Communication Lead

Result of ServiceCommunication products, materials, tools and activities to enable the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution deliver an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. Work LocationNairobi Expected duration12 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) adopted resolution 5/14 on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, and provided the mandate for the establishment of an intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, could include both binding and voluntary approaches, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic. The Communication Lead will work in the INC secretariat on Plastic Pollution supporting the implementation of UNEA resolution 5/14 “Ending plastic pollution: towards an international legally binding instrument”. Under the overall guidance of the Executive Secretary and in consultation with the UNEP Communication Division, the Communication Lead will be responsible for the following duties: Strategic communication and coordination: 1. Leads the development and implementation of the INC Secretariat’s communication strategy and outreach plans, ensuring alignment with UNEP’s corporate communication priorities and UN Secretariat standards. 2. Leads UNEP’s system-wide communication initiatives on plastic pollution, ensuring consistent inclusion of INC-related messaging across UNEP and UN platforms. 3. Develops and coordinates multi-channel communication and awareness activities, including web content and social media campaigns implemented by UNEP, ensuring that INC messages and materials are harmonized across communication channels. 4. Coordinates the production and dissemination of approved communication and information materials in digital and print formats, ensuring quality and consistency with UNEP’s standards. 5. Drafts, reviews and edits speeches, statements, talking points, reports and other official materials for senior UNEP officials, ensuring clarity, consistency and compliance with UN editorial style. 6. Provides strategic advice and expertise to senior officers on communication and information-management approaches and risks, and anticipates and resolves related issues. 7. Oversees the preparation and quality assurance of communication materials for the INC process, ensuring consistency with UNEP’s editorial and branding standards. Stakeholder and media support: 8. Develops and coordinates stakeholder communication and engagement with Member States, Observers and partners, including through external events, to promote transparency, participation and understanding of the INC process. 9. Prepares background materials, press content and approved messaging on the INC process in coordination with UNEP’s media and press teams. Information and platform management: 10. Leads the development, governance and maintenance of digital platforms (such as website, document platforms and mobile app) and web-based materials that service the INC process, ensuring accuracy, accessibility and integration with UNEP’s corporate systems. 11. Manages the Secretariat’s information and knowledge-management systems or workflows, ensuring that data and documentation are organized, accessible and compliant with UNEP and UN information-management policies. 12. Ensures governance and integrity of digital information systems and repositories used by the INC Secretariat, maintaining accuracy, accessibility, security and compliance with UNEP and UN Secretariat standards. Documentation and conference information services: 13. Oversees copy-editing on internal and external documents and leads on publishing workflows with standard operating procedures for INC sessions and intersessional processes in accordance with UN documentation standards. 14. Develops and coordinates information and visual-communication materials for INC sessions and events, ensuring consistent branding, signage, multimedia and webcast delivery in collaboration with Conference Services and host governments 15. Identifies collaborative partners and technical resources to ensure information and communication services for INC sessions and intersessional periods. 16. Represents the Secretariat in coordination meetings and technical briefings related to communication and information management, and collaborates with Conference Services and related partners to deliver communication services at INC meetings and events. Monitoring, innovation and capacity development: 17. Monitors and evaluates the reach and impact of communication and information-management activities, identifying trends and preparing analytical reports and recommendations for improvement. 18. Identifies and recommends innovative digital tools and workflows to strengthen the Secretariat’s communication and information-management functions, including in preparation for transition to a future multilateral environmental agreement secretariat. 19. Provides guidance, training and oversight to Secretariat staff, consultants and service providers on communication, documentation and information-management procedures. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. At least fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration is required. Experience in drafting communication strategies and in planning and implementing large scale communication projects is required. Experience in writing for the web for a complex international organization comparable to the UN is required. Progressive years of experience in planning and implementing multilingual campaigns/strategies, including involving digital communications is required. Experience evaluating results and impact of activities and drafting official reports/communications, news stories, press releases, newsletters and talking points is desirable. Experience coordinating communications work across time zones, departments, offices and entities is desirable. Experience working on plastic pollution and related issues is desirable. Knowledge of Drupal, HTML, mailing list services and databases, and design programmes like Adobe Creative Suite is desired. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (oral and written) is required. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.