Communications and Social Media Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of the Regional Director (RDD) provides the visionary leadership and, together with BOS, supports the Country Offices and all the other Divisions in the efficient delivery of the EPW through agile transformation and implementing WHO Value Charter. RDD has the overall responsibility for the planning,execution and evaluation of WHO programmes at the regional and country levels and in strengthening the alignment and joint work across the three levels of the organization. It is the safeguard of the WHO Values Charter. It encompasses the enabling functions of resource mobilization and alliances, external relations and communications, and support to governing bodies of the European Region, in addition to organization development, staff development and learning, and transformation. It also specifically includes the representative function of WHO with the institutions of the European Union., the EURO Ombudsman who reports directly and independently to the Regional Director, and the committee on staff health and wellbeing.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Working under the guidance of the Communications Manager, contribute with relevant expertise to research, develop and produce content for the Regional Director's (RD) communications including written statements/ speeches, media interviews and social media content across multiple media channels, ensuring its full clarity and high effectiveness as well as alignment with EURO corporate communications. S/he will coordinate the production schedule for communications products and processes as well as contribute to developing strategies and introducing innovative communication methods with a primary focus on the RD's communications needs.

Key duties:

1. Gather necessary evidence, expert advice, policy documents and scientific materials in close consultation with technical units to draft speeches, speech notes, social media content, and presentations for the Regional Director to be delivered at various high-level regional and global fora;

2. Coordinate the production schedule for communications products, including incorporating feedback, edits and translations;

3. Research and analyse collected material and evidence to prepare speeches and presentations on broader health policy related issues;

4. Contribute with expert advice to strategic plans and the overall efforts towards improving the quality and impact of corporate policy and messages;

5. Provide sound advice in speech delivery; monitor audience responses and feedback to ensure that messages emanating from WHO are understood;

6. Produce content, including developing tweets and posts for RD social media channels, as well as live events, working in close alignment with the corporate communications team for EURO;

7. Contribute to the development and delivery of communications plans for the RD's travel and missions.

8. Formulate scripts for video messages for the RD, intended for external audiences, and vlogs for internal communication purposes, in close collaboration with relevant technical units;

9. Prepare talking points/ written responses for the RD for interviews, events, etc., in collaboration with EURO media officer and relevant technical units;

10. Ensure a strategic link with WHO policies and priorities while drafting speeches, presentations, speech notes and other communication materials;

11. Perform other related responsibilities as required, at the discretion of the Senior Communications Advisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Master's level) in communications, public health, journalism, public relations, political or social sciences or another field of relevance to the tasks of this role.
Desirable: Additional university degree in any of the above fields.

Experience

Essential: At least 7 years of combined national and international experience in communications in the areas of health, political or social sciences, public relations or a related field, specifically working with social and online media strategy and content creation and/or with speech writing.
Desirable: Relevant experience within WHO, the United Nations or other international organizations or any agency or institution active in the field of public health and/or sustainable development. Experience managing the traditional media and online / social media agenda of senior level officials/management.

Skills

Demonstrated expertise in communication and media strategies and methodologies including a focus on written and visual communications and storytelling via online and social media with demonstrated knowledge of social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Demonstrated knowledge of a range of settings, including ideally the UN,and customising communications approaches to suit different environments, ideally including emergency / humanitarian contexts. Demonstrated strong awareness of regional and global geopolitical contexts. Emotional awareness: Ability to identify and harness one's emotions and apply them to tasks; and the ability to manage emotions, which includes both regulating one's own emotions when necessary and helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Knowing and managing yourself

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of either French, Russian, or German.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 75,602 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 2747 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.