Senior External Relations Assc

H (no hardship)FamilyFamilyGS7General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular AssignmentNo2023-01-01-08:00December 22, 2022Senior External Relations Associate Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Senior External Relations Associate is to be a key external point of contact for the UNHCR office with media and other external organisations. The incumbent will be responsible for creating greater public (Donors, NGOs, Government, Refugees, Civil Society, etc.) awareness and understanding of refugee issues and the work of UNHCR and for amplifying the voice of refugees and other people of concern (PoC). S/he will have a pivotal role in drafting reports, updates, briefing documents, maintenance of the UNHCR local web site and social media channels and providing support to the supervisor. The Senior External Relations Associate supports activities, events, campaigns and outreach, working with partner organisations to support the protection of PoC. Essential to these efforts are coherent and consistent visual and verbal messaging and linking the substantive media elements (news) to milestone events (World Refugee Day, Nansen Refugee Award, #IBelong Campaign to end Statelessness, HCs Dialogues, and the launch of one off campaigns and events.) The overall aim is to mobilise further financial support, increase awareness and empathy for forcibly displaced people. The incumbent normally reports to a Representative, Head of Office/Section or a Senior Communication or External Relations Officer, depending on the office setup. 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 - Support UNHCR's media relations and advocacy work in the geographic and thematic area. - Monitor evolving issues concerning asylum seekers, stateless persons and refugees within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) and suggest stories and topics for media coverage. - Provide support to Senior Management in dealing with the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments. - Ensure that the office is kept informed of local developments which may have a political or operational impact on its activities. - Provide background briefings to local and international media. - Accompany visits of foreign delegations and the media to refugee sites, give appropriate briefings, commentaries and prepare briefing material for visitors. - Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide accurate information by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and missions. - Assist Senior Management in disseminating information on UNHCR¿s global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for PoC. - Manage budget, when requested, including tracking expenditures and incoming donations. Ensure payments through UNHCR and prepare budget documents for partners and reports on spending. - Assist in the drafting of situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles. - Assist in planning and organizing advertisements, exhibitions, training seminars, conferences, meetings, social events, campaigns and other activities to promote a better understanding of UNHCR¿s activities and accomplishments by the general public and/or organized groups. - Organize press briefings for external parties as required. - Reach out proactively to a broad range of external actors, including social media influencers, good will ambassadors and the private sector to build new alliances within the AoR in order to promote the protection of PoC. - Manage preparation of contracts for artists, production companies, journalist, photographers etc. - Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For G7 - 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher Field(s) of Education Not applicable (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Journalism, Communication (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential: Not specified Desirable: Experience with event management Demonstrated ability to work against tight deadlines Functional Skills MS-Advocacy CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video ) CO-Multimedia storytelling ER-External Relations in UNHCR or other humanitarian agencies EX-Experience in an international, decentralized and/or multinational environment MG-Project Management FR-Marketing MG- Partnership Development (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English. For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language. For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.As the External Relations Unit manages a diverse portfolio and at times responds to high demands from internal and external counterparts, flexibility and strong team player skills are important. The incumbent may be required to deliver to multiple and, at times, competing deadlines for which the ability to manage time effectively, and to be proactive in the delivery of output are assets. The incumbent also needs excellent drafting and communication skills in English, to be analytical and have acute political awareness.

To be successful in this role, the incumbent needs to have superior organizational skills, be responsible and responsive and make use of feedback constructively while seeking guidance when needed including from thematic experts in the organization.

S/he should be able to work independently with a variety of stakeholders, while exercising discretion, impartiality, and neutrality as well as to manage information objectively and accurately. It is also important for the incumbent to possess high interpersonal and diplomatic skills with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential communication.Greek

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Senior External Relations Associate reports to the External Relations Officer and is part of a five-member team which makes the External Relations (ER) unit of the Greece Operation. The ER unit is responsible for external and donor relations, reporting, inter-agency coordination and also provides executive support to Senior Management. In contrast to the generic job description of this position, the incumbent is not expected to manage media relations which are handled by the dedicated Communications /Public Information Unit of UNHCR Greece.

The Senior External Relations Associate supervises one staff member, and as the second most senior staff in the ER unit acts as Officer-in-Charge when the Head of Unit is absent.

ER is the dedicated unit within UNHCR Greece responsible for implementing the external relations strategy of the UNHCR Representation in Greece. The unit is responsible to develop and maintain relations, and/or mobilize resources from Governments, foundations and private sector donors; to facilitate interagency coordination in Greece, to fulfil internal and external reporting and provide executive support to senior management.

The Senior External Relations Associate is the working focal point for the roll-out of UNHCR’s external engagement plan with donors, Embassies and other key interlocutors in Greece, under the guidance and supervision of the Head of Unit. The incumbent is responsible for organizing and/or delivering briefings to Governments, donor and other external partners on the latest developments in Greece and UNHCR’s work, seeking to promote an understanding on the situation, achievements and key challenges and garner support.

The incumbent leads the fulfilment of external and internal reporting requirements of the Greece Operation. The incumbent reviews, consolidates and drafts internal and external reports and presentations for a wide range of products targeting different audiences, such as situation and real-time updates, activity and thematic reports, flash updates, fundraising appeals and donor reports (narrative and financial).

S/he also coordinates the development and the public dissemination of periodic updates and other informational material that are relevant to the work of the External Relations Unit.

S/he develops and nurtures positive working relationships with donors, the diplomatic community, and NGOs, briefs them on issues of priority for UNHCR Greece and refugees in general, and leads the planning and organization of meetings and missions to the field.

As part of the executive support team, the incumbent will help prepare senior management in advance of meetings and other important events with tailored talking points, background notes, briefing material and other documents, and verifies and consolidates information from various sources and units.

The incumbent works closely with different focal points within Greece, UNHCR European and other offices and HQ, as well as liaises with various counterparts externally.

Living and Working Conditions:

Greece has been one of the main entry points of refugees wishing to reach the EU. UNHCR has supported - and will continue doing so - the Government, which leads the refugee response working closely with the EU, state and municipal actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, refugees, local communities. While Greece is still considered a transit country, it has also become a country of asylum. UNHCR estimates that some 70,000-80,000 refugees, including those with subsidiary and temporary protection status, are currently living in Greece, in addition to some 30,000 asylum-seekers. While most refugees and asylum-seekers are in the mainland, living in and outside camps, there are currently over 4,500 in the islands. The large majority of the latter live in camps. UNHCR Greece is focused on a protection-driven approach around two pillars: 1.access to international protection and 2.durable solutions with a focus on integration. UNHCR uses a mix of operational engagement, CB protection efforts, expert advice provision to the Government, monitoring and improved data collection, targeted interventions and advocacy, aiming to support Greece in fulfilling its obligations to provide protection and solutions to persons in need of international protection. Child protection, prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse, and institutional capacity strengthening in these areas will continue to be priority, in line with the Office’s age, gender and diversity mainstreaming approach. In doing so, UNHCR seeks to build on the strengths and capacities of refugees, working together and in consultation with them.

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, CO-Reporting skills, MG-Coordination, MG-Diplomacy, Organizing

Certifications

Workforce to Supervise

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Shortlisted candidates may be requested to sit for a written test and will have to undergo an oral interview.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.This position doesn't require a functional clearance

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