Communication and Partnership Officer [Opent to Tier 1 & 2 applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP senior management and the direct supervision of the UNDP Resident Representative and Deputy Resident Representative, the Officer ensures consistent information and knowledge management so that internal and external stakeholders and partners understand UNDP’s work, mandate and impact in the country; and can make use of the knowledge produced to further national development and EU accession goals. The Officer also makes a significant contribution towards meeting organizational transparency and accountability commitments by ensuring that reports for donors and headquarters are results focused, informative, clear and concise; and contributes towards smooth internal communication by supporting the flow of information within the organization (including among projects).

The Officer proactively seeks out opportunities to share information and knowledge and uses existing networks, tools and systems—or develops new ones—to monitor and disseminate information and communicate results to internal and external stakeholders and audiences. The Officer is responsible for maintaining and developing corporate communication tools, producing content for web, social media, media and other formats as required.

The Officer works in close collaboration with senior management, programme and operations Teams, staff of RCO and other UN Agencies, UNDP regional and HQ communications staff, national Government officials, multilateral and bilateral donors, civil society, media, and service providers (e.g. printers, designers, photographers, writers, editors, advertising/ marketing/event coordination agencies).

The Officer will provide technical guidance and will be quality control/assurance and matrix supervision to other communications Officers in the CO.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensures consistent information and knowledge management so that UNDP’s internal and external stakeholders understand the organization’s work, its impact in the country and can make use of the knowledge produced to further development and EU Accession goals:

• Ensures that reports to donors and headquarters are well presented, results focused, informative, clear and concise.
•  Maintains corporate communication tools and produces content for web, social media and other formats as required.
• Manages media relations on behalf of UNDP—responding to enquiries, developing and managing media outreach plans as required, and ensuring that material for the media can be readily used by the media and understood by the public.

Ensures consistent information and knowledge management so that UNDP’s internal and external stakeholders understand the organization’s work, its impact in the country and can make use of the knowledge produced by UNDP to further national development:

•  Initiates and maintains networks with national and international communication focal points to support a coherent image of UNDP in the country.
•  Works proactively with senior management, programme and project teams to identify opportunities during the five-year Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) for capturing and sharing knowledge, disseminating information and communicating about major progress and results to external and internal audience.
•  Initiates and maintains networks with the project and programmes staff working on monitoring, evaluation and communication to improve the capture of knowledge, information and data on results that can be communicated to the public.

Ensures that reports to donors and headquarters are well presented, results focused, informative, clear and concise:

• Works proactively with the Senior Management, programme and project teams to draft reports for donors that present project and programme results in an informative and easy to grasp way.
• Works proactively with the Senior Management, programme and project teams to draft annual and other reports required by headquarters.
• Provides support to prepare presentations and other materials, as required, to inform donors about programme progress.

Maintains corporate communication tools and produces content for web, media and other formats as required:

• Works with senior management, programme, project teams and consultants2 (if/as required) to present information and knowledge in forms that can be easily understood and readily used by the targeted stakeholders and/or audiences;
• Produce innovative and creative communications content on a regular basis and share findings from the exploration on future trends, new methodologies/approaches, potential partnership, funding opportunities, and others within UNDP and with partners;
• Works proactively with Senior Management, programme and project teams to develop position papers on thematic areas and key issues of concern;
• Proactively use blog posts and social media to share insights, attract partners and help position the UNDP;
•  Responsible for managing the content of the UNDP website. Develops content for and regularly updates the website, while ensuring that the content is written in a format appropriate for external audiences.
• Responsible for updating country office factsheets on a regular basis.
•  Supports the programme teams to produce well presented and effective publications and other knowledge products to communicate key lessons learnt, best practices and recommendations.
• Provides guidance to all staff on corporate publications and visibility policies including support to innovative approaches;
• Contributes content to the intranet and fosters opportunities for internal information and knowledge sharing.
• Establishes and manages a system for translating all corporate communication content (e.g. web, factsheets, media material) into Macedonian, Albanian and other languages as required.
• Develops and maintains the UNDP events calendar and ensures that major events are indentified early; supports senior management and relevant programme teams to develop and manage messages and information material to ensure the success of major events.

Manages media relations on behalf of UNDP—responding to enquiries, developing and managing media outreach plans as required, and ensuring that material for the media can be readily used by the media and understood by the public:

• Ensures that concepts and issues are translated into a form that can be readily used by the media and understood by the public;
• Develops and maintains contacts with representatives of the key media referred to by priority stakeholders and audiences, including regional and international media covering the country.
• Proactively reaches out to national and regional media directly and by channeling information through UNDP’s communication network to raise awareness and understanding among key stakeholders of UNDP’s role and results.
• Identifies media stories and researches, writes and edits media releases, feature stories and briefings within tight timeframes and which consistently meet agreed corporate standards.
• Identifies media opportunities in print media features, radio and television programs.
• Provides internal consultancy and media advice to staff to ensure that the agreed strategies are implemented and consistency of image is maintained.
• Monitors media coverage.
• Provides senior management with a regular overview of relevant issues discussed in the media.
• Constantly engages with different stakeholders to come up with more effective and innovative ways to create and supply content to target audience.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Institutional Arrangement

The Communication and Partnership Officer will report to the Resident Representative and will works in close collaboration with senior management, programme and operations Teams, staff of RCO and other UN Agencies, UNDP regional and HQ communications staff, national Government officials, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, civil society, media, and service providers (e.g. printers, designers, photographers, writers, editors, advertising/ marketing/event coordination agencies). The Officer will provide technical guidance and will be quality control/assurance and matrix supervision to other communications Officers in the CO.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Achieve Results - LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively - LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously - LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others, and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility - LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination - LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner - LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion - LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

People Management Competencies:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross Functional and Technical Competencies:

Business Management

• Communication 
  • Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Communications 

• Advocacy strategy and implementation 
  • Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.
• Media Relations                        
  • Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages. 
• Social Media management 
  • Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand in virtual communities and networks. 
•  Crisis and reputational risk 
  • Ability to prepare for and respond to potential issues that may negatively impact UNDP's reputation.
• Writing and editing 
  • Ability to create and/or edit written content in different UN languages. 

Partnership Management

• Relationship Management 
  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University degree (Master´s degree or equivalent) in communications,journalism, social science, economics, development or related field or related field is required. Or 
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor's Degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due experience in lieu of Master´s degree

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level l in public relations, communications or advocacy.

Required skill:

• Competent with office software packages, including powerpoint, excel, basic design software. 

Desired skill:

• Experience in conceptualizing and managing the production of printed materials, including detailed reports.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing communication and/or media outreach plans in support of overall corporate goals. 
• Experience with local PR, video production and event management companies
• Previous working experience with international organization will be considered as an asset. 

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Macedonian is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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