Communications Officer - P3 (maternity leave replacement)

Introduction

About Better Work

We mobilize global brands, governments, factory owners and workers to improve working conditions, drive competitiveness and create a more equitable, more prosperous world.

The Power of Convening

As a partnership between the UN’s International Labour Organization and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation, we know how to bring diverse groups together to create positive action that improves working conditions while stimulating productivity and competitiveness.

A Proven Approach

We create lasting, measurable change by empowering factories to improve the working conditions in their facilities. Our assessments are the global gold standard for rigour and integrity. Our training programs and advisory services change attitudes as well as behaviours.

National Action/ Global Influence

Through our comprehensive, university-led research, and by sharing best practices from our on-the-ground experience, we are able to shape the agenda well beyond the countries in which we work, influencing governments, brands and policy makers to make improving working conditions a top priority.

Purpose

Our work and our research have demonstrated – to employers, unions, global brands and governments – that improving working conditions and defending the rights of workers benefits all of us. We’ve improved the lives of more than 3 million workers, and millions more family members, while enhancing the profitability of their employers. There is no trade-off between better work and better business.

For more information about Better Work please see www.betterwork.org.

Function 

The Communications Officer contributes to the implementation of communications priorities; supports the Better Work global team and country programmes with the development of professional, on-brand communications materials and responses to emerging communications needs and crises;  coordinates and ensures consistency in communications across the programme; manages the public launch of Better Work publications and leads communications efforts on key programme developments and oversees the redevelopment of the Better Work website.

The incumbent of this temporary position will report to Better Work’s Senior Research and Policy Specialist.
 

Description of Duties

1.    Provide oversight of Better Work communications, including at the global level and as needed for strategic issues affecting the twelve Better Work country programmes. 

2.    Provide oversight of the communications launch events for the new Better Work strategy (2022-2027), in collaboration with the Bangkok-based Communications Officer and Better Work Director.

3.    Develop and implement communication and advocacy activities – including content creation, social media posts, and online events - to enhance relations with and influence international stakeholders (including donors, policymakers, buyers, international workers’ and employers’ organizations, academics and civil society). Provide updates on the implementation of these communications and activities – including the fulfilment of established Performance Management goals – as required.

4.    Provide communications support and advice to Better Work global and country programmes, including leading regular Communications Network calls and follow-up. Manage contracts and outputs of external collaborators including designers, editors and writers.

5.    Oversee all written materials before they are published on the Better Work website, including developmental editing and proofreading, as well as approving and potentially selecting appropriate images to accompany.

6.    Engage with other Better Work global teams on strategic communications as needed; attend regular meetings with global teams.

7.    In partnership with the Bangkok-based Communications Officer based in Bangkok, provide oversight for the redevelopment of the Better Work website, including reviewing and providing strategic input on content and design changes, ensuring the site’s timely delivery.

8.    In partnership with the Bangkok-based Communications Officer, oversee the Better Work social media accounts, ensuring regular posting of appropriate, on-brand content with a particular focus on human storytelling and shifting media to greater focus on video and graphics.

9.    Ensure that Better Work responds to direct or indirect requests for information about the work of the programme and promotes better understanding of its objectives and activities. This means sharing media requests with appropriate parties within Better Work or the larger ILO. 

10.    Liaise with ILO and IFC communication departments to promote outreach and to ensure that messages are consistent with organizational standards. Work with the Better Work Director and programme staff to identify and promote opportunities for sharing Better Work learning with ILO and IFC colleagues.  Attend the ILO Department of Communications morning staff meetings at least weekly and read internal updates to stay abreast of the communication efforts of the wider ILO. 

11.    Keep a record of Communications Team outputs, including linking new publications and videos to content plan, tracking actions on team agenda, developing quarterly internal update and external newsletter with the Bangkok-based Communications Officer and sharing weekly media roundups. 
 

Required qualifications

Education

First level university degree in communications, journalism, marketing or other relevant discipline.

Experience

Five  years of professional experience at the national level, or three years of professional experience at the international level in: 

•    communications, public information, or related fields 
•    one of the following fields and having significant responsibility for communication: private sector development in developing countries; corporate social responsibility (particularly in the field of labour standards compliance in global supply chains); or development project management.

Proven experience in designing and implementing communications and advocacy campaigns to deliver organisational objectives.
 

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English. A working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is highly desirable.

Competencies

1.    Excellent track record in implementing strategic communication, including engaging with international media and designing and executing advocacy campaigns.  

2.    Excellent written and oral communication skills, and ability to translate technical findings to advance policy positions, including engaging with and influencing international policy makers, international media and international stakeholders (including private sector brands).

3.    Familiarity with corporate social responsibility, especially related to labour issues in global supply chains.

4.    Ability to deal with international media, including preparing for and doing media interviews, preparing press releases and ensuring media attention for specific topics.

5.    Ability to analyse complex information from different sources and to synthesise this information into coherent briefs and communication documents in appropriate style and use traditional and new media channels for distribution.

6.    Ability to deal with discretion on sensitive issues, respond positively to challenges and find creative and innovative solutions to problems.

7.    Proactive approach to meeting deadlines and delivering results with limited supervision.

8.    Excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate work with a wide range of individuals and groups from culturally diverse publics; ability to use tact, diplomacy and persuasiveness.

9.    Good knowledge of computer and internet applications for information collection, management and dissemination. 

10.    Coaching skills to develop others and transfer knowledge and experience.

11.    Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes.