Strategic Communications Specialist, NPSA-10, DS-Kyiv
JOB DETAIL
Background
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the country has experienced significant loss of life and unprecedented displacement within the country and towards neighboring countries. The war has taken thousands of lives, caused untold destruction, displaced millions, and turned vast areas of farmland and forests into deadly minefields.
From the onset of the war, the Government of Ukraine, at both central and oblast levels, has demonstrated effectiveness in crisis/emergency coordination and ensured decentralized presence of line ministries and key government institutions in the country to sustain key government functions and deliver services to the displaced population.
At the same time, within the Effective Multi-Level Governance projects, UNDP provides essential support to the Government to ensure sustainability, effectiveness and transparency in continued crisis and emergency coordination, as well as in response planning between the central government, oblasts, rayons and other stakeholders including the international community, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
UNDP’s support also extends to strengthening the government’s external communications, particularly in addressing concerns related to the preservation of informed, inclusive societies and enhancing society’s resilience against hybrid threats and disinformation. Additionally, UNDP has facilitated a series of assessments to inform situation analysis and ensure a harmonized approach among key stakeholders, all aimed at maximizing effectiveness for post-war recovery planning and stabilization.
In recognition of the growing importance of strategic communications during this time, the Ukrainian government has restructured the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy into the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications. This shift highlights the government’s focus on strengthening its strategic communications capabilities to navigate the complexities of the war and maintain robust public perception management. To further support this effort, UNDP is recruiting a Strategic Communications Specialist to assist the government in building these essential capacities, both within Ukraine and in its outreach to the international community.
The Strategic Communications Specialist will also be responsible for the effective implementation of communication activities within the Democratic Governance Portfolio, ensuring compliance with UNDP rules and regulations, as well as donors’ requirements, and contributing to the achievement of UNDP Country Office (CO) programmatic goals.
The incumbent will promote UNDP’s mandate as a gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to discriminatory and abusive behaviour, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse.
Duties and Responsibilities
A. Develop and implement of the designated projects’ communication and outreach strategies:
- Support the development and strengthening of strategic communications and counter-disinformation capacities within the national government in line with national priorities and UN/UNDP communication requirements.
- Support communication-related activities for the designated projects, including planning and implementing communication strategies and plans across multiple channels at national and regional levels, while promoting civic education and community awareness where appropriate to the supported projects.
- Substantially contribute to the preparation of donor reports; edit project reports and promotion materials and ensure that projects promotion materials comply with UN/UNDP and donor communication requirements.
- Act as the focal point and liaise with communications personnel from other projects and the UNDP Country Office; share updates and news from designated projects for publication on the UNDP website and social media platforms.
- Coordinate the work of individual consultants contracted under the project(s) for communications and/or monitoring-related tasks; coordinate the production and printing agencies involved in creating audio, video, animation or print products on the request of the project(s).
- Prepare press-announces and press-releases about projects activities in both English and Ukrainian languages for distribution to mass media; organize press clubs, press tours, press conferences, and other media-related events as part of the project activities.
B. Contribute to the corporate advocacy and outreach efforts in collaboration with UNDP CO Communication Unit:
- Support the promotion and dissemination of UNDP corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives and publications.
- Assist in organizing and conducting public information campaigns on various topics including UNDP activities, the Sustainable Development Goals, and UN Reform.
- Contribute to increasing awareness and understanding of UNDP’s work in the country or practice area by maintaining regular media contacts and providing newsworthy information to the national audience and, where possible, donors.
- Provide support to the organization of roundtable discussions, press conferences, briefing sessions, interviews, launches, and other events.
- Ensure effective responses to inquiries for information materials related to the supported projects.
C. Facilitate knowledge building and management:
- Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities.
- Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories.
- Provide trainings for UNDP personnel and partner organizations including, but not limited to, UNDP grantees supported under designated projects, on internal and external gender-sensitive and conflict-sensitive communications for development, with a focus on photography, video, blogging, managing social media, working with press, etc.
- Participate in trainings for the projects personnel to foster professional growth through active learning.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
The incumbent will report directly to the Project Manager and will work in close coordination with UNDP CO Communications team.
Competencies
| Core | |
| Achieve Results: | LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact |
| Think Innovatively: | 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 & Technical competencies
| Thematic Area | Name | Definition |
| Business Direction & Strategy | Strategic Thinking | Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight. |
| Business Direction & Strategy | System Thinking | Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system. |
| Business Management | Communication | 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. |
| Business Management | Customer Satisfaction/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. |
| Communications | Media Relations | Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages. |
| Communications | Multimedia writing/editing | Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia. |
| General (across the functions) | 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. |
Skills and Experience
| Min. Education requirements |
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| Min. years of relevant work experience |
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| Required skills |
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| Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section |
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| Required Language(s) | Fluency in English is required.
Fluency in Ukrainian is required for local personnel. |
| Professional Certificates | n/a |
Disclaimer
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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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