Communication Specialist, NO-C, FT, Belém, Brazil # 6931

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. 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 personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, an advocate

Since 1950, UNICEF has supported the most important transformation for children and adolescents in Brazil. UNICEF Brazil with its main office in Brasília and nine field offices UNICEF works in close partnership with national and sub-national governments, corporate partners, youth, and civil society organizations.

For information on the work of our organization in Brazil, please visit our website: UNICEF Brazil.

How can you make a difference?

The Communication Specialist will be based in the Belem office, reporting to the national Chief of Advocacy and Communications and working in close coordination with the Chief of Field Office in Belem. The Specialist will work in close coordination and alignment with the national Communications and the Belem, Manaus, Boa Vista teams in developing, managing, coordinating, networking, implementing, and monitoring advocacy and communication strategies and associated products and activities on ongoing basis for targeted audiences, to raise awareness, support, engagement and action for children's and women's rights.

Key functions/accountabilities:

1. Develop, implement and monitor advocacy, communication and SBC strategies around key priority themes for the North region, in close alignment with national priorities and the heads of offices of the Legal Amazon Region (Belem, Manaus and Boa Vista).
2. Establish strong relationships with local media to effectively communicate UNICEF's story and its impactful collaborations.
3. Build, strengthen, and expand networks and partnerships that advance UNICEF's advocacy objectives, including with the UN Country Team, as well as influencers and UNICEF National Ambassadors.
4. Support national and global resource mobilization efforts, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
5. Lead communication and advocacy efforts of targeted national initiatives.
6. Establish communication baselines, regularly evaluate the effectiveness of strategies and activities, and analyze to enhance outcomes. Prepare and share comprehensive reports to track progress and results.
7. Provide expert advice and guidance to the Chief of Advocacy and Communications and the Chief of Field Office in Belem on external communication strategies and activities, while supporting capacity building to strengthen their impact.

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

Education – Advanced university degree (master's) in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related field.

Experience – Five years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media, including strategy development and implementation.

• Experience in working with communication for human rights in a development context at a local level.
• Experience in developing strategic communication materials, event organization, seamless project management and reports to donors.
• Excellent skills in writing communication materials, planning and teamwork.
• Experience in liaising with media and as a spokesperson for institutional communication.

Language - Fluency in Portuguese and English.

Desirable:

• Experience and knowledge of North and Amazon region scene, including social political context, government stakeholders, indigenous population and media outlets is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, 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...

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy , UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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.

UNICEF's active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable afro-descendants, indigenous, and other minorities 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.

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.