UNHCR Communications Officer - Innovation

About UNHCR Innovation:

UNHCR Innovation is a multi-year, inter-departmental initiative looking for more efficient, effective and creative solutions to challenges that refugees face across UNHCR operations worldwide. The ultimate goal of our action is refugee protection, self-reliance, empowerment, dignity and education. We do this by rethinking the way UNHCR works, the way it involves refugees in the design of the programs, and the way it looks at good practices in the humanitarian and private sector world.

About the job:

UNHCR Innovation is launching a series of exciting initiatives in 2014 within its five labs. This position will focus on communications around and for the five labs, and build upon a year’s worth of work in a newly established, fast-moving team. The team works with the length and breadth of UNHCR, supporting operations’ needs in the field, creating the space and time to try new approaches. We’re often in several continents at the same time, for example, testing assistance tracking in Ethiopia, new shelter designs in Iraq, hosting an innovation jam in Washington D.C., or in Bangkok working with UNHCR’s Innovation Fellows. We’re a dynamic, and exciting team to work with. We want somebody who can engage people inside and outside of UNHCR with what we’re working on. We’d like to have a new, awesome member of our team.

We’re looking for a well-organised, confident, self-motivated individual with experience in communication, humanitarian/development, and preferably experience working with the UN or international NGOs. We need somebody who can support these projects with limited time, minimal supervision, and maximum pressure.

You’ll get the opportunity to work with one of the most dynamic parts of the UN Refugee Agency, knowing that your work will contribute to some of the most ground-breaking initiatives in the UN system. We are a tightknit team, and we invite you to join us in these exciting projects.

Here’s what we’d like you to work on:

1) Develop and manage UNHCR’s social media strategy and outreach, in order to communicate the work of UNHCR Innovation to a wide range of audiences; creating an open and engaging dynamic with stakeholders and the general public.

2) Support the design and maintenance of UNHCR Innovation’s website, by helping to facilitate coordination and development with the design team. Web management will include making links with existing digital media outlets to publish UNHCR Innovation contents, for example with website content editors and external communication experts.

3) Produce and oversee the production of outreach and communication products (e.g. press kits, press releases, notes for the press briefing, talking points, featured articles, web stories, op-ed articles, background documents, and photo exhibitions are examples).

4) Develop compelling project narratives and records of good practices through the gathering of background information on innovative humanitarian responses, (ie. the project context, beneficiary needs, gaps, partners, activities carried out by other entities, evidence of impact, and overview of approaches & practices made/supported by UNHCR offices).

5) Assist innovation project leads/coordinators in adopting effective communication models to engage the communities we work with, UNHCR operations, partners and other agencies - for the purpose of shaping and clarifying field-identified problems, potential solutions and project plans.

6) Provide photo and video coverage of UNHCR Innovation projects featuring their sponsors, participants and beneficiaries.

7) Undertake activities to promote media coverage of UNHCR Innovation (ie. organize field visits for media and sponsors).

8) Keep sponsors and partners updated on the implementation of innovation projects, including progress reports, fact sheets, ad-hoc and final reports.

9) Assist in the drafting of annual Innovation reports and quarterly newsletters to monitor the progress and journey of Innovation within UNHCR.

10) Any other tasks as requested by the UNHCR Innovation Core Facilitation Team. Or suggested by your fine self.

How to apply:

If that sounds good to you, don’t worry about a P11. But please do:

1) Include an URL/blog/photo essay that tells us a bit about yourself 2) Send us 1 or 2 examples of your work; 3) Tell us about an innovation you’re interested in, and why it’s interesting – you can use whatever media you like, as long as it’s your own work.

Also, please send a cover letter and an updated CV to innovation@unhcr.org by 05/01/2014 and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Start date will be in January. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.