Press Attaché & Senior Advisor to the Judicial Communication Unit

Country: Lebanon Organization: UN Development Programme Closing date: 8 Nov 2026 POSITION INFORMATION • Organization: UNDP Lebanon Through Stars Orbit Consultants and Management Development • VA No.: UNDP/LBN/VA26/211 • Position Title: Press Attaché & Senior Advisor to the Judicial Communication Unit • Duty Station: Beirut. • Duration: 6 months (without exceeding 12 working days per month) • Vacancy Date of Issue: 01 November 2026 • Vacancy Closure Date: 08 November 2026 • National or International consultancy: National consultancy To review the full Terms of Reference (TOR), please follow link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a90xr5GZdIL87Ql2u97GNfjeoHI4DLsh/view?usp=sharing BACKGROUND In line with the strategic objective of enhancing the transparency, efficiency, and public accessibility of judicial institutions in Lebanon, efforts are underway to establish a permanent, professionally staffed Communication and Media capacity specifically serving the Higher Judicial Council (HJC). The Lebanese judiciary operates in a highly complex, fast-paced, and politically sensitive environment where the absence of structured institutional communication has frequently eroded public trust, compromised the authority of judicial decisions, and allowed misinformation to destabilize the perception of justice. Establishing a professional, proactive media presence is not merely an administrative addition, but a core requirement for safeguarding judicial independence, upholding procedural confidentiality, and positioning the HJC as a transparent and trusted institution. UNDP is seeking a Press Attaché & Senior Advisor to the Judicial Communication Unit to support the President and members of the Higher Judicial Council in managing external media relations, developing proactive communication strategies, mitigating media crises, and rolling out strategic public trust initiatives. SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANALYTICAL WORK Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Rule of Law and Governance Chief Technical Advisor and in close coordination with the Higher Judicial Council and designated Spokesperson Judges, the Consultant will manage day-to-day media operations and strategic communications. All duties must be performed while strictly respecting judicial independence, procedural confidentiality, and the sensitivity of court cases. The role is structured around four primary operational and strategic pillars: 2.1. Strategic Support to the establishment of the Judicial Communication Unit • Establish and operationalize the HJC Judicial Communication Unit (structure, workflows, and coordination protocols with spokesperson judges and external media). 2.2. Strategic Communication & Proactive Media Planning • Develop a general media communication approach for the HJC in line with Council priorities and key judicial milestones. • Identify key media messages and adapt complex legal/judicial rulings into accessible, concise language for dissemination to journalists and civil society. • Draft educational and informative media content, articles, and awareness materials that explain the functions of the judiciary and promote public legal literacy. 2.3. Media Relations and Press Operations: • Serve as the primary operational focal point for media inquiries, receiving, filtering, and responding to journalists and media outlets in accordance with an established Judicial Communication Charter. • Draft, edit, and distribute press releases, media advisories, and official explanatory statements under the direct guidance and clearance of the designated Spokesperson Judge(s) or the HJC President. • Provide logistical, strategic, and content support for official press conferences, public briefings, and media appearances by judicial representatives. • Review all media content prior to publication across official judicial channels and social platforms. 2.4. Misinformation Monitoring and Internal Coordination: • Manage misinformation through day-to-day media scanning across national news outlets and social platforms to identify emerging false narratives regarding the judiciary. • Draft corrective statements for approval by the relevant judicial bodies when misinformation is detected. • Ensure seamless, daily coordination between the Communication Unit, the designated Spokesperson Judges, and the various judicial councils to ensure a unified institutional voice. EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES The Consultant is expected to complete the above tasks and activities noting that the total duration should not exceed 6 months (without exceeding 12 working days per month). INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS • The expert will work under the overall guidance of the UNDP Rule of Law Chief Technical Advisor (CTA). • The work is expected to start upon contract signature. • The UNDP project team will organize briefing meetings with the expert and will be responsible for providing them with necessary materials related to the assignment in a timely manner. • The expert will rely on his/her own means of communication and transportation. Transportation and communication fees for the expert should be included in their financial offer. • The title rights, copyrights and all other rights whatsoever nature in any material produced under the provisions of this TOR will be vested exclusively in UNDP. UNDP has full ownership of the activity and of its final product. Thus, any public mention (including through social media) about the activity should state clearly that ownership. In addition, any public appearance related to the activity should be coordinated and approved by UNDP. • In the event of any delay, the expert will inform UNDP promptly so that decisions and remedial action may be taken accordingly. Delays that would affect the flow of the collaborative work and the delivery of outputs on schedule will lead to termination of contract; and • Should UNDP deem it necessary, it reserves the right to commission additional inputs, reviews, or revisions, as needed to ensure the quality and relevance of the work. DURATION OF WORK The assigned duration for this consultancy is 6 months. The mission is expected to commence immediately after contract signature and be completed within six months from the contract signature date. The time needed to review/comment/approve deliverables and outputs is (5) five working days. DUTY STATION The Press Attaché & Senior Advisor to the Judicial Communication Unit will be based in the Justice Palace Building of Beirut. STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS • Education: A Master’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Studies, or other related fields is required. • Experience: A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in journalism, media relations, TV/radio production, or institutional communications. • Language: Fluency in Arabic. “The Personnel will be covered with Health insurance and Personal accident insurance; the fees shall be deducted from personnel's monthly payment”. How to apply To apply for this position please follow the link below. Kindly note only CVs received through the link will be considered for this position. Link to Apply for Press Attaché & Senior Advisor to the Judicial Communication Unit: https://vacancies.my-soc.org/apply/20261101091416/VACANCY-6AE702E814AC0 TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO APPLY • CV or P11 Form including 3 references must be submitted online in PDF along with your Education Graduation Certificate. • Use English language only. • indicate clear years of experience with each job (Month/Year) • If the candidate is currently employed by a government institution, he/she must be able to provide an unpaid leave of absence for the duration of the consultancy. • Only candidates who are short-listed will be contacted. • By submitting your application, you have read the Terms of Reference for this position and agree that any false, wrong, or incomplete information might lead to your disqualification in this recruitment process