UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to opportunities 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF Venezuela requires the services of a person with experience in developing digital strategies, knowledge of instruments measuring online communication and the ability to convey that knowledge and build capabilities in the use of digital tools

How can you make a difference? 

The socio-economic and political crisis in Venezuela has further deteriorated in 2019 and led to growing humanitarian needs.

UNICEF is one of the UN agencies with the largest operational footprint in Venezuela. As part of the UN Venezuela Scale-Up Strategy, UNICEF has revised its Country Programme Document with a Scale-up Plan which is expanding the scope and reach of its cooperation to address emerging needs of children and women, downstream including enhancing strategies, field presence and service delivery activities.

In Venezuela, many people use digital media rather than mainstream media as their primary source of information. Outside Venezuela, top influencers with interest in the country prefer social media platforms to convey their messages. This local position will ensure UNICEF is equipped to be part of this ongoing online conversation on Venezuela and shape the narrative from an economic and political to a humanitarian perspective, with a strong focus on children´s rights.

Purpose for the job:

Assists in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating an advocacy and communication strategy to get children’s and women’s issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives in the country, and enhance the organization’s credibility and brand.

The Communication Associate works in close collaboration with a range of staff in the CO, external partners and agency counterparts in support of communication design and delivery. S/He provides regular feedback on the status of projects through monitoring milestones and advises on improvements to keep activities on track.

The role of the incumbent of this post will be key in the achievement of the Communication and Public Advocacy Strategy goals by providing technical support to the implementation of digital and social media strategies. In this capacity, the need to project the image of a credible and reliable service provider is imperative to quality of process delivery, and the impact of work directly reflects on the overall reputation of the team in terms of responsiveness to client needs and quality of process execution.

1. Support the management of UNICEF's digital and social media strategies

• The Communication Associate will be responsible for assisting in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating an advocacy & communication strategy to get children's and women's issues into the public domain, strengthen political will in support of UNICEF's mission and objectives in the country, and enhance the organization's credibility and brand.
• Ensure that the production of communication products and materials is timely executed and followed up to support country communication strategy, regional and global campaigns and priorities and to support resource mobilization as set out in the work plan.
• Effective and timely professional assistance towards development of strategies in social media outreach and public engagement for the messages and campaigns of UNICEF in Venezuela.
• Update the content of UNICEF's presences in Venezuela in digital media channels.
• Support to plan and craft social media posts for UNICEF's social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, lnstagram, YouTube and other channels that may be created.
• Interact with users of social media of UNICEF in Venezuela and assists them on their needs for information of UNICEF´s operational aspects on a daily basis.
• Produce images, infographics and basic video editing on UNICEF's actions to be published on UNICEF's Venezuela social media.
• Liaise with the Digital Regional and Global focal point to ensure synergies between communication and/or advocacy efforts and fundraising in every relevant and applicable instance.
• The efficiency and effectiveness of support provided ensures that strong digital activations are provided to meet the organization's needs in terms of public advocacy, branding and fundraising.

     2. Support to monitoring and reporting of CO results

• Support to monitoring and reporting of CO results.
• Ensure that baselines are established against which the achievement of objectives of the Communication Strategy are regularly evaluated; analysis is undertaken to continuously improve the effectiveness of communication strategy, approach and activities; results and reports are prepared and shared on a timely basis.
• Prepare monitoring and reporting information for supervisor on agreed performance indicators to drive more efficient management and accountability for results.

     3. Support to monitoring online mentions and actions

• Ensure that mentions about UNICEF's Brand and UNICEF's initiatives are monitored on digital media.
• Measure the performance of presence of UNICEF Venezuela in digital media, evaluates the performance and suggests new approaches when needed.
• Listen to discussions on UNICEF and on issues and campaigns of interest of the organization in social media, both nationally and internationally.
• Contributes to social media monitoring provided by partners.
• Preparing monitoring and reporting information for supervisor and team on agreed performance indicators to drive more efficient management and accountability for results.

4. Support to knowledge management and capacity building

•  Research, analyzes, verifies and synthesizes information on best practices and lessons learnt to support knowledge development and capacity building on digital communication.
• Train programme staff, specially at the FO level, on the best way to convey UNICEF´s messages.
• Supports capacity development activities related to digital communication development by preparing training materials and participating in exercises.

5. Support to manage and engage with digital communities.

• Create content for different platforms that promotes dialogue and communication with communities in digital environments.
• Contribute to the development of key messages that will strengthen UNICEF's influence on the public agenda in favor of children's rights.
• Support the organization of activities that strengthen the voice of children and youth advocacy.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: University degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related field.
• Work Experience: Six-years of progressively responsible experience in communication, media, or interactive digital media.
  Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish and Basic in English are required. Intermediate in English is desirable. 

Skills

• Communication practice, methodology and practical application.
•  Knowledge of current theories and practices in communication research planning and strategy.
• Fundamentals of working in various media formats – print, audio, video, web etc.
• Computer systems, including internet navigation, office applications, and specifically, interactive digital media. 
• United Nations or other international organizations; good understanding of world affairs, current events and international development issues.
• Global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women
• Gender equality and diversity awareness
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• High attention to detail.
• Good analytical skills.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

The following positions is only applicable for national personnel. All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates. 

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.