Hardship LevelA (least hardship)
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeGS5
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2025-09-01
Deadline for ApplicationsJuly 2, 2025
Standard Job Description
Senior Communications Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Communications Assistant is normally supervised by a Communication Officer or other position as decided by the senior management in the area of responsibility. The supervisor provides the incumbent with regular guidance. The incumbent will have frequent contacts involving the exchange of a wide range of information with colleagues within UNHCR as well as media, international organizations, academic institutions and private individuals.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
- Regularly monitor media and local situation regarding UNHCR.
- Follow-up on administrative and logistical arrangements to organise press briefings and other events, such as workshop and conferences.
- Contribute to the production of information materials for public awareness campaigns and for the preparation of in-house bulletins, newsletters and information kits by contributing to articles, reports and other information gathered from various sources.
- Liaise with printers concerning brochures and publications published by the office.
- Draft routine correspondence and texts for the office's website and maintain information databases.
- Compile and distribute a daily news clipping service.
- Distribute press statements and similar information to media, to other offices locally as well as to Headquarters.
- Maintain up-to-date filing system and appointments diary.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.
Certificates and/or Licenses
International Relations; Journalism; Political Science;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Some work experience relevant to the position. Communication and computer skills. Excellent drafting skills as well as translation and interpreting skills.
Desirable
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of position.
Functional Skills
CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics)
CO-Drafting and Documentation
IT-Web Content Management
CO-Digital content production
CO-Social Media Publishing/Monitoring/Marketing tools
IT-Web publishing
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile This is a national position offered under a Fixed-term contract for an initial period of 1 year. Candidates applying to the position must be nationals of Panama or non-Panamanian residing in the country with a valid work and residency permit attached to the application. Candidates must comply with all eligibility requirements for employment in line with the prevailing legislative prerequisites in the country.
The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
Levels of language knowledge: A1-beginner, A2-elementary, B1-lower intermediate, B2-upper intermediate, C1-advanced/proficient, C2-fluent
Candidates may be required to sit for a written test.
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on United Nations salaries, allowances and benefits, visit the International Civil Service Commission web portal at http://icsc.un.org as well as https://careers.un.org/payandbenefits?language=en
The UNHCR Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Panama oversees operations in Panama, Nicaragua, Belize, and the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. This diverse region presents a complex operational environment characterized by forced displacement of refugees and asylum seekers, internal displacement due to violence and climate change, statelessness, and varying levels of institutional capacity in unique multilingual and cultural settings. In this context, inter-agency coordination is essential to ensure a coherent and effective response among UN agencies, government counterparts, civil society, and regional bodies.
Working under the supervision of the Senior Communication Associate, the incumbent will play a key role in supporting the digital communication strategy of the MCO, with a strong focus on photography, video production, and editing. The candidate should be skilled in creating high-quality visual and multimedia content tailored for MCO social media platforms and Help Pages, as well as chatbot interfaces. The incumbent will contribute to the production of engaging digital content that enhances UNHCR's positioning, visibility and storytelling around UNHCR’s work in the region. He/she will manage the photo and video archive, ensuring a well-maintained inventory of communication assets. The candidate will also be responsible for developing and maintaining standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the use of multimedia materials and organizing regular practice sessions for the communications team to ensure effective and consistent use of these resources.
Key Competencies & Experience:
- Demonstrated proficiency in photography, video production, and editing, with the ability to create compelling visual content that aligns with UNHCR’s communication goals and resonates with diverse audiences across the region.
- Experience in producing high-quality digital content tailored for social media platforms, Help Pages, and chatbot interfaces, with a strong understanding of visual storytelling and audience engagement strategies.
- Proven ability to manage and maintain multimedia archives, including organizing and updating inventories of photo and video assets, ensuring accessibility and proper usage in line with organizational standards.
- Some experience in developing and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the use of multimedia materials, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and compliance across the communications team.
- Experience working with refugees and/or in the UN system.
Education & Technical Skills:
- Degree in Communications, Multimedia Production, Journalism, Digital Media, or a related field is desirable. Additional certifications in photography, video editing, or digital storytelling are an asset.
- Advanced skills in photo and video editing software, such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Lightroom) or equivalent tools, with a strong portfolio demonstrating creative and technical capabilities are required.
- Experience using content management systems (CMS) and digital asset management tools to organize, archive, and retrieve multimedia content efficiently and in line with organizational standards are required.
Languages:
- Mandatory: Fluency in English and Spanish
- Desirable: Working knowledge of French and/or Dutch
Required competencies:
- Accountability
- Communication
- Organizational Awareness
- Teamwork & Collaboration
- Commitment to Continuous Learning
- Client & Result Orientation
- Innovation and Creativity
- Technological Awareness
- Political Awareness
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): English
,Spanish
,
Desired languagesDutch
,French
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Nature of Position:
Living and Working Conditions:
Additional Qualifications
SkillsCO-Digital content production, CO-Drafting and Documentation, CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics), CO-Social Media Publishing/Monitoring/Marketing tools, IT-Web Content Management, IT-Web publishing
Education
CertificationsInternational Relations - Other, Journalism - Other, Political Science - Other
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Innovation & creativity, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance