on and build the branding content (graphics, logo), design distinct look and profile of the initiative, craft messaging for different channels (social media, video interviews, web material, presentation materials, reports), manage outreach and engagement around external and internal requests. Support country Labs in tailoring the messaging to local and regional contexts,

Partnership development and engagement

Design and continually update brief on emerging partners, their relevance and value for the initiatives, a call to action for collaboration (tailored to specific background of partners) and leveraging their expertise and insights to support the work of the Labs.

Competencies

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

Technical/Functional

Innovation

Ability to manage organizational resources and deployment in pursuit of innovation approaches and initiatives.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in communications, social policy, public policy, politics, economics, development studies or a related area.

Experience:

7 years of experience in strategic communication, partnerships and advocacy.
Experience in designing and running strategic communications for the international development sector, preferably with field expertise in developing country contexts and within the development sector
Proven track record in effective communication strategy design and delivery.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in English. Working knowledge of other UN language highly desirable.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Scam warning

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This vacancy is now closed.
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