Strategic Communications Officer, P4

Position description

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

Unitaid, a partnership hosted by the World Health Organization is focused on accelerating the introduction and adoption of key health products primarily for HIV & co-infections, tuberculosis, malaria and women &children’s health. It creates systemic conditions for sustainable and equitable access and aims to foster inclusive and demand-driven partnerships for innovation. It designs and invests in innovative approaches to make quality health products available and affordable in low-and middle-income countries. It promotes collective efforts with partners, countries and communities, unlocking access to the tools, services and care than can deliver the best results, improve health and address global health priorities.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Assist the Communications Team Lead in executing the communications strategy, ensuring alignment with the organization’s priorities.
• Provide strategic leadership on communications aspects of risk management to allow Unitaid to respond quickly and effectively to any crisis foreseen.
• Oversee the organization’s content strategy, bringing together all content channels (web, social media, traditional media, reports and corporate messaging) to ensure alignment and maximum impact. This includes identifying priority themes, fitting them to major events, sourcing relevant content from projects and developing strategic partnerships to promote visibility.
• Design appropriate communication tools to meet internal and external stakeholder needs.
• Support the production and distribution of public information materials- reports, press releases, newsletters, speeches and statements, brochures, articles, factsheets, talking points, and audio-visual materials and to support advocacy work.
• Develop key messages and ensure consistency across all external and internal communications.
• Work with technical teams to translate complex health and policy topics into accessible and engaging communications materials.
• Coordinate messaging within the external relations team and the executive office to align on planning and communications priorities.
• Working under the guidance of the Team Lead of Communications, lead the promotion of high-profile events, developing media campaigns, and special communication projects.
• Ensure that all communication materials, from reports to promotional content, meet high standards of clarity, consistency, and visual design.
• In coordination with the Communications Team Lead, provide advice to the Director of ERC, Senior Management and Board on communications issues, relations with donors and the media, including on approaches, consistency of language and content of publications, press releases and to handle politically and/or/sensitive issues at national, regional and global levels.
• Provide additional support to the Communications Team Lead as needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Essential:

• Advanced level university degree in communications, development, international relations, broadcasting, or other relevant disciplines.

Desirable:

• Additional training in public health, journalism, or health education.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least seven years relevant experience in communications, media, or public relations of which at least five years at international level, involving public health and/or health related information.
• Experience working in complex organizations.
• Experience developing comprehensive communication strategies as well as specific communication strategies for large organizations.

Desirable:

• Experience in health projects in at least one of Unitaid’s programmatic priorities. (HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, Women’s and Children’s health, Global Health Emergencies).
• Strong understanding of the global health architecture and the partners involved.
• Strong understanding of market shaping and Unitaid’s model.

Skills:

• In-depth experience in communications across disciplines, developing and implementing communications strategies that encompass multiple communications approaches including media, web, social media, content, marketing, branding and events.
• Strong existing networks in the global health sector and knowledge of the architecture, partners and key themes.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement innovative ideas, including working with and managing external suppliers and budgets for communications projects.
• Demonstrated skills in project management of complex communications activities and campaigns.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to be flexible and adapt to a rapidly changing environment.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
• Strategic vision for exploiting synergies between Unitaid’s substantive work and communications activities.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices, methods and techniques of public health information.
• Skills in writing clear and concise media reports.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse, coordinate and control large scale information.
• Expertise in public relations.

WHO Competencies:

• Teamwork.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.
• Communication.
• Producing results.
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond.

Use of Language Skills:

• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of French.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on geopolist.com