Communications Officer

Peace and Security Cluster

The UNOPS Peace and Security Cluster (PSC) is a principal service provider in the field of mine action with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNDP, UNICEF, Governments of mine-affected countries and other mine action partners. The Head of Cluster is responsible to administer, provide support and oversight of the day-to-day management of the Project Field offices, both according to the client requirements and in line with UNOPS rules and regulations. It is headed by the Head of Cluster who has the overall authority and accountability for the performance of the Peace and Security Cluster on behalf of its clients.

Background Information – UNMAS

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) was established in 1997, by the General Assembly, and as per the UN Policy on Mine Action and Effective Coordination (A/53/496, 1998) is the established coordinator of mine action within the United Nations system. UNMAS supports the UN's vision of "a world free of the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development, and where mine survivors are fully integrated into their societies." UNMAS also operates under UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security to ensure gender is mainstreamed throughout mine action activities.

Background Information – UNMAS Iraq

The Communication Officer will report to the Senior Programme Officer and will be responsible for the following assigned duties:

• Organize and cover donors’ field visits and media engagements/events in high risk areas of Iraq.

• Identify potential case studies or best practices that can be utilized by UNMAS Communications team. 

• Collect information from beneficiaries for case studies, support field visits (Mosul, Kirkuk, West Anbar, and Sinjar which are considered high risk areas) for UNMAS Communications team.

• Plan and implement special events (e.g. screening, photo exhibition etc.) in the field. 

• Prepare outreach content including social media publications, digital stories (Shorthand), newsletters, factsheets etc.

• Identify and liaise with local/national media and communications agencies.

• Monitor news/media outlets for stories involving UNMAS, mine action, and/or explosive hazards. 

• Provide timely translations from Arabic to English and vice versa, in line with United Nations standards and of various types of outreach documents including social media content, website, factsheet, newsletters, digital stories etc while on field visits in the high risk areas.

• Provide interpretation into Arabic from English and/or from English into Arabic, during press conferences, UNMAS Iraq events and workshops. 

• Keep track of all communication/media documentation mentioning the UNMAS Iraq programme, specifically in Arabic, and keep electronic filing up to date.

• Actively seek opportunities for visibility and communication initiatives in collaboration with the UNMAS Communications teams and ensure that activities are appropriately branded with UNMAS or donor branding;

• Any other duties as requested and tasked by the Head of Programme Section/ Senior Programme Officer.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply! Persons with no UN experience are encouraged to apply!


Education and Relevant Years of Experience: 

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; or

• First level University degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience.

Experience

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in communications, public relations, media, journalism, or advertising

• Experience in managing communications or digital projects is required.

Language: 

• Fluency in English (reading, writing, speaking) is required 

• Fluency in Arabic (reading, writing, speaking) is required.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement Contract level: LICA-10 (ICS-10)
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance


For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types.

• This is a non family duty station
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply
• This is a local position, therefore only nationals of duty station or applicants with a valid residence permit will be considered
• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.  Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.