The Position:
The Communications Specialist (Team Lead) position is located in the Office of Chief, in the UNFPA Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU). The position reports directly to the Chief of SCMU with a dotted reporting line to the Division of Communications and Strategic Partnership. The Communications Specialist (Team Lead) will work closely with other SCMU colleagues, other HQ Business Units, the Regional Offices and the Country Offices and with a number of external partners.
The position plays a pivotal role in providing comprehensive support for communications planning, substantive expertise, and guidance to support the implementation of the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2021-2025 and the UNFPA SCMU Strategic Plan 2023-2025.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA occupies a unique position in the sexual and reproductive health commodity ecosystem as a critical player in supply chain management, a leading public procurer of sexual and reproductive health commodities, a trusted partner to national governments, and one of the few organizations with the scale and partnerships necessary to build accountability for last mile delivery.
The UNFPA Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU) is self-funded and was made operational in January 2022. It is tasked with ensuring that UNFPA is able to effectively and efficiently support the delivery of life-saving reproductive health products and other programme supplies to the end user when and where they are needed. To achieve this, it is important to strengthen the capacity of governments and implementing partners to ensure coordination, end-to-end visibility and accountability on all supply chain and logistics management related activities, in particular for programme supplies, across all UNFPA programmes.
Job Purpose:
The Communications Specialist (Team Lead) plays a vital role in communicating the vision, mission, and impact of UNFPA SCMU globally to key stakeholders, often holding the final pen on much of what is produced externally. The position requires a hands-on, output-oriented approach involving multiple stakeholders and reports directly to the Chief, SCMU. The Communications Specialist (Team Lead) ensures efficient and timely delivery of results in line with the SCMU work plan and ensures that UNFPA’s branding and public messaging about its mandate is consistent with the global communications strategy. In addition, the position collaborates to deliver communications support to partners, and other UNFPA Business Units. The Communications Specialist (Team Lead) will provide oversight and management of a dedicated Communication Team.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Advanced university degree is required. An advanced degree in Studies in Communication, Journalism, Digital Marketing, International Relations, International Development, or other related fields is an added advantage. Specialist training on management is an additional asset.
Knowledge and Experience:
- A minimum of five (5) years of relevant progressively responsible experience in Communication and/or multimedia or similar work experience with government, UN or NGOs on issues related to public health or related areas including:
- Demonstrated experience in communications, marketing, website management and strategy and social media.
- Strong advocacy and networking skills with the ability to liaise with and engage government, UN agencies, CSOs, media and other stakeholders in a professional and friendly manner.
- Strong communication skills and proven experience with the use of social media and other channels for effective advocacy, knowledge sharing and campaigning.
- Effective at consensus-building and communicating cross-functionally with external and internal audiences.
- Broad knowledge of best communication practices; experience in crafting plans, work flows and institutional positions;
- Substantive knowledge on, understanding of, and practical experience in communication and advocacy strategies.
- Professional written and spoken presentation skills, including for the development of reports, presentations, and the ability to synthesize complex supply chain documents for both technical and non-technical audiences is required.
- Strong interpersonal skills and capability to develop and maintain broad diversified partnerships is required.
- Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is required.
- Experience in managing a team, particularly within a remote and/or matrix organizational structure is an asset.
- Basic knowledge of the principles and operational aspects of integrated reproductive health care in the global development and humanitarian community, familiarity with UNFPA programmes and policies, knowledge of international development policies and institutions and international politics is an advantage.
- Knowledge of UNFPA mandates, policies, and guidelines is an asset.
Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
