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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: United States of AmericaOrganization: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian AffairsClosing date: 6 Dec 2026Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the Financing and Outreach Division (FOD) of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. The Financing and Outreach Division (FOD) leads in mobilizing and allocating resources for a coordinated and principled humanitarian response, while driving innovative humanitarian financing approaches and elevating the visibility and communication of OCHA’s mission and mandate. Within FOD, The Chief of Service, Communications is responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating communications strategies and services aligned with organizational objectives and priorities. The role includes providing vision, direction, support and implementation of the main functions of communications.. This position-specific job opening is advertised for the position of Chief of Communications in New York at UNHQ. The incumbent reports directly to the Director of the Financing and Outreach Division (FOD).ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Chief of Communications will be responsible for the following duties: • Lead and strategically guide the activities of the communication sections and units to ensure strategic alignment and effective delivery of the organization’s objectives. • Provide the vision and leadership to develop and implement the communications strategy to strengthen understanding of organizational objectives, activities and impact, drive engagement, and build support with target audiences. • Guide and manage different communications workstreams bringing them together under shared objectives, such as digital communications, media relations, outreach, campaigns, and partnerships. Convene and coordinate with other UN entities and partners, as appropriate. • Chair and lead the Inter-Agency Standing Committee communications group, alongside an IASC member on a rotating basis. • Work to review OCHA's global communications workforce and identify how best to make it fit for purpose. • Advise senior management on strategic communications, crisis communications and reputational risk. • Oversee and lead the implementation of strategic communications policy, guidance and training for staff. • Advise and oversee internal communications, as appropriate, including messaging and content creation, and in crisis situations. • Lead and coordinate the creation of content, such as narratives and key messages, including on complex, sensitive, and crisis-driven issues. • Oversee the management and coordination of communications teams in the entity, including hiring, budgeting, reporting, recruitment, and training, in compliance with UN rules and regulations. • Provide guidance to team members to promote professional development and a positive team culture. • Oversee monitoring and analysis of communications strategies, approaches, and activities to assess performance and impact. • Maintain confidentiality and integrity in information management, and handle sensitive information with discretion, ensuring compliance with the UN data privacy, policies, security requirements, and standards. • Provide vision, targets and strategy for developing and delivering impactful offline and online campaigns through appropriate channels. • Lead collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to develop and deliver joint outreach and advocacy activities and campaigns to target key audiences and advance UN priorities. • Lead the development of engagement strategies to build and enhance the Organization's brand utilizing collaborations, partnerships and existing and emerging channels and content, as appropriate. • Oversee and guide the monitoring of media and developing events to identify emerging crises and reputational risks and provide early response warning and strategic advice to senior management. • Lead and oversee the Organization's proactive interaction with local, regional and international media and partners, promote outreach activities, and implement crisis communication responses and interactions with the media. • Oversee policy development and implementation to strengthen information integrity, and the coordination of efforts to address related threats at the regional and country levels, ensuring alignment with UN global priorities • Oversee efforts to strengthen information integrity, including research, risk and response work, coalition building and policy development. • Promote organizational understanding and adoption of technology, data, and innovation initiatives by leading communications related to digital transformation, enterprise platforms, cybersecurity, information governance, and business intelligence, ensuring alignment with organizational standards, policies, and strategic priorities.CompetenciesProfessionalism: Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Skills to communicate complex and technical matters to diverse audiences. Exhibits strategic thinking and critical thinking skills. Knowledge of risks to information integrity - misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and threats in fragile, post conflict, and crisis environments. Ability to build and maintain partnerships. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep; informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs;Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas;Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box"; Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches. Managerial Competencies: Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; Empowers others to translate vision into results; Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands; Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas. Demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines;Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly.EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communications, journalism, international relations, digital communications or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.Job - Specific QualificationNot available.Work ExperienceA minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, international relations, or other relevant areas is required. Knowledge of current and emerging digital media platforms, their principles and technologies is required. Knowledge of strategic communications principles and practices is required. Skills to lead teams, guide and mentor staff, and oversee their work to ensure successful completion of projects is required. A minimum of three (3) years of experience in crisis communication in a humanitarian, development or peacekeeping setting is desirable. Ability to identify trends and provide insights, to develop and implement communications strategies and to draft and tailor clear messages for diverse audiences is desirable. Skills to communicate complex and technical matters to diverse audiences is desirable.LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either French or Arabic is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).Required LanguagesLanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIDesirable LanguagesLanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingFrenchUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIArabicUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIAssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.Special NoticeThis position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-general and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers by established rules and procedures. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral or geographical move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral or geographical moves in their Candidate Profile (CP) and motivation statement. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. 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. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. An impeccable record of integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.United Nations ConsiderationsAccording to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.How to apply Apply Now
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