Job Description
This is a unique opportunity to contribute directly to peace-building efforts in Yemen by shaping strategic communications and engagement initiatives. The position offers high-level exposure to international diplomacy, media relations, and partnership development within the UN system, providing a platform for significant professional growth and impact
This position is located in the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESGY). This position operates within a complex political and media landscape, requiring a seasoned communications professional to lead strategic engagement and outreach efforts in support of the peace process in Yemen. The role involves managing diverse partnerships, conducting media analysis, and providing strategic communications advice to senior leadership, all within the framework of UN objectives and guidelines
The Public Information Officer independently manages strategic communications and engagement initiatives, adapting existing policies to meet emerging needs in support of the peace process in Yemen. The incumbent provides authoritative advice, supervises support staff, and solves complex problems by applying existing rules and guidelines
The incumbent will perform the following duties:
Within the limits of delegated authority, the Strategic Communications Officer will be responsible for performing the following duties:
1. Engagement, public outreach and partnerships
- Leads on engagement and outreach to Yemeni media professionals as a constituency for peace
- Leads on digital engagement and surveying (large-scale digital consultations; polling and surveys)
- Manages contractors, consultants and partnerships in relation to the polling and surveying activities by establishing work plans, required resources, priorities, timelines and performance benchmarks. Monitors progress and take timely action and/or decisions to ensure objectives are met;
- Builds and strengthens partnerships with Yemeni and regional stakeholders such as media, think tanks, civil society, inside and outside Yemen and coordinates relevant initiatives with these stakeholders in support of the peace process;
- Develops and implements outreach and engagement communications strategies, including digital and social media strategies with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, and support for the work of the Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen.
- Maintains and establishes partnerships with relevant UN agencies, CSOs and NGOs to strengthen engagement and public outreach; designs and implements community-level public outreach activities.
- Designs and implements advocacy campaigns for a variety of platforms, including social media, in support of the peace process; coordinates the production and dissemination of outreach and advocacy material, including multimedia productions and storytelling projects.
2. Media analyses and relations
- Establishes and maintains a cooperative relationship with local and international journalists;
- Researches and analyses the Yemeni media landscape, including media monitoring statistics, social media and web usage, adapts editorial and outreach priorities accordingly and recommends targeted engagement opportunities that support the peace efforts.
- Prepares reports to mission leadership, UNHQ on communications activities, developments, trends and attitudes regarding the UN.
- Supports the organization and media coverage of events relating to political consultations, talks, other meetings as required.
- Coordinates with UN Headquarters and other UN agencies on new and innovative practices of conducting sentiment analysis, surveying and polling and tests and deploys new tools to support the strategic communications functions of the office.
- Keeps abreast of changing developments, trends, and technologies with strong understanding of digital outreach.
3. Strategic Communications
- Provides strategic communications advice and support to managers, senior officers and other public information staff on a range of public affairs issues, methods, and approaches.
- Drafts and edits material for press releases, press briefings, interviews, key messages, Q&As, talking points, UN newsletters, reports; produces digital content for the mission’s social media platforms.
- Quality review and clearance of communication products
- Other related duties that may be assigned.
