Public Information and Partnerships Officer

The Public Information and Partnerships Officer will develop and implement communication plans to enhance the visibility of UNESCO's activities in Iraq. The role involves managing outreach, donor relations, and liaising with UN partners to support UNESCO's strategic communications and partnership-building efforts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement project-specific communication plans in collaboration with Chiefs of Programme Units and Project Officers to ensure effective community mobilization and outreach.
• Monitor the progress of communication plans and ensure timely reporting.
• Manage the UNESCO Iraq Office webpage and social media accounts to enhance visibility, aligning with donor and stakeholder requirements.
• Contribute to strategic communications within the United Nations Country Team Strategic Communications Group (UNCT-SCG), offering substantive advice to enhance messaging and positioning.
• Organize and facilitate high-level official events, exhibitions, and advocacy campaigns, ensuring seamless coordination and increased awareness of the Office's initiatives.
• Liaise with the Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) Division and the Office of the Director-General at Headquarters about strategic communication.
• Establish and maintain relationships with media outlets through strategic coordination and effective communication as part of press management.
• Effectively manage the Public Information Unit by providing guidance to facilitate their work and ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality outputs.
• Collaborate with programme teams to gather compelling stories, testimonials, and multimedia content that effectively convey the importance and success of donor-funded projects.
• Coordinate the input and develop the annual results report.
• Support the Office with the development of communication assets such as fact sheets and standard slide presentations for donors/partners.
• Develop and share project-specific communication tools, publications, and visual presentations in coordination with donors' Public Information teams.
• Develop and update a resource mobilization and partnership-building strategy aligned with UNESCO Country Strategy and UNSDCF.
• Participate in external meetings to identify fundraising opportunities and liaise with the Division for Partnerships at Headquarters regarding strategic and new partnerships.
• Coordinate the development, monitoring, and reporting of UNESCO’s components in the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2025-29).
• Assist the Head of Office in liaison with the United Nations Development System in Iraq.
• Act as deputy focal point for Programme Management Team, Monitoring and Evaluation Group, and Priority Working Groups within UNSDCF.
• Prepare briefings on programmatic and specific issues, including interactions with the United Nations Country Team and UNESCO's Governing Bodies.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of business administration, marketing, advertising, journalism, communication or any other related field.
• A minimum of four (4) years of relevant professional experience in the field of public information and/or communication and partnerships/donor relations of which preferably two (2) years acquired at the international level.
• Experience in supporting large-scale initiatives and projects.
• Demonstrated experience in organizing and coordinating high-level events.
• Good understanding of development projects.
• Capacity to produce compelling and relevant multimedia content.
• Ability to manage competing priorities effectively within tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated capacity to take technically sound decisions on visibility aspects of project implementation.
• Fine-tuned interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment with diplomacy and sensitivity to cultural differences.
• Capacity to establish and maintain harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the Organization.
• Proven ability to provide professional guidance and manage a team of experts.
• Desirable: Relevant professional experience in the United Nations system or any other multilateral organization.
• Desirable: Experience in the field of communication or media in the Middle East.
• Desirable: Understanding of and sensitivity to the geopolitical context of Iraq and the Middle East.
• Desirable: Familiarity with UNESCO’s programmatic work in Iraq.
• Desirable: Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Chinese, French, Russian and/or Spanish).

Skills

• Public Information
• Communication Strategy
• Partnership Management
• Donor Relations
• Event Coordination
• Multimedia Production
• Project Visibility Management
• Development Project Knowledge
• Team Management
• International Communication
• Multicultural Sensitivity
• Strategic Communications
• High-level Event Organisation
• Deadline Management
• UN System Experience
• Media Relations
• Geopolitical Awareness
• Programmatic Knowledge
• Bilingual Communication

Languages

English, Arabic