National Communications Officer, SC-9, Kyiv, Ukraine
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WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.
Career Opportunity: National Communications Officer SC-9 (Kyiv, Ukraine) | 12 Months
🚩 Vacancy Announcement n°: 827049
📢 Job Title: National Communications Officer
📌Type of Contract: Service Contract, SC-9
➡️ Unit / Division: Communications / WFP Ukraine
📍 Duty Station: Kyiv
➡️ Duration: 12 months
⏰ Closing date: Sunday 28 May, Midnight (Ukraine Time)
ABOUT WFP
The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.
In a world of plenty, where enough food is produced to feed everyone on the planet, hunger should be a thing of the past. However, conflict, climate change, disasters, inequality, and – most recently – the COVID-19 pandemic mean one in nine people globally is still going to bed hungry and famine looms for millions.
Powered by the passion, dedication and professionalism of almost 21,000 staff worldwide, the World Food Programme (WFP) works in over 120 countries and territories to bring life-saving food to people displaced by conflict and made destitute by disasters and help individuals and communities find life-changing solutions to the multiple challenges they face in building better futures.
We work to enhance nutrition in women and children, support smallholder farmers in improving productivity and reducing losses, help countries and communities prepare for and cope with climate-related shocks, and boost human capital through school feeding programmes.
In conflict situations, we bring relief to exhausted populations and use food assistance to build pathways to peace and stability – work for which WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
To learn more about WFP, visit our website and follow us on social media to keep up with our latest news: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.
WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THIS POSITION?
The WFP Communications unit in Kyiv works to inform national and international audiences about WFP activities in the country, to sustain international attention on the humanitarian consequences of the war and humanitarian needs, to support donor relations, donor visibility, and fundraising, to improve communication with beneficiary communities and counter misinformation, and to protect WFP's reputation and increase trust in the organization.
The Communications Unit in Kyiv works closely with field offices in Dnipro and Odesa and regularly undertakes field missions to report on and document WFP activities.
The National Communications Officer reports to the Head of Communications in Kyiv.
WHY WORK WITH US?
The war in Ukraine has had drastic consequences, both for people inside the country and for those around the world dependent on its huge grain supplies. It has caused one of the fastest forced population movements since the Second World War. Close to 8 million Ukrainians are living as refugees across Europe, and another 5.3 million are internally displaced. Many are destitute, having lost their homes and livelihoods. As food production and supply lines are disrupted by fighting, many families in the east and south do not have reliable access to nutritious food.
WFP uses a flexible mix of food and cash assistance to support vulnerable Ukrainians wherever they are. This includes working with local partners to distribute food rations in areas near the frontline, and providing cash transfers wherever people have access to banks and markets to buy food.
WFP reaches between 2 to 3 million Ukrainians every month with this critical assistance.
Ukraine is usually one of the world's major breadbaskets, producing enough food to feed 400 million people per year prior to the war. The war has drastically cut supplies for countries in acute need while driving up food prices. WFP has supported efforts to reopen the Black Sea ports. We are working around the clock to transport wheat grain from Ukraine to countries in need, since an agreement was reached for such exports via the Black Sea, in July 2022. This also provides an important boost to Ukraine’s economy.
WFP emphasizes a localized approach, working through local partners, businesses, trade networks and institutions to support the Government and people of Ukraine.
In addition, we offer:
➡️ Meaningful and impactful careers: Our day-to-day work makes a difference in the lives of the people we support
➡️ Continuous learning and training: We provide learning tools for our staff to continually develop their careers
➡️ Multicultural and stimulating work environment: We encourage gender and cultural diversity to make our teams stronger
HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
In this position, you will:
- Write and pitch stories about WFP's activities in Ukraine, staff stories, and opinion pieces/op-eds for publication on WFP's website, WFP's national and global social media channels or in national and international media.
- Respond to media interviews and information requests, and act as a national spokesperson as requested and required.
- Draft or translate news releases for local, national, or international audiences.
- Liaise with partners and relevant WFP units, to identify and evaluate communications opportunities, suggest ideas, confirm operational information, and contribute to the production and distribution of stories, video, and photo content that support the country's communications strategy. Archive, organize, and upload audiovisual content on the WFP multimedia hub for use by staff globally. Support or coordinate social media campaigns/ influencer campaigns.
- Monitor traditional and social media, and report relevant information to senior staff to inform the development and/or evaluation of communications activities and strategies.
- Support and/or coordinate media coverage of events and WFP activities, under guidance from the Head of Communications and in coordination with field offices.
- Contribute to effective communication with affected communities and local authorities by developing or updating messages and answers to frequently asked questions to be distributed by WFP's partners, on WFP's platform or shared with local media, ensuring clarity & consistency.
- Support the production of multimedia content with editing, translation, and subtitles.
- Distribute and promote communications and branding guidelines for WFP staff to refer to when creating content and communications material or when communicating externally. Support and/or organize practical trainings to help build the capacity of field-based staff to contribute to communications.
- Support donor relations, document donor contributions, and create content packages for donors when required
- Respond to internal queries and requests for communications support, using initiative and following standard WFP processes and guidelines (branding, visibility etc.)
- Track performance of communications activities and outputs or outcomes with analytics; report on communications activities to other units and senior management.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
TO JOIN US IN SAVING LIVES, CHANGING LIVES, YOU MUST HAVE…
Education:
- Advanced university degree in Communications, Media, Journalism, International Relations, Public Relations or other relevant disciplines OR a First University degree with additional years of related work experience and/or training courses.
Experience:
- Minimum of three (3) years relevant postgraduate professional experience in media, journalism, communications, public relations, digital marketing, editorial roles or similar fields.
Knowledge & Skills:
- Good public speaking skills, and ability to engage the media
- English writing and creative storytelling
- Ability to organize training.
- Ability to conduct basic research and gather information independently.
- Project management and coordination skills
- Video editing and graphic design skills will be a plus
Language:
- Fluency (level C) in both English and Ukrainian language.
- Fluency in the Russian language is a plus.
BEFORE YOU APPLY
- WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.
- Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting an inclusive work environment in which diversity is valued and where no form of discrimination is tolerated.
- We aim to achieve parity in our teams in Ukraine. Qualified female applicants are especially encouraged to apply.
- All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications.
- All documents, CVs, and cover letters must be submitted in English language.
- WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
- No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.
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WFP has a zero-tolerance approach to conduct such as fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to WFP’s standards of conduct and will therefore undergo rigorous background verification internally or through third parties. Selected candidates will also be required to provide additional information as part of the verification exercise. Misrepresentation of information provided during the recruitment process may lead to disqualification or termination of employment.
WFP will not request payment at any stage of the recruitment process including at the offer stage. Any requests for payment should be refused and reported to local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.
