Senior External Relations Officer (PN10007524) Ankara

This position is open to applications from Group 1, Group 2 and all external candidates, provided that requirements regarding professional experience, academic qualifications, language, etc. are fulfilled.

Candidates must be primarily Turkish nationals. The minimum educational requirement for this position is a university degree.

Applications must be supported by documentation of fully effective performance history and demonstrated potential to assume professional responsibilities.

Your application will NOT be considered if;
-      The application form is not duly filled.
-      The questionnaire at the end of the application form is not answered. (for external candidates)

Interested staff members should consult Recruitment and Assignment of Locally-recruited Staff (RALS) para 39-40-41. Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior External Relations Officer normally reports to the Representative or Deputy Representative. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for External Relations staff.
External contacts are predominantly with partners, media, government, embassies and other international organizations in the country on matters of importance to the organization.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations.
- Through a consultative process with UNHCR colleagues (Programme, Protection, etc.) with external actors and partners, develop and implement protection and assistance strategy, with clearly articulated objectives, timelines and outputs.
- Implement a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR's operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, the media, academia and persons of concern).
- Articulate all issues pertaining to the needs of the populations of concern and the strategies in place to respond to their needs.
- Ensure that the UNHCR priorities are given adequate weight in the documentation of the UN Country Team.
- Maintain a close dialogue with and provide accurate information to donors by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and donor missions. Prepare reports as appropriate.
- In accordance with the operational context and in close cooperation with headquarters, access new and non-traditional funding sources, as appropriate, including private sector and humanitarian pooled/basket funds (e.g. Central Emergency Response Fund, Human Security Fund).
- Through a consultative process with headquarters, disseminate information on UNHCR's global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for persons of concern in the country operation.
- Participate in inter-agency cooperation and communication strategies, initiatives and tools.
- Support senior management in representing UNHCR in the UN Country Team and other UN coordination fora.
- Support, and participate in, local UN integrated missions, Inter-Agency Standing Committee, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Cluster communication strategies and initiatives.
- Manage the information flow within the country operations by identifying priority matters, securing, analyzing and disseminating documentation and information to support country operations and corporate communication processes and priorities.
- Consolidate information on UNHCR's country operations and identify appropriate messages for campaigns and appeals.
- Coordinate the drafting of, and/or draft, situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.
- Develop targeted communications strategies and media packages for situations and/or activities that require focused attention.
- Identify and target major events and initiatives (e.g. commercial, cultural, political and sports) to promote the work of UNHCR.
- Manage media relations by, inter alia, responding to direct queries, publishing press releases and organizing regular briefings and visits to country operations.
- Approve fund-raising messages.
- Approve any relevant expenditure for the implementation of fund-raising activities.
- Decide which donors to approach and which operations or activities to prioritize for special fundraising appeals.
- Approve the communications strategy.
- Approve budgets and expenditures for communications activities.
- Clear external relations/communication products and tools.
- Represent UNHCR fund-raising and communication priorities in inter-agency initiatives and fora.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience - Years of Experience / Degree Level
-  9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
- Political Sciences;
- Social Sciences;
- International Relations;
- Journalism or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience

Essential
- Experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment.
- Excellent knowledge of local institution, politics and culture.

Desirable
- Good knowledge of UNHCR operations both at Headquarters and in the Field.
- Fund-raising and programming/programme management experience.
- Experience of working with social media.

Functional Skills
MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
IT-Web Content Management
IT-Computer Literacy
MS-Translation
ER-Communications/media/digital/social media communicat. monitoring/analysis/presentation
ER-Inter-Agency External Relations
ER-Inter-Agency Leadership/Coordination


Language Requirements
-  Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).


REMUNERATION

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. The monthly net salary is between TRY 26,300 and TRY 33,635 depending on relevant experience, dependency status and language proficiency. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations.
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== Operational Context

I. Nature of the Position

The position of Senior External Relations Officer of UNHCR Turkey is located in the Executive Office, working directly with the Representative, in charge of supporting and coordinating liaison and official communication with government counterparts, in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Government of Turkey takes the lead in the refugee response, based on a  legal framework and policies to include refugees in national services, and is actively engaged in humanitarian matters related to refugees and migration globally.  UNHCR is coordinating the support to the refugee response, co-leading the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), maintaining an operational footprint in order to support the response in areas where it has a specific expertise.

UNHCR strategic protection engagement in Turkey include the following areas:
-  Promoting access to and support the provision of protection
-  Strengthening protection and access to quality services for refugees with specific needs
-  Promoting social cohesion and harmonization
-  Working toward durable solutions.
-  Enhancing partnership and communication.

This strategy of UNHCR requires close and regular (at times daily) inter-action with government counterparts at the central level, provincial and local levels, including in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This inter-action in regard to the refugee response in Turkey is increasingly also coupled with Turkey's engagement in the context of the Global Compact on Refugees, and as the country hosting the largest number of refugees, at international level and within UNHCR's governing body.  The interaction is based, inter alia, on the Host Country Agreement concluded between Turkey and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, as well as Turkey's engagement as a Member State of the Executive Committee of the Programme of UNHCR (ExCom).


II. Interaction with Persons of Concern or External Stakeholders

The position of Senior External Relations Officer requires regular, often daily, interaction, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in particular, as well as other governmental institutions in Turkey. The incumbent is expected to display excellent communication skills, including with official communication in writing, be familiar with protocol matters and understand government structures and processes in Turkey. Regular interaction is also required within UNHCR as well as within the UN family (with the RCO and UN sister agencies) on matters of common concern.


III. Reporting and Managerial Expectations

The position of Senior External Relations Officer is part of UNHCR Turkey's Executive Office, reporting directly to the Representative. Within the Executive Office, the incumbent of the position supervises a Senior External Relations Associate and a Reporting Officer, and works closely with the Senior Executive Support Assistant. The incumbent is reviewing and clearing all official written communication, including Note Verbales, letters, LoUs and protocols with government counterparts, and coordinates with all functional teams and field teams of UNHCR Turkey senior level missions, meetings and events involving government counterparts as well as related briefing notes, talking points and SMC updates. The position also works closely with the RCO and supports the Executive Office in matters related to inter-agency coordination and the UN Country Team.


IV. Additional Languages, Skills and Qualifications

Given that the position of Senior External Relations Officer is based in the Executive Office of UNHCR Turkey with a focus on government relations, functional skills related to media, digital and social media are not relevant. Instead, the incumbent needs to have an excellent understanding of government structures and procedures and the political landscape in Turkey, a very good knowledge of diplomatic and State protocol, and an excellent command of written Turkish and English for the purposes of official communication with government counterparts in Ministries, Parliament and with the diplomatic community. The closing date of the Job opening is 25 September 2020.