Communication and External Relations Advisor (INTERNAL VACANCY)

This role is open to SUN Movement Secretariat (SMS) and Pooled Fund team members ONLY

Since 2010, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement has inspired a new way of working collaboratively to end malnutrition, in all its forms. With the governments of SUN Countries in the lead, it unites people—from civil society, the United Nations, donors, businesses and researchers—in a collective effort to improve nutrition. The SUN Strategy 2021–2025 (SUN 3.0) prioritises country leadership and focuses on supporting systemic change at the country level. It seeks to capture the ambition of SUN countries and guide the work of all actors at all levels aligning concerted action behind and responding to commonly agreed national priorities set out by governments in SUN countries. 

SUN 3.0 is committed to fundamental, non-negotiable aspects of effective nutrition action, including equity and the principle of leaving no one behind. For its third phase, the SUN Movement will drive forward gender equality and enshrine youth leadership across the Movement.  SUN 3.0 will strengthen partnerships to achieve greater impact on nutrition through food systems, health systems, social protection systems, actions by the private sector and humanitarian and development actors, and through education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and climate change adaptation.

The SUN Movement Secretariat plays a central role in enabling the multiple members and structures of the Movement to work together to advance progress on country-level priorities and the global positioning of nutrition.  

The SUN Movement Secretariat comprises approximately 35 personnel, based in Geneva and in various regions globally.  All parts of the Movement – member governments, the four SUN networks (Civil Society, United Nations, Business, Donors), the SUN Movement Coordinator and the SUN Movement Secretariat work together to align and focus efforts on priorities within countries.

The SUN Movement Secretariat is hosted by UNOPS.

Role of the Communication and External Relations Advisor

The Communication and External Relations Advisor reports to the SUN Movement Coordinator, UN Assistant Secretary General, who is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day implementation of the SUN Movement Strategy and Roadmap, leads the SUN Movement Global support System and represents the SUN Movement globally.

The role is part of a small global strategic advisory team, to support coordination, representation, advocacy, and liaison tasks with SUN Movement members and stakeholders, and engagement with the Lead Group members. 

The purpose of the Communication and External Relations Advisor role is to lead the Movement’s external relations and communication work, identifying opportunities to intervene with critical institutional partners and leaders to influence decision making. The role is responsible for ensuring the strategic communication activities of the Coordinator, providing messaging and responses for strategic communication inputs and responses, as required, and providing other communication advisory services.

The role includes a matrix management responsibility for Communication and Advocacy roles across the SUN Movement Secretariat, including those geographically dispersed in regions. This will ensure that the Communication and External Relations Advisor links critically with Communication and Advocacy staff members who support SUN Countries directly, ensuring a flow of information from  and to Countries to the Coordinator, and global SUN Members and partners.

• Lead the development and implementation of SUN Movement communication and external relations strategy.  

• Drive SUN Movement brand awareness and perceived value with partners, funders, beneficiaries and within the development community at large.

• Act as the custodian of SUN Movement brand and branded materials; ensuring consistent narrative, adherence to global standards and consistency across Networks.  

• Direct the curation of online communication content and increase audience engagement on social media channels.

• Lead the dissemination internally of messaging and guidance around the Coordinator’s priorities and activities.

• Ensure coherence across the communication activities, including with communications colleagues in Geneva and across the regions, through matrix management structure. 

• Lead communication aspects of SMS planned events including the SUN Movement Global Gathering.

• Ensure key messages on important and sensitive issues are communicated across the organisation to ensure coherence and unity. 

• Lead messaging and response in crisis communications as required.

• Advanced University Degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, International Development or other relevant discipline is required.
• A bachelor's degree with a combination of two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted  in lieu of the master's degree.

• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in the  Communication function of an international organisation or international corporation is required. 
• Expertise in external/public relations, stakeholder management, working in a complex stakeholder environment is required.
• Experience in preparing key messages, speeches, talking points and delivering them to a targeted audience is required.
• Editorial experience in shaping narratives and building compelling multimedia content for targeted audiences is required.
• Demonstrated capacity to establish and foster good relations with high level partners, e.g. government counterparts, UN agencies, and other partners is desirable

•  Fluency in English Language ( Writing, Reading and Speaking) is required.
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language, particularly French is an asset.

Contract type: Fixed-term Staff Contract Contract level: ICS 11/ P4
Contract duration: One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

• 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.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• 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
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  
• Please note that this is an Internal Vacancy Announcement
• This role is open to SUN Movement Secretariat (SMS) and Pooled Fund team members ONLY

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.