Communications Officer P3 - FIT Pool - All Locations

Job Description

Devex is assisting the World Food Programme in finding Communications Officers at the P3 level to become part of their Future International Talent Pool (FIT Pool).

The Future International Talent Pool (FIT Pool) is an excellent opportunity for a professional international career within WFP. WFP is looking to build a pool of highly qualified and dynamic talents interested in serving in any of the 80 countries where WFP operates. Qualifying for the Communications FIT Pool gives you priority to be considered for vacant Fixed Term positions anywhere in the world and consequently to commence your global journey in the humanitarian world, often at the forefront of world affairs. (https://www.wfp.org/countries).

ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

The role of the communications officer is to ensure the effective design and delivery of communication products covering WFP’s operations, priorities and issues of concern to target audiences using the most appropriate channels.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

These jobs are found in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Bureaux (RBs) and in Country Offices (COs). Job holders provide advice on communications issues, and analyse and interpret material of a complex nature.

In HQ, job holders report to the Director of Communications or the designate, and work in a specialist area of communications.

In RBs, job holders report to the Regional Director or the designate, with functional supervision from the Director of Communications or the designate. These roles manage communications for a region and coordinate all Communications Officers and focal points in the region to ensure the implementation of WFP’s global communications strategy is in liaison with HQ Communications.

In COs, these roles report to the Country Director, with functional supervision from the Regional Communications Officer. Job holders ensure that the CO communications activities serve WFP needs in the country of assignment, taking into consideration the overall regional communications plan and WFP’s corporate communications goals.

JOB PURPOSE

To help define and implement the communications plans that support the overall communications strategy and WFP objectives, either in Headquarters (HQ), Regional Bureaux (RB) and/or in Country Offices (COs).

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

As a Communications Officer P3, you may be responsible for the following key duties:

• Develop communication, advocacy and marketing strategies and related work plan where needed, including objectives, target audiences, messaging, tools, products, identification of resources, monitoring of performance and measuring of impact.
• Act as a spokesperson for WFP, effectively addressing media enquiries and explaining information in a compelling way.
• Help to ensure that WFP’s branding and public messaging about its mandate and programmes is consistent across the organization and reflects corporate communications and advocacy priorities, adapted appropriately to the local context.
• Monitoring media for developing stories related to WFP/food security in the region/country, including reputational risks and advocacy opportunities.
• Generate quality multimedia content including writing, video, photo, and audio storytelling, as well as translating programmatic evidence-based materials and hard data into compelling and impactful story / narrative for advocacy purposes.
• Define a social media plan which leverages social media content, platforms, networks and partners to enhance coverage and support of WFP’s activities.
• Consolidate and analyze print, broadcast and social media, to identify trends and/or issues, and propose solutions and ideas to improve the effectiveness of communication strategy and activities.
• Provide strategic direction and support around policy advocacy and effective stakeholder (media, academia, opinion formers and civil society) engagement to secure high-level commitment to zero hunger, food security and resilience building.
• Roll out brand-marketing campaigns that increase awareness of and familiarity with WFP’s work and build WFP’s profile among target audiences. This will include the adaptation and localization of brandmarketing initiatives.
• Identify and manage brand partnerships, i.e. media and visibility partners, PR and creative agencies, Goodwill Ambassadors and influencers, to increase WFP’s brand and lift the creative content and digital marketing capacity.
• Lead the collaboration effort with internal global/regional communication partners to ensure and consistency in messaging to enhance understanding and support for humanitarian actions.
• Ensure timely and accurate communications and outreach to internal and external partners and other appropriate audiences.
• Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in areas of work, to ensure equal participation of women and men. Undertake any other duties as may be assigned to you.

STANDARD MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education

You have:

• Advanced University degree (recognised by https://www.whed.net/home.php) in Journalism, International Relations, Public Relations, Communications, Marketing and/or other relevant field, or First University degree (recognised by https://www.whed.net/home.php) with additional years of relevant professional level work experience.

Experience

You have:

• At least 5 years of postgraduate relevant professional level work experience and a proven track record as a communications, advocacy or marketing specialist, journalist or spokesperson, and/or other related fields.
• International experience and/or working within international organizations or companies.
• Experience in developing communication strategies/advocacy campaigns/marketing plans.
• Experience planning, gathering and producing tailored multimedia content.

Language

You have:

• Fluency (level C) in English language.
• Intermediate knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) and/or Portuguese (one of WFP’s working languages).

Mobility

You are able and motivated to work in any of WFP’s Offices throughout the world, including hardship locations. FIT Pool members are expected to agree on the first proposition of deployment that is offered to them.

DESIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

You have some of the following desirable skills:

• Well organized and detail oriented with strong judgement/decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to understand what audiences need and how they want to consume it.
• Ability to plan and organize work and communicate effectively.
• Ability to handle a large volume of work and to meet strict deadlines. Experience in managing, supervising and coaching staff.

About the Organization

Devex is the media platform for the global development community. As a social enterprise, we connect and inform development, health, humanitarian and sustainability professionals through news, business intelligence and funding & career opportunities so you can do more good for more people. An international organization founded at the Harvard Kennedy School, Devex is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has offices in Barcelona, and Manila, and reporters around the world. Our diverse global team includes 100 web-savvy journalists, analysts, developers, designers, and marketers. Devexers live our mission, and bring their top-notch academic and professional credentials to work every day to change the world. Get to know us better by checking out our tumblr page.