Org. Setting and Reporting

To ensure a United Nations that is fit-for-purpose to deliver on the ambition of the SDGs, the General Assembly adopted the most far-reaching development reforms in the history of the organization in May 2018. At the core of resolution 72/279 was the establishment of a reinvigorated, independent, impartial, and empowered Resident Coordinator (RC) system to support a new generation of UN country teams (UNCTs). The Communications Officer will lead the development and execution of a forward-looking communications strategy for the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO), amplifying the UN’s recovery and development agenda in Ukraine. This includes targeted engagement with government counterparts, local communities, UN agencies, and international partners to position the UN as a trusted and effective partner on the ground. Chairing and working in close collaboration with the UN Communications Group (UNCG), the Communications Officer will ensure coherent and aligned messaging across the UN system—complementing humanitarian communications while strategically amplifying efforts on resilience and sustainable development. The role also supports the DGC-led UNCG Crisis Communications Cell for Ukraine and strengthens media engagement at national, regional, and international levels. Anchored in the principles of UN 2.0, the incumbent will drive communications that go beyond visibility—enabling policy influence, strengthening public trust, and supporting resource mobilization. By linking data and results to compelling storytelling, and integrating foresight and behavioral science where relevant, the role reinforces multilateralism and showcases the UN’s value add as a trusted partner on the ground.

Responsibilities

• Provide analysis and advice to the management and/or UN colleagues on strategic communications issues such as opportunities for proactive communications, building support, managing crises and reputational risks, and strengthening information integrity. • Provide insights and analysis from traditional, social, and digital media monitoring, including public narratives and areas of reputational risk to inform communications strategy. • Develop and implement communications strategies that raise awareness, drive engagement, build support and have measurable impact with target audiences. • Draft compelling narratives and messaging on the work of the UN that engage target audiences across different channels and platforms. • Develop media lines, including in crisis situations and on sensitive issues. • Draft and produce communications products, such as press releases, press statements, web stories, reports and infographics. • Coordinate and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop and deliver joint outreach and advocacy activities to advance UN priorities. • Serve as focal point on policy and reporting and prepare inputs for strategic communications in the context of regular reporting to governmental bodies. • Collect and analyse data to identify trends and or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Manage and coordinate the activities of the team, including hiring, training, assigning tasks and responsibilities, evaluating performance and ensuring that deadlines are met. • Provide guidance to team members to promote professional development and a positive team culture. • Advise on public narratives to support senior management decision-making and to steer the communications strategy. • Monitor developing events to identify emerging crises and reputational risks. • Manage insights and analysis based on the monitoring of traditional, social, and digital media, including on risks to information integrity such as trends in mis and disinformation. • Manage the coordination of the crisis communications response with the communications stakeholders at the local, regional, and global levels, including the crisis communications cell and UN Communications Group in country. • Support the development of policy, guidance and training on crisis communications and reputational risk. • Keep abreast of the latest trends in communications and maintain expertise in relevant and emerging technologies. • Create and manage compelling and relevant content for websites, create and moderate engaging and platform-optimized content for social media channels, including live content tailored for digital platforms to advance digital communications priorities and campaigns. • Develop approaches to analyse, monitor and report social media, web, and other digital content to measure results, inform content creation and adjust ongoing initiatives. • Develop and implement social media strategies that measurably raise awareness of UN work with target audiences. • Oversee development and maintenance of the organization's website, ensuring it remains up-to-date, user-friendly and accessible. • Draft and edit clear, concise business intelligence and insights reports on communications outcomes and trends for key stakeholders, including on reputation risks and crisis communications. • Develop recommendations on digital media content and engagement strategies for key stakeholders based on data insights. • Keep abreast of the latest trends in communications and maintain expertise in relevant and emerging technologies. • Coordinate and promote feedback mechanisms that capture staff views and sentiments including surveys, polls and discussion forums, in coordination with management and subject matter experts. • Support management in fostering a safe working environment and a constructive workplace culture, through targeted campaigns and awareness- raising, team building and facilitation. • Develop and implement media relations strategies to shape public perceptions of the UN, its work and impact. • Manage the development of news-driven, authoritative and accurate content to lead the organization’s narrative, such as press releases, statements, op ed, and articles. • Prepare talking points, key messages, and data for media interviews to shape public perceptions of the UN work and its impact. • Monitor, analyse, and report on communications approaches, activities and strategies to assess their performance and effectiveness. • Coordinate and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop and deliver joint outreach and advocacy activities to advance UN priorities. • Develop creative campaign concepts, content, and materials, including digital and print assets, social media posts, email communications and multimedia content. • Build and maintain relationships with existing and potential partners that can help amplify the organization's advocacy messages at local, national, regional and or/international levels.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrated experience in communications, public information or journalism at the international level. Demonstrated ability to write for digital platforms such a social media or websites for an international audience organization. Demonstrated skills in developing creative content. Demonstrated Knowledge of strategic communications principles and practices. Demonstrated skills to conduct research such as systematic data collection and analysis of information from various sources. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and proficiency in subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style, and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent or significant comparable professional practice) in communications, journalism, public information, international relations, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public information, or journalism, including at least five (5) years at the international level, is required. Demonstrated experience working in politically sensitive and crisis-affected settings is required. Demonstrated skill in developing creative content is required. Demonstrated knowledge of strategic communications principles and practices is required. Experience in conducting research, including systematic data collection and analysis from various sources, is desirable. Demonstrated ability to give constructive feedback is desirable. Demonstrated knowledge of the current and emerging digital media platforms, their principles and technologies is desirable. Demonstrated skills to communicate complex and technical matters to diverse audiences is desirable. Demonstrated critical thinking skills are desirable. Demonstrated ability to write for digital platforms such as social media and websites targeting national and international audiences is required.

Languages

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. This position is temporary for 3 months. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Internal Applicants: When completing the form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up-to-date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. Individual contractors and consultants (Non-Staff Personnel) who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of As of 31 August 2025, are strongly encouraged to apply: Brunei Darussalam, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu. Andorra, Angola, Belize, China, Cuba, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, United States of America • This position is temporarily available. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.