The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is seeking a Chief Communications and Spokesperson (D1 level) to lead its global communications and advocacy functions. This high-profile role is responsible for managing media relations, providing strategic advice to executive leadership, and ensuring the quality and coherence of all external communication materials to promote sustainable urban development.
Key Responsibilities
- Media Relations & Spokesmanship: Lead and coordinate media relations, providing on-record and background press briefings and interviews to national and international media. Develop, update, and execute a comprehensive media strategy, including utilizing digital and multimedia platforms.
- Strategic Advising: Act as a senior advisor to the Executive Director and senior leadership on media strategy, positioning, and approach. Conceptualize and implement timely communication strategies in reaction to various situations, including responding to disinformation.
- Executive Content Oversight: Oversee the quality and coherence of all communication materials and documents submitted for the Executive Director, serving as the central coordination point for reviewing and clearing drafts.
- Digital and Social Media: Ensure messages are distributed via traditional sources as well as digital and social media platforms (websites, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to engage global audiences.
- Stakeholder Liaison: Coordinate with government counterparts, diplomatic communities, local authorities, and civil society to ensure key messages are conveyed effectively.
- Team Leadership and Management: Recruit, manage, guide, and train staff. Conduct performance evaluations and foster teamwork across organizational boundaries, ensuring gender parity and geographical balance.
- Data-Driven Planning: Lead efforts to collect and analyze data to identify trends for data-driven planning, decision-making, and reporting.
Requirements
- Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communications, journalism, public administration, social sciences, or a related area. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's) in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience (17 years total) may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
- Experience: A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in leading and managing communications and advocacy functions.
- Specialized Experience: At least seven (7) years of experience delivering strategic communications and media initiatives and results is required.
- Management Experience: At least five (5) years of experience in managing and leading a team of at least six (6) professional staff members.
- Desirable Experience: Experience in data analytics, mobilizing stakeholders, leading human rights/social inclusion initiatives, or leading global advocacy campaigns is highly desirable.
