Associate Communications Officer, NOB

The Associate Communications Officer supports the Syria Office of OHCHR in Damascus by contributing to communications strategies, media engagement, content creation, and outreach activities to raise awareness and support for UN priorities. The role involves media monitoring, drafting communications products, organizing events, and fostering media relationships.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to gathering insights and analysis from traditional, social, and digital media monitoring, including public narratives and areas of reputational risk to inform communications strategy.
• Contribute to the implementation of communications strategies that raise awareness, drive engagement, build support and have measurable impact with target audiences.
• Contribute to drafting narratives and messaging on the work of the UN that engage target audiences across different channels and platforms.
• Contribute to media mapping, reaching out to and fostering relationships with traditional and new media outlets.
• Contribute to the development of media lines, including in crisis situations and on sensitive issues.
• Contribute to the planning and coordination of press conferences, briefings, and media events.
• Act as a spokesperson for the organisation, when required.
• Contribute to the creation of compelling content that is optimized to reach target audiences across a range of platforms and channels.
• Contribute to the drafting and production of communications products, such as press releases, press statements, web stories, reports, and infographics.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of communications campaigns that engage and have measurable impact with target audiences through appropriate channels and platforms.
• Contribute to development and coordination of strategic communications partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to reach target audiences and maximize impact.
• Contribute to the delivery of in-person outreach and advocacy strategies and campaigns to engage target audiences and advance UN priorities.
• Contribute to the creation of content, interviews, news and programming for UN and/or community radio channels and podcasts.
• Contribute to promoting campaigns, events and collaboration with stakeholders by organising media engagement and coverage.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, digital communications or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in communications, international relations, or other relevant areas is required.
• Knowledge of risks to information integrity - misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and threats in fragile, post conflict, and crisis environments is required.
• Knowledge of Media Monitoring tools is required.
• Skills to communicate complex and technical matters to diverse audiences is desirable.
• Knowledge of strategic communications principles and practices is desirable.
• Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located.
• English is required at UN Level II proficiency.
• Arabic is required at UN Level II proficiency.

Skills

• Communications Strategies
• Media Engagement
• Content Creation
• Outreach Activities
• Media Monitoring
• Risk Analysis of Misinformation
• Disinformation Management
• Hate Speech Awareness
• Crisis Communication
• Post Conflict Communications
• International Relations
• Drafting Communication Products
• Event Organization
• Strategic Communications
• Digital Communications
• Journalism
• English Language Proficiency
• Arabic Proficiency

Languages

English, Arabic