Sweden: Senior Regional Strategic Communications and Advocacy Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Most of the objectives are protection and durable solutions-related and are broadly aimed at increasing and preserving asylum space in the eight countries covered by RRNE through the developments of laws and policies in line with international and European standards and ensuring their full implementation within lean and efficient asylum procedures which generate client-centered decisions of high quality. In the areas of asylum, local integration and resettlement, Northern Europe is home to some of the world's best and innovative policies and practices, which both need to be shared within the region and beyond for inspiration, and at the same time supported so they can be maintained in an increasingly challenging environment where anti-immigrant parties are calling for restrictions. RRNE also pursues objectives within Pillar II, aimed at reducing and preventing statelessness from occurring and at developing mechanisms for the identification and determination of persons as stateless. In addition, RRNE plays a key role in communicating information about the impact on the lives of persons of concern of the significant funding provided by the governments in the region, and in working closely with the national fund raising association - 'Sweden for UNHCR' - in coordinated and complementary strategic communication which serves both the aim of private sector fundraising as well as awareness raising of UNHCR's work, globally and in the region. The Nordic countries constitute one of UNHCR's main donor blocks and provide high levels of predictable and unearmarked government funding, which requires RRNE to report on and communicate the important impact of contributions as a way of exercising donor care. It is likewise important for RRNE to assist the PSFR efforts of 'Sweden for UNHCR' by supporting their communication of UNHCR's work globally, including in the Northern Europe region, and coordinating information sharing and messaging.

The eight countries covered are quite diverse, with different cultures of communication and advocacy' and national languages, though all of the countries are very advanced in regard to their use of IT and social media, and take pride in being considered world leading in their development of new IT-tools and means of communicating. Moreover, governmental and non-governmental actors as well as 'persons of influence' engaged in advocacy are highly strategic and sophisticated in their methods of communication. The staff at RRNE thus needs to be sensitive to, and have a sound understanding of the ways in which UNHCR needs to 'package' and communicate its protection advocacy messages, as well as information about UNHCR's work globally and the importance and impact of funding, vis-à-vis the various stakeholders in the respective countries in order for the advocacy to have the intended impact. A communications and advocacy strategy, developed on the basis of a sound understanding of the communications culture, environment and current 'tools' thus needs to underpin decisions on which stakeholders to target with a particular advocacy message, when to communicate the message and how to communicate the message.

The Senior Regional Strategic Communications and Advocacy Officer is responsible for leading the development of the aforementioned communications and advocacy strategy, through a multi-functional and consultative process, and for ensuring its continuous development and implementation. The incumbent supervises one P3 officer in charge of RRNE's regional website, two P2 Associate PI Officers, and one G7 Senior External Relations Associate. The respective P2s each supervise one G6 Communication/PI Associate. The incumbent thus has important managerial and leadership responsibilities as well as responsibilities to represent and communicate on behalf of UNHCR towards external actors, including through the media. For example, s/he provides information on UNHCR's activities, policies and strategies in the region to local and international media and to interlocutors in the Governments or partner organizations, and other external parties. As noted above, the communications environment in the Northern Europe region is highly sophisticated, which requires the incumbent to be sensitive and strategic in his/her verbal and written communication. Moreover, given the calls for and steps being taken towards restricting the asylum space in the region, the incumbent will be required to rethink the way UNHCR produces and communicates the messages that seek to overcome these challenges, and find innovate ways of addressing anti-immigrant sentiments, i.a. by learning from other European contexts where similar trends are observed. In this regard, the communications and advocacy strategy will i.a. highlight good policies and engages the public with the human side of them, though the use of stories, new voices, and images.

The Senior Regional Strategic Communications and Advocacy Officer will function as a liaison with communication/ advocacy activities that HQ and the Bureau for Europe develop on a global level and in the broader European context (including campaigns/launches in connection with WRD, asylum trends reports etc.) and i.a. ensure that these are adequately translated to the different contexts and implemented. The incumbent will at the same time seek opportunities with HQ and the Bureau to raise the profile of 'local stories/messages' more broadly. S/he will advise the Regional Representative and other senior staff in RRNE and at HQ and in the Bureau of impending major media requirements or issues of concern and advise on appropriate actions to be taken by UNHCR. In conjunction with HQ and the Bureau, the incumbent will provide support and advice on the design, development and implementation of specific mass information programmes.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in Journalism, International Relations, Communications, Political Science or similar relevant field plus minimum 8 years of relevant job experience at professional level in progressively responsible functions related to UNHCR and/or any other humanitarian agency on promotional activities of the agency. Of the 8 years, at least 5 years should be directly related to strategic communication and advocacy, and enable the candidate to demonstrate an ability to strategically use different communication channels, government counterparts, NGOs, social media to communicate UNHCR's protection and durable solutions advocacy messages in the region. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
• General understanding of UN/UNHCR reforms and the priority agenda of the organization.
• Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint essential).
• Excellent knowledge of the operation and strategic use of various communication channels and tools, including written press, radio, TV and social media, including Twitter.
• Excellent communication skills with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• Excellent ability to draft engaging, innovative and professional media and communications materials for various audiences and various media channels in English, and preferably, in one or several of the Scandinavian languages.
• Excellent knowledge of English, working knowledge of another UN language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

• Completion of Learning Programmes in the area of communication, media training, advocacy and/or use of social media.
• In-depth knowledge on UNHCR's protection and durable solutions work obtained through first-hand experience in operational situations.
• High IT affinity, with specific focus on preparation of websites/pages and use of social media.
• Working knowledge of one or several of the languages of the Northern Europe countries, in particular the 'Scandinavian' countries (Denmark, Norway and Sweden).

Application

Interested candidates should apply on the UNHCR Career Page/international vacancies section here: http://www.unhcr.org/careers.html.

Deadline for applications: Thursday 12 July 2018 (midnight Geneva time).

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.