Background
The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) is responsible for positioning UNDP as the worldโs leading global development agency, promoting its global authority and thought leadership on sustainable development and the interconnected issues of poverty, inequality, and climate change. The Bureau creates strong political and financial backing for UNDP by providing partners and supporters with a clear understanding of what UNDP does and how our mission, capabilities and flagship services relate to them. The Bureau leads UNDPโs work on innovative and diversified partnerships and ways of financing the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. It is also responsible for global campaigns on critical development issues, which aim to change government policies and build partnerships around high-impact solutions. The Bureau coordinates and sets corporate standards across the functions of partnerships, marketing and communications within UNDP and leads on executive internal communications.
The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy is positioned around three service lines; Public Partnership; Advocacy, Marketing and Communications; and Private and Finance Partners, all working in close collaboration and coordination under the guidance of the Directorate and with the support of the Management Support Unit and Strategic Analysis and Corporate Engagement team.ย
BERA has a robust network of Representation Offices (Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Tokyo, Germany and Washington D.C) and Regional Teams in five hubs (Africa, Arab States, Asia Pacific, Europe and CIS, and Latin American and the Caribbean) co-led with Regional Bureaux, all of which play a critical role in audience centric communications and management and strengthening of relationships with Public and Private Partners to help build a strong brand for UNDP within the local ecosystem.
This post is based in Washington Representation Office. The mission of the UNDP Washington Representation Office (WRO) is to enhance the U.S. Government's understanding of and support for UNDP and its work and to contribute to resource mobilization. In this regard, the WRO seeks to: 1) Build understanding and support for UNDP's role and programs among substantive and functional specialists in the U.S. Congress and the Executive Branch; 2) Inform the wider Washington, DC community, including NGOs, academic and Think Tank experts, diplomatic officials, the Bretton Woods institutions, private sector representatives and media regarding UNDP's role, programs and impact on global development; 3) Assure the transparency and accountability of UNDP to U.S. government agencies and Congressional committees who oversee and fund the organization; 4) Contribute to an increase in core and non-core resources while aiding in the diversifying of UNDP's funding base.ย
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Duties and Responsibilities
Under the guidance and supervision of the Director of the Washington Representation Office (WRO), with matrix management to the HQ Advocacy, Marketing and Communications Group, the Communications and Partnerships Specialist supports corporate partnerships strategy; provides strategic/operational advice to the WRO partnerships outreach, communications, and publication strategies to inform key US Government, Foundations, and other key stakeholders about UNDP's role in global development; promotes support for UNDP's mission and programs; and ensures implementation of the WRO's partnerships, communications, outreach, and publications strategy targeting governmental, non-governmental, media, and other relevant communities and networks-primarily in Washington, DC, and the United States.ย
The Communications and Partnerships Specialist contributes to developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with US-based foundations, as well as NGOs, think-tanks, and Washington-based multilaterals. The Specialist also contributes to day-to-day relations with key US-based media organizations and social media channels, and a compelling online presence for the Washington RO. In consultation and collaboration with colleagues based in Washington, New York, and around the world, he or she works with senior management to devise strategic communications-including events, launches, blogs, op-eds, Web stories, news releases, and social media-of interest in the United States and beyond, with the aim of highlighting UNDP's unique and specific contributions to ending poverty, advancing human development, and building resilient, peaceful societies in which prosperity is shared and opportunities are accessible to all.ย
The Communications and Partnerships Specialist also supports EXO and HQ Communications in identifying media and outreach opportunities, drafting speeches/blogs/talking points/Web content etc., for the Administrator and other senior staff also providing support in risk and reputation management.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, ย teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
1) Plan and support implementation of WRO communications and outreach strategiesย
Assess communications needs and priorities for the WRO.ย Provide advice and support on partnerships and communications regarding effective messaging and positioning to reach key Washington and US constituencies, including drafting Briefing Notes, Key Messages and background information.ย Draft materials on specific global communications projects upon request of UNDP Communications Group, and in coordination with the WRO Director.ย Participate in weekly global communications conference call and provide weekly updates on communications activities to UNDP Advocacy, Marketing and Communications Director. ย Help disseminate corporate advocacy materials related to flagship initiatives and publications, such as the Human Development Report.ย Prepare, update, and adapt WRO communications and outreach strategy based on UNDP's corporate needs and priorities as well as the unique priorities and demands of US-based stakeholders.ย Provide regular advice on how to adapt and sharpen UNDP's messaging, outreach, and advocacy focusing on Government institutions (Executive Branch and Congress), media, key influencers, multilaterals, and Washington -based International Financial Institutions, NGOs/think tanks.ย Maintain WRO web site and other communications channels with interactive and compelling content, such as Twitter/X and LinkedIn; provide relevant content to UNDP corporate channels.ย Advise WRO colleagues on proactive media relations and handle media inquiries.ย Identify and manage potential reputational risks, in consultation and collaboration with UNDP colleagues globally.ย Work to ensure uptake of UNDP communications products/stories by major US media outlets, blogs, and key influencers, including research organizations and branches of the US Government.ย Act as media and public information liaison for the WRO with key outlets (e.g. Washington Post, Washington Times, Politico, Bloomberg, Reuters, NPR, National Journal, Council on Foreign Relations blogs, CQ, etc.).ย Share and/or devise guidance for UNDP WRO colleagues on media/social media best practices, including blogging and other channels, consistent with best practices for international civil servants broadly.ย Devise new outreach materials of unique and specific interest to US constituencies, under direction of the WRO Director.ย Produce story-telling content, including infographics, graphics, videos on UNDPโs work that target US constituencies, working closely with BERA HQ and Country Offices, regularly. ย Amplify UNDP content by identifying and targeting key US audiences, expanding WROโs reach and engagement via social media best practices, and tracking and evaluating results.ย Keep up to date with new and emerging digital communications and social media tools and opportunities and challenges (mis/disinformation, AI).ย Monitor closely US public opinion and emerging technologies for communicating with key constituencies, partners, and stakeholders.2) Advice WRO partnerships efforts with US and DC-based counterparts
ย Provide strategic support to the efforts of WRO and UNDP HQ to enhance existing partnerships and develop new alliances, with emphasis on foundations, philanthropies, and the private sector.ย Through foundations, philanthropic organizations, media, Government (Congress and Executive Branch), NGO, think tanks, academic institutions, International Financial Institutions, and multilateral organizations, help communicate and advocate support for UNDP's substantive work in relevant practice areas of strategic interest to the United States in particular, and other development partners more broadly. ย Support and assist with global promotional activities and public relations campaigns to position UNDP as a global development leader.ย Guide UNDP partnerships and communications officers around the globe with Washington-related inquiries and information.ย Propose and track opportunities for UNDP WRO outreach activities such as public speeches, roundtables, panel discussions, and joint events with key US-based partners.ย Develop and maintain productive contacts with media, journalists, government officials, NGOs, and other key Washington partners and identify targets of opportunity and vehicles to communicate with these constituencies.ย Monitor closely US public opinion and emerging technologies for communicating with key constituencies, partners, and stakeholders.ย Collaborate as appropriate with other UN offices in Washington, DC.ย Contribute to partnerships and communications elements of corporate products (IWP, annual report, etc.).3) Coordinate and guide high-level visits and missionsย
Facilitate and support high-level visits by UNDP officials, including the UNDP Administrator, and their engagements with key strategic partners.ย In coordination with the WRO Director, conduct missions to UNDP HQ as needed to support global communications and outreach efforts in routine or surge capacity at the discretion of senior management.4) Lead the effort of knowledge management and dissemination
Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities. Provide substantive and sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories. Organize and provide training, consultancy, and advice to UNDP staff on internal and external knowledge management. Work with the teams to ensure all knowledge products are captured, updated, readily available and in the right order, as and when necessary.ย
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None 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
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Competencies
Core Competenciesย - UNDP Core Competencies can be foundย here.
Achieve Results - LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย Think Innovatively -ย LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems ย Learn Continuously - LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiencesย Adapt with Agility - ย ย LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands ย Act with Determination - LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater resultsย Engage and Partner - LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaborationย Enable Diversity and Inclusion - LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivityยCross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Communications -ย Advocacy strategy and implementation:ย
Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful changeยCommunicationsย - Campaign management:
Communicationsย - Media Relations:
Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messagesBusiness Managementย - Portfolio Management:
Ability to select, prioritise and control the organizationยดs programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment.ยPartnership Managementย ย - Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding:
Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms. ยBusiness Managementย - Communication:
ย Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. ย Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.Business Direction and Strategy -ย System 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.Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (masterโs degree or equivalent) in Communications, Journalism, Media Relations, International Development, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Public Relations, Marketing, or related field of studies is required, or ย A first-level university degree (bachelorโs degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.ยย
Experience:
A minimum of five (5) years (with masterยดs degree) or 7 years (with bachelorโs degree) of relevant work experience inย advocacy, communications, journalism or international development is required.ย Experience working in international organizations and/or in public relations and communications is required.ย Professional working experience with US entities (US Government, philanthropies, private sector, NGOs, others) and robust media relations is an asset.ย Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, good knowledge and experience in handling web-based management systems and social media are required. ย Proven experience and good knowledge of advocacy, communication, partnerships building, and public relations, preferably in the international development area, is an asset.ย Sound knowledge and understanding of UN or UNDPโs work in headquarters, regional offices, and/or country officesis an asset.ย Established networks with top-tier journalists, media, and influencers in the US, and experience in marketing are desirable. Fluency in English is required.ยEqual 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.ย
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.ย
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.ย 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.
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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