Senior Communication Associate (Writer & Editor)

The Senior Communication Associate (Writer & Editor) serves as the principal writer and editor within UNICEF's Global ICSE team, responsible for developing high-quality organizational communications, stories, and editorial content to keep personnel informed about UNICEF's priorities and initiatives. The role involves researching complex topics, producing clear and engaging content, managing publication across internal channels, and supporting contributor engagement and editorial standards.

Responsibilities

• Write, edit and produce high-quality organizational communications, strategic updates, stories, feature articles, interviews, and other editorial content for global internal audiences.
• Develop content that supports awareness and understanding of UNICEF's strategic priorities, key initiatives, organizational developments and matters of institutional importance.
• Research complex topics, gather and synthesize information from multiple sources, and translate it into clear, accurate, and engaging communications for diverse internal audiences.
• Identify content opportunities, develop compelling and strategic story angles, and produce timely content related to organizational priorities and developments affecting UNICEF's work.
• Conduct interviews and stakeholder engagement to support content development and storytelling.
• Exercise sound editorial judgment to ensure content is strategic, relevant, audience-focused and aligned with internal communication objectives.
• Ensure factual accuracy, editorial quality and alignment with internal communication standards, editorial guidelines and UNICEF values.
• Publish and distribute content across UNICEF's internal communication channels, including ICON, SharePoint, Outlook, Viva Amplify, Viva Engage, Teams and other key platforms.
• Create, format and maintain SharePoint pages and other digital content assets for stories, organizational messages, announcements, and campaign content.
• Manage uMessage, including coordinating, drafting and distributing organizational messages in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain ICON, UNICEF's intranet homepage, and related internal communication products, ensuring content remains timely, accurate and engaging.
• Coordinate content publication schedules and related publishing activities across channels.
• Support lock-screen communications and related publishing processes.
• Ensure published content complies with accessibility, usability and brand standards.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with communication focal points, contributors and stakeholders across UNICEF.
• Identify content opportunities and work with contributors across the organization to source, develop, and strengthen content for global internal audiences.
• Review and edit submissions to improve clarity, structure, storytelling, audience relevance, and alignment with editorial standards.
• Provide guidance and practical support to colleagues and contributors developing content for internal communication channels.
• Help identify and amplify compelling stories, innovations, lessons learned and good practices from across the organization.
• Contribute to the development and application of editorial guidance, standards, templates and tools that support content quality and consistency.
• Support knowledge-sharing and capacity-building initiatives related to internal writing, editing, and storytelling.
• Monitor content performance and audience engagement using available analytics tools.
• Provide periodic reports and recommendations that support continuous improvement of internal communication products and approaches.
• Assess audience engagement trends and contribute insights to improve content quality, relevance, and effectiveness.
• Support the application of editorial and publishing standards and identify opportunities to strengthen content quality and consistency.
• Support coordination with Operations and other relevant business units as required.
• Support procurement and administrative processes, including the processing of purchase orders and invoices.
• Provide periodic updates on administrative and budget-related matters, as required.
• Provide administrative support to the ICSE team.

Requirements

• Completion of secondary education is required.
• A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may replace 3 years of related work experience.
• A Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) may replace an additional 2 years.
• A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in journalism, writing, editing, publishing, communications, digital media, or a related field is required.
• Demonstrated experience researching, gathering and synthesizing information from multiple sources, and developing, writing and editing stories, features, interviews and other editorial content for diverse audiences is essential.
• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments and deliver high-quality content within demanding timelines is essential.
• Experience working with contributors, subject-matter experts and stakeholders to develop and curate content is essential.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills in English, including the ability to develop and review organizational communications and editorial content.
• Strong editorial judgment and news sense, including the ability to identify organizational priorities, audience-relevant stories, key messages and effective storytelling approaches.
• Strong interviewing, research, and fact-checking skills.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear, accurate, and engaging content.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities while maintaining high standards of quality and accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 tools, including SharePoint, Viva Engage, and Viva Amplify.
• Fluency and excellent command of written and spoken English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
• A university degree (Bachelor's or higher) in Journalism, English, Communications, Media Studies, Digital Media, International Relations or another relevant field is an asset.
• Specialized training or coursework in writing, editing, journalism, storytelling, digital publishing, multimedia content production or related fields is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience writing and editing high-quality organizational communications, strategic updates, leadership messages or other communications for internal or professional audiences is highly desirable.
• Experience publishing content through digital channels, content management systems, or internal communication platforms is desirable.
• Experience using content analytics, reporting, or audience insights to support content improvement is desirable.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

Skills

• Journalism
• Writing
• Editing
• Publishing
• Communications
• Digital Media
• Research
• Content Development
• Storytelling
• Interviewing
• Fact-Checking
• Content Curation
• Organizational Communication
• Editorial Judgment
• MS Office 365
• SharePoint Development
• Viva Engage
• Viva Amplify
• Content Management Systems
• Content Analytics

Languages

English