Associate Communications Officer, NOB

The Associate Communications Officer supports the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Damascus by contributing to communications strategies, media engagement, content creation, and data-driven communications analysis to advance UN priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. The role involves media monitoring, drafting communications products, coordinating events, and supporting outreach and advocacy efforts.

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 the creation and updating of policy, guidance and/or training related to strategic communications, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
• Assist in the preparation of reporting and inputs for strategic communications in the context of regular reporting to governmental bodies.
• Keep abreast of the latest trends in communications and maintain expertise in relevant and emerging technologies.
• Maintain confidentiality, integrity, and discreet handling of sensitive information in compliance with the UN data privacy, security requirements, and standards.
• Monitor, analyse, and report on communications approaches, activities and strategies to assess their performance and effectiveness.
• Contribute to the collection and analysis of data as well as identification of trends or patterns and provides draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, digital communications or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.
• A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, international relations, or other relevant areas is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of risks to information integrity - misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and threats in fragile, post conflict, and crisis environments is required.
• Demonstrated skills in data visualization tools to create charts, graphs, and visual outputs is desirable.
• Demonstrated skills in collecting, processing, and analysing large volumes of unstructured and structured data is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging digital media platforms, their principles and technologies is desirable.
• One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or a related area is desirable.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic communications principles and practices is required.
• Demonstrated skills in data storytelling tools to create charts, graphs, infographics, dashboards and interactive for reporting and advocacy is desirable.

Skills

• Communication Strategy
• Media Engagement
• Content Creation
• Data Analysis
• Data Visualization
• Data Storytelling
• Digital Media Platforms
• Strategic Communications
• Information Integrity Risk Management
• Misinformation Management
• Hate Speech Awareness
• Crisis Communication
• Media Monitoring
• Event Coordination

Languages

English, Arabic