Communications Associate

Background

You are invited to join a team of dedicated development professionals whose primary role is to support the Philippines to achieve the 2030 Agenda. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with multiple stakeholders to find the country specific solutions that lead to the eradication of poverty and to ensure no one is left behind - and we reach those furthest behind first.

You will be confronted with diverse development challenges, including addressing basic development needs, supporting institutional transformations to enable sustainable development, and enabling rapid recovery from shocks, crises and conflicts by strengthening development pathways. These development challenges are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they often coexist, requiring tailored integrated solutions that can adequately address specific deficits and barriers.

We place a premium on national ownership in the analysis, design, and implementation of solutions, as well as a partnership-based approach to leverage the range of skills and resources needed – public and private. We work closely with all stakeholders in society to find innovative solutions to old development problems.

UNDP is looking for individuals who have the analytical, planning and implementation capacities that can address links, choices and connections across many issues and sectors. We seek individuals who can apply global best practice to national contexts. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, motivated, and committed to making a positive contribution to Development in the Philippines.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of the Communications Analyst, the Communications Associate supports the formulation and implementation of the communications and advocacy strategies to increase the standing and awareness of UNDP with partners, the media, and the public. The Communications Associate promotes a client-oriented approach in UNDP.

The Communications Associate works in cooperation with the Programme and Impact Advisory Team, the Results and Quality Assurance Team, and Programme and Project Implementation Team and in close collaboration with staff of other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff (Communications Office) and the Regional Communications Advisor, Government officials, media, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society.

• Support the formulation and implementation of CO communications and advocacy strategies
  • Provision of inputs and information for elaboration of the Country Office partnerships and communication action plan (PCAP) based on corporate communications strategy
  • Support to increased awareness of UNDP’s mandate and goals through dissemination of information, organization of public and media events
  • Review of reference materials, identification of reference materials for retention and maintenance of information database and photo library
  • Research and retrieval of data from internal and external sources
  • Development of communication materials for regular outreach work and awareness-raising campaigns, including the production of targeted, diverse digital visual products such as: short-form social media content, infographics/data visualization, social media posters, animated visuals, and other graphic assets for print and social media
  • Support in the organization of project launches, roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, seminars, interviews
  • Provision of inputs and researched information to integrate advocacy and communication strategies into programme and project initiatives
• Support to the implementation of the CO knowledge product publications strategy and branding guidelines
  • Suggestions, inputs, content development, coordination of production and dissemination of media materials, publications, articles and sharing of CO knowledge and successes
  • Technical support in graphic design and layout production for knowledge products, and support in the review of all communication materials to ensure adherence to UNDP editorial and branding guidelines
  • Technical support for the translation/adaptation/rewriting of information received, printing and dissemination of publications and audio-visual materials including coordination with printers and other suppliers to ensure production
  • Support to the publications’ dissemination across different platforms
• Ensures maintenance of UNDP social media accounts, web site, intranet, data bases and knowledge management systems
  • Assistance in the design and maintenance of the office web sites based on corporate requirements in cooperation with the ICT staff
  • Support in social media management and content creation for the CO social media channels
  • Preparation/checking the content for the web sites and social media platforms to ensure consistency of the materials
• Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and management
  • Support to CO staff and project teams/personnel in identification, documenting and drafting of best practices and lessons learned
  • Organization of training for the CO staff and project personnel on effective communications and advocacy
  • Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories
  • Support in the organization and conduct of training and workshops on communications, focusing on communications tools and social media

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.
 

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline 
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements  
  Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback 
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible  
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident 
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships 
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination  

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Communications

• Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change
• Digital content creation: Ability to coalesce multiple skills to identify a topic to engage intended audiences, decide which form the content should take – e.g., blog, social media, video, paid media, etc. – and produce material to specification and a high level of quality

Partnership management

• Emerging partnerships: Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships

Business Management

• Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Development

• Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary Education is required.
• University degree (Bachelor's degree) in journalism, media relations, communications or relevant field will be given due consideration, but is not a requirement

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years (with secondary education) or 3 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in digital communications; social media management; content creation; and facilitation of knowledge
• At least 5 years of experience in writing for various formats, including press releases, social media, and web content is highly desirable.
• At least 5 years of experience in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere, and Illustrator), and Canva is highly desirable
• At least 2 years of experience in handling of web-based management systems is an asset
• At least 2 years of experience in photography and videography, including capturing high-quality images and footage of events is desired
• Fluency in English and Filipino is required

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.