Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Organizational Context

As the lead United Nations agency on international development, for six decades, UNDP works in some 170 countries and territories. UNDP has shaped the progress of human development, providing integrated support at scale to improve lives for millions of people worldwide. UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2026-2029 helps countries and communities in their progress towards high human development while protecting the planet through four strategic objectives – prosperity for all, effective governance, crisis resilience, and healthy planet. The plan is powered by three accelerators: digital and AI transformation; gender equality; and sustainable finance. All are underpinned by a commitment to human rights and to leaving no one behind.

The Bureau for Advocacy and External Relations lead and supports UNDP to build and deliver essential strategic relationships and alliances. It creates and delivers a strong public narrative about the organization, impact of our work, and how we align with partners to identify and build solutions towards achieving sustainable development. The Bureau also leads UNDP’s work with traditional donors, as well as building innovative and diversified funding relationships. BERA communications enable strong political and financial backing by providing partners and supporters with a clear understanding of what UNDP does and how our mission, capabilities and services reinforce global, regional, and national development priorities. BERA leads efforts to optimally position UNDP within the UN Development System, with Member States and in the inter-governmental and inter-agency fora. It identifies strategic opportunities to partner with agencies through multi-stakeholder and bilateral platforms. It provides intelligence, advises on relationships with key political constituencies, incl. UN Member states, G77 and China, WEOG, EU, Executive Board and develops strategies. BERA coordinates and sets corporate standards across the functions of political positioning, partnerships, marketing and communications within UNDP and leads on internal communications.

Within BERA, the Communications Group leads and manages external communications through strategy, media, digital communications, marketing, branding and global storytelling. The Visibility and Impact for Partnerships (VIP) Team supports UNDP’s flexible funding goals by enhancing visibility for and with partners and demonstrating the alignment between partner priorities and UNDP’s work, results and impact. The Team develops targeted partner visibility and engagement approaches; equips the organization with messages, creative assets, tools and guidance; and works to strengthen partner recognition and reach priority audiences. The Team also helps connect Goodwill Ambassadors, advocates and other influential voices to donor communications, high-profile engagements and resource mobilization priorities.

Job Purpose

Communications Specialist, Celebrity Relations is part of the Visibility and Impact for Partnerships Team. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Team Leader, Visibility and Impact for Partnerships, the incumbent will lead UNDP’s corporate Goodwill Ambassador and celebrity relations function and manage communications initiatives and opportunities involving Goodwill Ambassadors, Advocates, influencers and other high-profile supporters.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks & crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated & systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Organize and manage the day-to day Goodwill Ambassador Programme

Working closely with the Visibility and Impact for Partnerships Team Leader, act as the corporate focal point and relationship manager for existing global Goodwill Ambassadors and Advocates, working with them to plan engagement with UNDP.
Position Goodwill Ambassadors across media and social media platforms, at events, in country visits and in engagement with partners.
Initiate and contribute to drafting and editing of communications materials, including speeches and talking points, press kits, fact sheets, infographics and multimedia products, relevant to Goodwill Ambassador events, appearances, participation in campaigns and other communications outreach.
Contribute to organizing relevant press events and media moments, and position UNDP senior staff and Goodwill Ambassadors in press launches and media coverage.

2) Expand and strengthen the Goodwill Ambassador Programme

Develop and implement comprehensive corporate communications planning for Goodwill Ambassadors and other celebrity supporters, including developing targets for outreach and impact, and integrating Goodwill Ambassadors into resource mobilization efforts.
Identify and recruit potential new Goodwill Ambassadors, work to orient them and continue to support them in their engagement with UNDP.
Work as the HQ Coordinator with the UNDP Geneva Office for the Match Against Poverty and European-based sports Goodwill Ambassadors, helping to strengthen the Match Against Poverty into an integrated communications and resource mobilization initiative.
Support Goodwill Ambassador field missions and engagement with UNDP’s donors and partners.

3.) Advice and support other UNDP offices with celebrity management and artist relations.

Advise Country Offices and Bureaus on recruitment and management of national or regional GWAs.
Coordinate with Country Offices and other Bureaus to connect global UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors to national or regional efforts as appropriate.

4.) Advise and support the wider work of the Visibility and Impact for Partnerships Team as and when required and facilitate knowledge management

Identify opportunities to use Goodwill Ambassadors, Advocates, influencers and other high-profile supporters in targeted partner communications and visibility plans, including in priority donor countries and emerging partner markets.
Design integrated engagement plans for partner events, country visits, campaigns and other high-profile moments, with clear objectives, audiences, roles, risk considerations, content requirements and follow-up actions.
Work with the Partnerships Group, Representation Offices, Regional Bureaux, Country Offices and corporate communications teams to align celebrity engagement with partner priorities and produce communications content that showcases UNDP’s results and the value of partner contributions.
Provide substantive and sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of
practice including corporate communications repositories.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

Competencies

Core : Full list of UNDP Core Competencies can be found here

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Communication Advocacy strategy and implementation Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change
Communication Celebrity management Build and maintain productive and positive relationships with celebrities and other high-profile influencers
Communication Media Relations Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages
Communication Multimedia writing/editing Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia
Business Direction and Strategy Systems Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Partnerships Management Relationship Management Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
Business Management Portfolio Management Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Communications, Journalism, Arts, Social Science or related field is required. Or
A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields of study, with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:

A minimum of 7 years (with a master’s degree) or 9 years (with a bachelor’s degree) with work experience required in the field of communications, celebrity management, marketing, public relations, journalism or any other relevant field is required.
Experience working in or with the entertainment industry/talent management field and demonstrated track record of artist/celebrity relationship management required, preferably in a social cause-related role is required.
Demonstrated experience in communications, and understanding of media, multimedia and social media required
Experience with media/marketing for special events strongly preferred.
Experience and strong understanding of international development; donor communications; environmental and crisis issues; or resource mobilization and/or other relevant issues is preferred.
Demonstrated ability to thrive within a complex multicultural and multinational environment strongly preferred.
Fluency in English is required; Working knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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Communications Specialist-Celebrity Relations - [Open to all applicants]