Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Secretariat, Agencies, Funds and Programmes based in Kenya is recruiting the following position to fill and populate the UN Kenya Common Roster for Kenya-based UN Offices for General Service and National Officer positions. Under the overall guidance of the Head of the specific Agency/Organization, this post may report to Communications Officer/Analyst or the designated supervisor of the respective entity. Within delegated authority, the Communications Assistant works in close collaboration with staff in the respective office and other UN offices to ensure consistent service delivery. The Communications Assistant will perform the following:

Responsibilities

Main Duties: To perform general administrative and some specialized communications processes that support the creation of communications content and the delivery of communications services aimed at maintaining and enhancing organization’s visibility and reputation and supporting fundraising activities. • Provide coordination, administrative and specialized services, to support staff in the development, preparation and execution of communications campaigns for target audiences. • Monitor and coordinate materials, schedules, facilities and clearances, and provide support for special events, and video/film, photographic and radio projects. • Conduct clearly defined research and prepare reports and provide data that enables informed decision-making. • Monitor traditional and social media and report relevant information to senior staff to inform the development and/or evaluation of communications activities and strategies. • Under clear guidance, prepare content for traditional and social media platforms and networks, and printed materials, to enhance coverage and support of organisation’s activities, ensuring consistency with corporate messages and standards. • Distribute communications guidelines to staff for reference when creating content. • Manage and maintain records and databases, such as journalist and media outlet contact lists, to ensure the information is accurate, organised and readily available for others to access. • Respond to a variety of queries and requests for support, following standard processes, and obtaining guidance as required, to ensure timely and accurate resolution of all enquiries. • Liaise with staff and the media in a timely manner, to support aligned activities and an effective approach to communications within the organization. • Assist with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. • Assist with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures • Ensures that requirements and background information used for data analysis are documented. • Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: • Knowledge of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to effective campaign management and ability to coordinate and manage complex communication campaigns and events. • Establish effective collaboration and partnerships with officials at all levels inside and outside the organization. • Ability to perform analysis, modelling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. • Shows pride in work and in achievements and demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. • Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. • Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns and shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. • Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • Ability to analyse and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. COMMUNICATION: • Speaks and writes clearly and effectively and listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. • Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. • Tailor’s language, tone, style, and format to match audience and demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. CREATIVITY: • Actively seeks to improve programmes or services and offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs. • Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas and takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; Thinks ”outside the box”. • Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things and is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Education

Completion of secondary education or equivalent is required. Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, International Relations, Public Relations, or relevant field is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

Relevant training in Communications or Public Relations is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of Five (5) years of progressive in Communication Management, Public Relations, Information Management, or related area is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to three (3) years for candidates who possess a first level University degree. Experience working with Microsoft Office applications is required. Experience in using integrated information management systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system is desirable. Experience in website administration (content management system), social networks administration and research is desirable. One (1) year of work experience within the United Nations or similar international organization is desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

For the post advertised, fluency in English required and Knowledge of a local language is an advantage. NOTE: ‘Fluency’ equals a rating of “fluent” in all four (4) areas (read, write, speak, understand) and ‘Knowledge of’ equals a rating of “confident” in two of the four areas.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include a substantive assessment, such as a written test, which will be followed by a competency-based interview by phone or teleconference.

Special Notice

This Job Opening is issued for purposes of creating a roster. Appointment against this post is on a local basis and is open for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension subject to the respective entity’s funding availability. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. Internal Applicants – when completing the Candidate Profile form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. The United Nations is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Contact Us” link.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.