Communications Officer P4, Johannesburg Regional Bureau at World Food Programme

Job description

How you can help

• You will develop and coordinate the implementation of regional communication, advocacy and outreach strategies/plans/campaigns, including setting clear goals and objectives, defining key tasks, messaging, audience targeting and analysis
• You will help ensure that WFP's branding and public messaging about its mandate and programmes is consistent across the region and reflects corporate communications and advocacy priorities, adapted appropriately to the regional context
• Your will help sustain and increase public awareness of hunger and malnutrition and WFP's work in Southern Africa by promoting media coverage at national, regional and global levels, to a wide range of targeted audiences.
• You will assist the regional office in building capacity of country offices in the region and advise them on implementation of effective strategies for organizational visibility with the media, UN agencies, partners and the public and targeted advocacy
• You will act as a spokesperson for WFP, effectively addressing media enquiries and explaining information in a compelling way
• You will track 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
• You will build and maintain partnerships through extensive networking and proactive collaboration with the media, advocacy groups, UN partners, NGOs and other critical partners to enhance cooperation and ensure coherence in communications activities and messages and help grow inter-agency collaboration and partnerships
• You will ensure timely and accurate communications and outreach to internal and external partners and other appropriate audiences
• Undertake any other duties as may be assigned to you

Standard minimum qualifications required

Education

Advanced University degree in Journalism, International Relations, Public Relations, Communications, Marketing or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or trainings/courses

Experience and Competencies

• At least 8 years (of which 3 international) of postgraduate progressively responsible professional experience and a proven track record as a communications specialist, journalist or spokesperson
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing communication, advocacy and outreach
• Well organized and detail oriented with strong judgement/decision-making skills
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Experience planning, gathering and producing tailored multimedia content
• Experience of managing small teams of staff with related areas of expertise
• 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

Language requirements

Fluency in oral and written in English (level C) with an intermediate knowledge (level B) of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) or Portuguese (one of WFP's working languages)

Terms and conditions

Selected candidate will be employed on a fixed-term contract with a probationary period of one year. WFP offers an attractive compensation package. For more details please visit International Civil Service Commission website: http://icsc.un.org

Deadline for applications:

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply.

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

Desired Skills and Experience

The World Food Programme, the world's leading humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, is offering life-changing communications job opportunities you're unlikely to find in many other organizations. Working at WFP will give you the opportunity to work beyond your horizons, to be enriched by meaningful work and deepen your professional expertise.