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 Future

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Communication Specialist (NOC), the Communication Officer provides professional and technical communication support for private sector engagement, fundraising communication, donor stewardship, youth engagement and digital communication initiatives that contribute to the achievement of UNICEF Montenegro's programme, advocacy and resource mobilization objectives.

The incumbent contributes to the planning, coordination and implementation of communication activities that strengthen partnerships with the private sector, enhance donor visibility and recognition, support fundraising and supporter engagement, promote meaningful youth participation through the UNICEF Young Reporters initiative, and ensure consistent application of UNICEF communication standards, brand guidelines and partnership requirements.

The position also supports communication-related due diligence processes, develops high-quality communication products across digital and traditional media, monitors communication performance and contributes to evidence-based communication planning that strengthens UNICEF's visibility, credibility and partnerships in Montenegro.



Summary of key functions/accountabilities:


•    Prepare and review communication materials to ensure compliance with UNICEF branding and visual identity standards.
•    Support implementation of visibility requirements related to partnerships, fundraising initiatives and donor agreements. 
•    Coordinate the production of communication assets required for events, campaigns and partner recognition activities. 
•    Support communication-related due diligence by conducting media and social media reviews of prospective partners and identifying potential
reputational risks for further assessment. 
•    Maintain communication records and visibility documentation supporting partnership reporting requirements. 
•    Analyse communication performance data and contribute to evidence-based recommendations for improving communication effectiveness. 
•    Coordinate communication activities involving UNICEF Young Reporters and other youth engagement initiatives.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Download File JD, Communication Officer, NO-1, Temporary Position, Republic of Montenegro.pdf

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

Minimum requirements

Education: university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Studies, Marketing, Social Sciences or another relevant field is required.
Work experience: minimum one year of relevant professional experience in communication, public relations, journalism, media, digital communication, or any related field is required.
Skills: demonstrated ability to develop high-quality written and visual communication materials, translate complex information into clear and engaging messages, and effectively manage communication initiatives across multiple stakeholders and channels. Strong interpersonal, organizational and relationship-building skills, with the ability to exercise sound judgement, work under pressure and collaborate successfully in multicultural environments. Proficiency in Microsoft Office is required; experience with digital communication tools, content management systems and social media platforms.
Language Requirements: English - Proficient/Fluent, and Montenegrin - Proficient/Fluent.

Desirables

Language: Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language.
Experience working with adolescents, youth participation initiatives, or child participation programmes.
Experience supporting communication campaigns, public engagement initiatives, or advocacy activities.
Knowledge of analytical tools and multimedia content creation is considered an asset.
Relevant Master`s Degree is highly desirable.

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
(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

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 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.

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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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 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.

Communication Officer, NO-1, Temporary Position, 10 months, Podgorica, Republic of Montenegro, #00130371