Communications Specialist

New Delhi

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: New Delhi
Grade: Mid level - NO-C, National Professional Officer - Locally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Poverty Reduction
- Communication and Public Information
- Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Closing Date: Closed

Background

UNDP India is seeking a motivated and experienced individual who has strong experience of leading large-scale communication initiatives for international organization.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of Resident, Representative, the Communications Specialist implements the corporate communications strategy, designs, manages and facilitates the implementation of the Country Office communications and publication strategies with a view to influence the development agenda, to promote public and media outreach, to increase the brand visibility and awareness of UNDP and to mobilize political and financial support for UNDP.

The Communications Specialist will work on diverse development challenges, including addressing basic   development needs, supporting institutional transformation to enable sustainable development, and enabling rapid recovery from shocks and crisis. As part of the UNDP team, the focus will be to work with multiple stakeholders towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and to ensure no one is left behind - and reach those furthest behind first.

The Communications Specialist supervises and leads the communications staff of the country office and has a strong regular working relationship with the Regional Communications Adviser. The Communications Specialist also works in close collaboration with the Programme and Operations teams, staff of other UN Agencies, UNDP’s regional communications staff and in Headquarters, Government officials, international and local media, subject matter experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP communication strategy implementation. The Communications Specialist is also expected to promote a client-oriented approach in UNDP.

S/he will manage the communication of Resident Representative’s office and will lead any repositioning exercises, if required. The incumbent should be experienced enough to respond to crisis situations and manage and advise on any potential reputational risks.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.Planning and design of internal and external strategies for communications and outreach and provides substantive support to UNDP India in designing and monitoring the UNDP communication strategy, in support to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

•Designing and implementing strategic communication and advocacy to support the 2030 Agenda and to enhance outreach and engagements to strengthen programme communications both at the national as well as the state levels.

•Planning and executing communications need assessments for India CO (projects, country programme and corporate change initiatives, etc.) and ensuring that the findings are reflected in campaign and public advocacy strategies.

•Ensuring strategic implementation of the CO’s External and Internal Communications Action Plans, in line with the global and corporate strategic priorities.

•Providing guidance and advice on inclusion of communications in programme and projects designs and strategies.

•Identifying and assessing potential issues, concerns and risks related to communications and advocacy, and suggesting corrective actions to the Senior Management and Team Leaders.

•Ensuring regular media monitoring and analyzes, especially in the thematic areas related to the UNDP’s mandates and programmes in the country, as well as other issues relevant to the UNDP brand and positioning;

•Supporting the RR and Senior Management to highlight and promote thought leadership and managing reputational risks and crises around core issues.

•Ensuring that communication performance indicators are identified, incorporated, monitored and reported against, in line with the global and regional communications results matrix.

2.Elaboration and implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan

•Ensuring implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan based on the corporate publications policy.

•Building capacities of staff for better understanding of publication policies and guidelines so that all communication products align to the global UNDP branding and publication protocols.

•Identifying and development of select impact stories for publications and reports contributing to debates on key development issues.

•Coordination and management of all CO publication activities, including content management, norms for publishing, design, liaison with printers and other suppliers to oversee production and supervision of publications dissemination.

3.Planning and facilitating digital communication including UNDP website, social media, intranet, CO web-based knowledge management system

•Developing digital media strategy to enhance external and internal communications, audience engagements and outreach through UNDP India website, social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.), Intranet and on-line collaboration platforms, etc.

•Supervising and preparing content for the web sites and social media platforms to ensure high-quality content creation and strategic dissemination.

•Exploring applicability of new and emerging tools and techniques on digital communications and advocacy activities to reach a wider, younger and newer audience groups to expand UNDP’s networks.

•Monitoring and evaluating campaign and digital media engagements to improve strategies and enhance audience engagements.

4.Support business development focusing on achievement of the following results:

Events and campaigns

•Planning and implementing strategic campaigns and outreach to position UNDP as a though leader within the development space.

•Promoting public information campaigns and key messages on SDGs and UNDP priorities and results.

•Promoting and disseminating corporate advocacy materials to promote UNDP’s flagship initiatives and publication, in collaboration with relevant partners and media.

Outreach

•Ensuring strategic and increased media engagements to promote UNDP’s work in the country through media interviews, op-eds, feature articles, media partnerships, in collaboration with partners, Government and donors.

•Planning and hosting roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews, launch events, on priority thematic areas to promote public and media discourses.

•Forging of a “one UN” image through publicizing the significance of local UN reform efforts, joint programmes, common services.

•Initiating, collaborating and implementing of joint UN campaigns (UN Day, International Women’s Day, International Environment Day, World AIDS Day, etc.) with other UN agencies.

•Providing support to preparation of donor reports, especially with regard to communications results and commitments.

Public information

•Creating a regular dissemination plan to communicate on UNDP’s priority issues to create greater awareness.

•Ensuring timely and effective responses to inquiries for public information materials

5.Effective management of the Communication Office and supervision of the Communications team

•Ensuring close and timely supervision of all Communications staff for high-quality delivery, in line with the global and regional communications priorities.

•Building capacities of all Communications staff on reporting, media engagements, branding, social media engagements for constant upskilling.

•Ensure effective and smooth functioning of the communications including procurement and finance

6.Facilitation of knowledge building and management

•Identifying and synthesizing good practices, impact stories and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities for promoting them on UNDP’s regional and global channels.

•Monitoring theme-based and project-specific news and development in order to ensure guidance to the office that reflects the best and most current available information.

•Providing advice and support to UNDP inputs to CCA, UNSDCF, CPD and other documents.

•Providing sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories and inter-UN agency networks.

Competencies

Core:

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication:

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Technical/Functional:

Advocacy