DirecciónBackground
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UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP has been working in Panama for 50 years and, under the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is supporting the country in the reduction of inequality and access to opportunities for sustainable development with more equity, balance and environmental sustainability, with greater social, ethnic, cultural and territorial integration and cohesion.
To this end, we want to consolidate UNDP's position as a key partner for the public, private and civil society sectors in the implementation of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda, and for the organization to be recognized for its global character and thought leadership in the areas of equity and social inclusion, governance, access to justice, citizen security, environment and climate change.
The Panama office is divided into 3 clusters: Inclusion and Equity, Sustainable Development and Voice and Democracy, with interventions related to gender equality incorporated in a transversal way. Among others, in these areas we promote human rights, citizen security, access to justice, access to basic services, institutional strengthening, incorporation of the environment in solutions for economic growth and social welfare, among others. The operational framework of the programme responds to the country's priorities and is structurally linked to the United Nations Assistance Framework.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Panama CO is seeking to recruit a Communication Specialist, who will be responsible for the following:
- Lead the formulation and implementation of a communications and outreach strategy in support of CO visibility and resource mobilization efforts, aligned with a systemic narrative about our UNDP portfolio.
- Elaboration and implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan.
- Supervision of the design and maintenance of the UNDP CO website and intranet.
- Support CO projects and events to boost visibility and business development.
- Knowledge building and knowledge sharing for CO Staff and external groups.
- Management of digital media monitoring, archiving and dissemination system.
1. Leads the formulation and implementation of communications and outreach strategy focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Analysis of requirements, synthesis of proposals and provision of information by conducting communications needs assessments for elaboration of the CO communications and outreach strategy based on the corporate communications strategy.
- Drafting/editing of communications and outreach strategy based on corporate communications strategy and in strong support of resource mobilization efforts to accompany the implementations of Country Programme with a systemic narrative of UNDP´s work.
- Assisting in the preparation of Country Office communication and advocacy instruments for dissemination to different audiences. These include, for instance, monthly bulletins, presentations, speeches, articles, blogs as well as updated information leaflets per programme and project, etc.
- Ensure advocacy and communication strategy integrated into all aspects of UNDP’s country programme and projects.
- Fostering effective coordination with all UNDP country office projects, by engaging with project managers to understand the specific communication needs and goals of each project in order to create a communication strategy aligned with the objectives of UNDP; and facilitating regular communication stakeholders to maintain alignment and address evolving communication needs.
- Implementing rigorous quality control measures for all communication materials associated with UNDP country office and projects, which involves establishing and maintaining a comprehensive quality control process to review and approve communication content, ensuring adherence to UNDP branding guidelines, ethical standards, and messaging consistency across all materials, and providing constructive feedback and guidance to communication teams and stakeholders to enhance the overall quality of communication initiatives.
2. Ensures elaboration and implementation of the CO publications strategy and plan based on the corporate publications policy, focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Identification and development of storylines for publications and substantive articles contributing to debates on key development issues aligned with the communications strategy.
- Coordination and management of all CO events, publications and web activities, including content management, norms for photography, video production, publishing, design, liaison with printers and other suppliers to oversee production and supervision of publications dissemination.
3. Supervises the design and maintenance of the UNDP CO website and intranet focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Design and maintenance of the office websites and intranet based on corporate requirements in cooperation with ICT team and relevant staff members.
- Generation, preparation and editing of content for the web sites to ensure material is consistent and up to date.
4. Provides support for CO projects and events to boost visibility and business development focusing on the achievement of the following results:
Launches and campaigns
- Promotion and dissemination of corporate advocacy materials to launch flagship initiatives and publications such as the Human Development Report and the portfolio approach process in coordination with relevant staff members.
- Development of communication materials, including briefing materials and press releases, for CO events in coordination with relevant staff members.
- Writing, editing and supervising translation of speeches and public statements for senior management and programme staff.
Outreach
- Preparation and dissemination of CO newsletter to relevant audiences.
- Dissemination of communication materials and media mobilization through a regularly updated and populated contact database.
- Support to corporate (HQ and Country Office) reporting requirements.
5. Facilitates knowledge building and knowledge sharing for CO Staff and external groups focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned directly linked to annual workplan and country programme document.
- Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories.
- Provision of trainings for UNDP staff on communications for development
- Professional growth through active learning.
- Maintain good working relationship with UN Panama Country Team Interagency Communications Group and contribute to joint initiatives as required.
6. Management of digital media monitoring, archiving and dissemination system focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Identification of storylines for publications and articles contributing to debates on key development issues and addressing problematic coverage.
- Technical supervision of translation/adaptation/rewriting of information received, and dissemination of press clippings and translated synopses to within CO and to HQ.
- Maintaining and populating organized and searchable digital databases for text and images.
- Compiling specialized media coverage press packages for projects/events as deemed necessary and planning dissemination to strategic target audiences.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Communication Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Resident Representative.
The Communication Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Resident Representative.
Competencies
Core Competencies
- ACHIEVE RESULTS - LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
- THINK INNOVATEVELY - LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
- LEARN CONTINUOUSLY - LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
- ADAPT WITH AGILITY - LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
- ACT WITH DETERMINATION - LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
- ENGAGE AND PARTNER - LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
- ENABLE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION - LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
Cross-Functional Competencies
- BUSINESS DIRECTION & STRATEGY
- SYSTEM THINKING: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgment to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact other parts of the system.
- BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
- INTEGRATION WITHIN THE UN: Ability to identify, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work; knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.
- BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
- COMMUNICATION: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
- PARTNERSHIPS MANAGEMENT: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts, and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
- DIGITAL AWARENESS AND LITERACY: Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skilfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed.
Technical Competencies
- EXERNAL RELATIONS & ADVOCACY
- GENERAL - PUBLIC RELATIONS: Ability to build and maintain an overall positive public image for the organisation, its mandate and its brand, while ensuring that individual campaigns and other communications and advocacy initiatives are supported in reaching the public.
- COMMUNICATIONS - ADVOCACY STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in communications, journalism, social science, or any other relevant field is required, or
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience, will be given due consideration in lieu of Master´s degree.
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of experience in communications and online reporting or related area.
Required Skills:
- Proven experience with Adobe creative cloud or other software tools in designing and creating data visualization, infographics, presentations, and reports is required.
- Proven experience in managing communications functions in an international organization is required.
- Proven experience in strategic communications and developing communication strategies is required.
- Strong communication skills both written and verbal, excellent writing and organizational skills.
Desired Criteria:
- Demonstrated expertise in managing communications sites using Microsoft SharePoint Online or other online platforms is desirable.
- Previous experience of working with local non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and community-based groups is desirable.
- Working experience with diverse and multi-cultural teams is desirable.
Languages:
- Proficiency in English and Spanish is required.
Disclaimer
Important applicant information
All posts in the NPSA categories are subject to local recruitment.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Workforce diversity
UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Scam warning
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The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
