Public Information Officer (Public Information and External Relations)

The Public Information Officer will coordinate and guide the development of strategic communications, manage media relations, oversee content for the UNICRI website and social media, and support resource mobilization and fundraising efforts. The role involves supervising a team, advising senior management, and ensuring coherence and quality in all internal and external communication materials.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and guide the research, writing and editing of press releases and other strategic communications products for target audiences in English and in the language of the Host Country (Italy), when required.
• Plan, coordinate and provide strategic oversight for the substantive preparation, implementation and follow-up of a wide range of departmental activities across the Institute, including conferences and meetings, institutional and programmatic documents, media relations, web and social media content management, presentations, strategic resource mobilization and fundraising actions, ensuring coherence, quality control and alignment with UNICRI priorities in all internal and external communication materials.
• Coordinate, strategically develop, and ensure editorial authority over the content of the UNICRI website, including setting priorities, defining messaging and supervising updates in line with institutional objectives.
• Review and, on behalf of the Director, approve UNICRI’s publications; advise colleagues and partners on critical issues related to content and publication processes; supervise the graphic design process to ensure coherence with UNICRI’s visual identity.
• Drive the strategic expansion of UNICRI’s social media presence (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Flickr, Issuu, and YouTube), ensuring that the Institute’s vision, activities, and achievements are effectively communicated to global audiences.
• Advise senior management by proactively monitoring the main issues facing UNICRI and identifying strategic reputational and policy-related matters requiring the Director's attention.
• Guide the analysis, synthesis and validation of information in support of milestone activities, providing strategic inputs for decision-making and institutional positioning.
• Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Provide media guidance, acting as a focal point for media relations, organizing press conferences and interviews, and guiding institutional messaging.
• Together with senior management, deliver high-level briefings and presentations on UNICRI-related topics to audiences, including media, academic groups, diplomats, professional associations, NGOs and students.
• Serve as a key institutional interlocutor, responding to a wide range of general and substantive queries for information from governmental and non-governmental partners.
• Strategically coordinate the exchange and dissemination of institutional information with experts, academic entities and governmental institutions.
• Identify and establish partnerships to implement UNICRI's activities, including creating collaboration frameworks with United Nations entities, governmental institutions, academic entities and private foundations, with a particular focus on the Host Country.
• Expand strategic relationships with donors, institutions and private foundations for project funding opportunities and keep donors updated on projects status and results achieved.
• After obtaining prior clearances from substantive programme officers on all thematic areas, prepare substantive and strategic materials for new proposals to be discussed with donors.
• Provide substantive and strategic support to the Director in conceptualization, design, development, implementation and backstopping of new initiatives, in particular those focusing on knowledge sharing and awareness-raising.
• Design, coordinate and oversee the implementation of UNICRI visibility programme, ensuring strategic positioning and coherence.
• Provide support to high-level initiatives promoting UN goals and objectives in Italy.
• Supervise a team of public information staff and affiliate personnel, including performance management, delegation and oversight of responsibilities; contribute to the recruitment and contracting processes of public information personnel; support the financial expenditures and budget of the Unit.
• Coordinate the substantive delivery of the Unit.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, literature, international relations or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in public information, external relations or fund-raising is required.
• Work experience in developing communication materials (e.g., communication campaigns, speeches, press releases, articles, audio-visual materials, or similar) is required.
• Work experience in editing and coordinating the production of publications, including substantive review, layout coordination and quality assurance, is required.
• Work experience in coordinating social media and content management systems (e.g. Drupal) is required.
• Work experience within the United Nations system or similar international organizations is desirable.
• Work experience in the fields of crime prevention, criminal justice, security issues, or related areas is desirable.
• Experience in analysis of data or evidence or related areas is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• Italian is desirable at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Skills

• Communication Campaigns
• Speech Writing
• Press Release Writing
• Audiovisual Material Development
• Publication editing
• Publication Production Coordination
• Quality Assurance
• Social Media Coordination
• Content Management Systems
• Drupal
• Media Relations
• Strategic Communications
• Resource Mobilization
• Fundraising
• Team Supervision
• Internal Communications
• External Communications

Languages

English, Italian