Senior Communications Officer

The position is located in the UN Development Coordination Office’s (DCO) Strategic Partnerships and Engagement Division, where the incumbent heads the Strategic Communications and Information Integrity Section, in New York, and reports to the Director, Strategic Partnerships and Engagement Division/DCO Deputy Director. The incumbent works closely across DCO and with partners across the wider United Nations system, including relevant Secretariat offices and departments such as the Department of Global Communications (DGC) and the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. The Chief of Section, Strategic Communications and Information Integrity, leads DCO’s strategic communications, information integrity and communications innovation functions across the DCO/RC system. The incumbent sets the strategic direction for communications that strengthen public trust in the United Nations development system, advance coherent, evidence-based narratives on UN priorities, including SDG acceleration, and position the RC system as a credible and trusted source of information in increasingly complex digital and information environments. The Chief of Section provides strategic advice to DCO senior management on communications opportunities, reputational risk and crisis communications, and oversees the development of system-wide communications strategies, policy guidance, campaigns and partnership approaches, driving innovation in how the United Nations development system communicates. The incumbent leads DCO’s support to Resident Coordinators and United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs) in addressing misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, polarization and declining trust in institutions, including in fragile, crisis and politically sensitive contexts. This includes guiding the development of integrated communications strategies, crisis communications approaches, messaging frameworks, guidance materials and training initiatives aligned with UN principles and system-wide priorities, and overseeing the research, monitoring and analysis of information risks that inform prevention, mitigation and response at country, regional and global levels. Innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) are at the core of the role. The Chief of Section leads DCO’s communications innovation agenda and the organization’s adaptation to an information environment transformed by AI, including AI-mediated search and information discovery, synthetic content, the fragmentation of audiences across new and emerging platforms, and evolving risks to information integrity. This includes identifying, testing and scaling AI-enabled and other emerging tools for monitoring, analysis, content production, translation and audience engagement, in line with UN principles on the ethical and responsible use of AI; positioning DCO, UNSDG and UNCT digital platforms as trusted and authoritative sources of information in an AI-mediated environment; and fostering a culture of experimentation and learning across the section and the wider RC system communications network, in collaboration with DGC, UN innovation initiatives, technology partners and academia. The incumbent oversees the strategic evolution of DCO’s global digital ecosystem, including the DCO and UNSDG websites, UNCT websites, social media platforms, multimedia products and data-driven storytelling linked to transparency, accountability and results reporting, including through UN INFO and related digital platforms. The incumbent ensures that the section’s work integrates behavioral science, audience insights and data-informed approaches, with performance monitoring frameworks that measure reach, credibility and impact. As Chief of Section, the incumbent manages a multidisciplinary team covering strategy and information integrity, digital strategy, strategic communications and innovation, campaigns and knowledge management, and is responsible for workplanning, resource and budget management, and the professional development of staff. The incumbent oversees the section’s knowledge management and capacity-building functions, including training initiatives delivered in partnership with DGC and other UN communications partners, global and regional communities of practice, and the section’s networks of communications colleagues at country, regional and global levels, as well as the procurement and management of design and creative services. The Chief of Section establishes and maintains relationships with senior management in DCO and across the United Nations Secretariat, Communications leads across the United Nations system, managers in other functional areas, Crisis Management Teams when activated, and staff at headquarters, regional and country levels to provide strategic communications leadership and guidance, coordinate integrated communications planning and crisis and advocacy communications efforts, and strengthen organizational preparedness and response capacity across the DCO/RC system. The Chief of Section also establishes and maintains external relationships with counterparts in United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, senior government officials, civil society representatives and local communities, digital and social media platforms, technology partners, academia, think tanks, behavioral science experts, media organizations, creative content producers and private sector actors to build and manage strategic partnerships, exchange knowledge and best practices, align messaging, strengthen information integrity, and mobilize support and resources for UN priorities, including SDG acceleration.

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to lead strategic communications and innovation in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment, including the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to strengthen information integrity and public trust. Ability to build and maintain partnerships. 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. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. 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. 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. JUDGMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies key issues in complex situations, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, digital communications or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Not available.

A minimum of ten years of experience in communications, international relations, or other relevant areas, is required. Knowledge of strategic communications principles and practices is required. Ability to develop and implement communications strategies is required. Knowledge of current and emerging digital media platforms, their principles and technologies is required. Knowledge of risks to information integrity - misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and threats in fragile, post conflict, and crisis environments is required. Ability to develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is desirable. Ability to identify trends and provide insights is desirable. Skills to communicate complex and technical matters to diverse audiences is desirable. Project management skills is desirable. Skill in policy development in international or multilateral organizational setting is desirable.

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

This temporary position is available for 6 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. Applicants who have reached the mandatory age of separation are not eligible to apply for job openings to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. 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. NOTE: 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.

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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.