Junior Digital Communications Specialist → UNIDIR

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is an autonomous institution within the United Nations that conducts independent research on disarmament and related problems, particularly international security issues. The role of UNIDIR is to support Member States, the United Nations and policy and research communities in advancing ideas and actions that contribute to a more sustainable and peaceful world. It carries out the role through four core services: promoting knowledge, generating ideas, facilitating dialogue and providing advice.

The UNIDIR Communications team is seeking a Junior Digital Communications Specialist to support the implementation of the Institute’s communications strategy with a focus on digital content. This role involves building awareness and engagement with the Institute’s key audiences through impactful digital communication and implementing a modern and transparent visual language for the institute.

Under the guidance of senior team members, the Junior Digital Communications Specialist will be responsible for producing and sourcing impactful and engaging content for all digital communication channels. This includes refining and adjusting the UNIDIR social media strategy based on analytics and updating the UNIDIR website, advising and assisting colleagues across the institute on promoting their work and proactively putting forward innovative ideas.

For this exciting role, we are looking for an independent junior professional who is eager to enhance the digital communication output of the Institute and capable of delivering with high attention to detail in a fast-paced, politically sensitive environment.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent may be responsible for the following duties:

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Implement UNIDIR’s social media strategy in alignment with the global communications strategy of the Institute. This includes setting objectives, defining the target audience, crafting messages, covering key events and dates, and outlining tools and activities.
• Monitor social media trends and suggest creative ways to increase digital presence and audience engagement.
• Conduct reviews and analyses of social media channels currently managed by UNIDIR to establish baseline engagement metrics with a view to further developing the Institute’s social media strategy.

Digital Content Development

• Research, edit, write, and develop high-impact digital content, including copy, graphics, videos, and other multimedia formats, to effectively inform and engage external audiences while supporting campaigns on a day-to-day basis.
• Ensure that content aligns with the organization’s branding and communication strategy.
• Identify and engage with external partners to support and amplify social media campaigns and initiatives aligned with UNIDIR’s mandate and mission.

Social Media Management

• Support the management of social media accounts, including creating and managing an editorial calendar to coordinate content from across the Institute, ensuring coherent messaging and branding.
• Work closely with the Institute’s researchers and other key colleagues on content creation and increasing social media usage by providing training and suggesting sample posts.

Create and Send Out Newsletters, Other Mailings, and Provide Website Content Management

• Draft and edit various e-newsletters and invitations, as well as other mailings, and disseminate them using an email marketing tool.
• Manage email lists and optimize mailings for target audience groups.
• Help maintain up-to-date content on the website by creating, sourcing, and uploading content.

Analytics and Reporting

• Track and analyze digital platform performance using analytics tools.
• Prepare reports on engagement, growth, and effectiveness, providing insights and recommendations for improvement.

Undertake Other Tasks as Required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Understanding of multimedia content, including how it can be best produced, packaged, published and shared on websites, on social media and with news organizations. Ability to implement communication strategies and manage implementation of public information campaigns with various promotional and publicity techniques. Ability to act with discretion and diplomacy. Strong understanding of the ever-evolving social media landscape including keeping up to date with current trends and good practices. Ability to propose and implement innovative communication assets for various platforms. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence; 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Creativity: Actively seeks to improve UNIDIR’s communication products. Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs. Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas. Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things and is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise and is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda and supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments and multi-tasks; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Qualifications

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in communications, multimedia production, graphic design, or a related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience

• A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience producing, editing and disseminating multimedia content for online audiences ideally for media outlets, international brands, political parties, NGOs, or other international institutions is required.
• Demonstrated experience in maintaining social media accounts is required, including of the core and advanced features of Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn (as user, manager and/or contributor).
• Demonstrated image manipulation, graphic design and video editing skills are required (primarily using Canva and Adobe applications such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro and InDesign).
• Demonstrated experience using advanced tools for online publishing is required, including content management systems (particularly WordPress) and social media tools (such as Sprout Social, Hootsuite, Trello).
• Experience in reporting on quantitative and qualitative web analytics, including Google Analytics 4. Knowledge of social media monitoring technology and ability to use social media measurement and listening tools is required.
• Familiarity with the United Nations is desirable. Previous work experience in international security, disarmament or arms control or demonstrated knowledge of these issues is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of gender issues or experience with gender mainstreaming in a field relevant to the position is desirable.

Languages

For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French and/or other official UN languages is desirable.

Assessment

The evaluation of qualified candidates will include an assessment exercise, followed by a competency-based interview.

How to apply

Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter;
• A PDF of a UN Personal History Profile (PHP) created via Inspira, or CV,
• Three recent work examples in line with the duties described above; and
• Name and contact details of three references.

Applications should be sent as email attachments, with the subject line “Application: Junior Digital Communications Specialist” to unidir.recruitment@un.org with cc: elisabeth.schoeffmann@un.org. No applications will be accepted by post. Deadline for submission of applications is 16 April 2024. Closing date is midnight Geneva time.

Please note

Due to the high volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Should you move forward in the process, you may be contacted for further assessment.

UNIDIR promotes the core values of the United Nations: Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity.

UNIDIR is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.