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 a Champion

The Communication Associate will provide support and administrative assistance in the planning, development, and monitoring of the communication and advocacy strategies, reinforcing brand positioning and awareness, implementing effective knowledge management strategies and giving support to the core activities of the Sections.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Divisional Support
- Compile thematic files and background materials for workshops, seminars, events and campaigns.
- Support capacity development activities and conferences by end-to-end process management, including making logistical arrangements. Liaise with the Budget Associate SME over costs and needs.
- Section focal point: welcome new staff and introduce general office procedures, share the Section’s workplan, advise staff on various UNICEF platforms such as Fiori, Service Gateway, Vision, etc., go over terminology and acronyms, etc.
- During absences and annual leaves act as back up for the other Communication Associates as per schedules agreement with the supervisor.
- Use AI, automation tools and digital platforms to streamline repetitive tasks.
- Coordination of United Nations volunteers, stretch assignments and interns.

2. Planning and Project Management
- Ensure availability of timely, complete and accurate information and data for work and project plans.
- Undertake basic research and performs comparative analysis of administrative data.
- Monitor project implementation against established milestones and resources and makerecommendations to improve performance, including annual work plans.
- Help ensure timely compliance with agreed deadlines.
- Act as focal point in the review of completeness of data reports with key monitoring andevaluation information.
- Quantitative and qualitative data research including cost projections and analysis for annual work plans.

3. Procurement
- Guide managers in the process of contracting in line with the policies and guidance, in alignment with Supply Division, RAS and DPC.
- Facilitate the processing of contracts for consultants and external partners that provide aservice to the section. This includes preparing and filing documents, completing necessaryforms and templates, uploading TORs in VISION, and making necessary logisticalarrangements.
- Maintain up-to-date vendor lists, partners, and consultant rosters.

4. Advocacy Strategy and Brand Visibility Support
- Support in the development of online campaigns and pieces of communication, advocacy, and fundraising campaigns.
- Work closely with the supervisor on the use and appropriateness of global communication materials such as advocacy publications, images, and multimedia products.

5. Digital Outreach, Communication and Media Support
- Coordinate with providers and agencies to implement communication and advocacy activities.
- Support ongoing assessment of communication trends and practices and their application to evolving strategies.

6. Knowledge Management
- Maintain Section’s virtual knowledge management center, including SharePoint, One Drive, in coordination with ECM principles.
- Support the application of digital and AI tools for synthesizing complex data and creating actionable insights for statutory reports, dashboards and presentations on key performance indicators.
- Draft clear and well-structured communication to share reports, briefs, and knowledge products for internal and external use.

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

Minimum requirements:

- 1. 1. Education: Secondary Education in any related fields.
      *A first level university degree (i.e. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may replace three years of relevant work experience, and an advanced university degree (i.e. Master’s degree or equivalent) degree may replace an additional two years.
    2. Work Experience: At least six (6) years of relevant working experience in business operations support and administrative assistance in communication and advocacy or related field is required. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain work relationships is required.
    3. Skills: Demonstrated ability in capacity building, internal communication, digital outreach, relationship building, advocacy strategy, online collaboration tools.
    4. Language Requirements: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirables:
1. 1. Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
  2. Experience working with an international organization in multicultural environment, as well as experience in research and responding to queries are highly desirable. Experience applying corporate style and brand guidelines to communication products, and hands-on experience with online tools e.g. SharePoint, OneDrive, SAP Fiori and VISION, are an asset.
  3. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

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.

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 are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

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.

Batch Recruitment: Communication Associate, G-6, Fixed Term Positions #00134066, #00134067, #00134068, Global Communication and Advocacy Division, Rome, Italy