Communications Specialist - Brand and Design

Background Information - Job-specific

UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The New York Service Cluster (NYSC) supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as other New York-based United Nations organizations, bilateral and multilateral partners in the delivery of UNOPS mandate in project management, infrastructure management, and procurement management. The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP) It provides Services to partners’ programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners that are headquartered in New York.  SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed an agreement  to implement the project activities for the Small Grants Programme (SGP)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) SGP is implemented by UNDP’s Local Action Cluster of the Nature, Climate and Energy unit of BPPS on behalf of the GEF Partnership. It is executed by UNOPS.  The SGP forms a central part of the UNDP Local Action Cluster of Nature, Climate Change, and Energy (NCE).

SGP grantmaking supports community-based innovation in addressing global environmental issues and improved, more sustainable livelihoods through initiatives led by civil society and community organizations, with special consideration for indigenous peoples, women, youth and persons with disabilities. SGP has supported over 25,000 community-based projects in over 125 countries aimed at biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable land management, protection of international waters, and sound chemicals and waste management. Over the years, SGP has developed extensive partnerships at global, national and local levels. See http://sgp.undp.org for further background information. 

The Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) team within the UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) in New York exercises strategic, technical and fiduciary oversight for all of its GEF activities, including the SGP, through a Principal Technical Advisor. Within the NCE, the Local Action Cluster Coordination team, through the SGP Central Programme Management Team, provides the overall global management of the SGP, including strategic, thematic, and operational guidance and support to the Country Programmes. As the responsible Executing Agency for the SGP, UNOPS provides services to UNDP for human resources, administrative, financial and legal aspects of grantmaking and country operations.  

The Communications Specialist - Brand and Design will work as a core member of the Central Programme Management Team (CPMT) on the following key areas: 

1) Develop, facilitate, implement and update a coherent and strategic branding strategy to capture, share, and promote SGP to enhance SGP’s corporate image at global, country, and project levels;  

2) Develop, facilitate, and implement and update comprehensive and streamlined communications strategy to strengthen the SGP Brand at the global, country, and project levels, and increase global coherence and consistency on SGP branding and messaging across country programmes. 

3) In collaboration with the UNDP Equator Initiative and ISGAP teams develop, facilitate, and implement a ‘local actions’ communications and knowledge management strategy to capture, share, and promote UNDP’s branding on the work and results on local actions and IPLCs.

This position is global in nature and home-based. The incumbent of this consultancy will be personnel of UNOPS, under its full responsibility.

Functional Responsibilities

The Communications Specialist - Brand and Design is responsible for developing, implementing and updating the Branding strategies of the SGP, which would include strengthening communication, knowledge sharing, and uplifting the corporate imagine of SGP and Local Action Cluster. The contractor works in close collaboration with SGP Country Programmes, CPMT, UNOPS, UNDP and the GEF to ensure that the branding of SGP and partners are adequately disseminated and implemented across the programme. 

Under the direct supervision of the SGP Deputy Global Manager (DGM), and working closely with the SGP Global Manager (GM), the incumbent will actively support the implementation of the overall programme of work of the SGP and will perform the following specific duties in collaboration with other CPMT staff: 

1. Branding 

• Work with UNDP Equator initiative and Innovation Small Grant Aggregator Platform (ISGAP) teams to develop and implement a ‘local actions’ and branding strategy that enhances the branding of the local action cluster
• Lead the development and facilitate implementation of guidance on how to promote and disseminate  SGP brand at the country level 
• Lead the development and maintenance of effective means of dissemination in support of the SGP’s brand goals, in consultation with the CPMT and SGP country teams, (i.e. website, intranet, social media accounts, Shorthand story platform and others) 
• Work with broader SGP and local action teams to determine how best to position the SGP and local action brad. 
• Establish working relationships with counterparts including within UNDP, the GEF and other partners and develop ideas for collaborations to advance the SGP’s objectives.

Key Results:  All SGP staff and partners are motivated to contribute to a coherent branding strategy and process at the local and global levels. CPMT staff and National/Sub-Regional Coordinators are performing effectively by capturing and sharing best practices and lessons learned. 

2. Communications 

• Work with UNDP NCE teams (such as the Equator Initiative and ISGAP teams) to develop and implement a ‘NCE Local Actions’ communications strategy.
• Provide strategic oversight and guidance on SGP social media (Facebook and Twitter) content creation. 
• Lead on the design and production of NSC Local Action communication products, guidance notes and toolkits.
• Responsible for ensuring delivery of activities and products indicated in the SGP communications plan/calendar. 
• Drafting and editing of short written materials: briefings, web copy, blogs, press releases, news updates, newsletters, etc. 
• Work with the SGP CPMT to plan and develop communication products relevant to the SGP/Local Action communications strategy.
• Ensure regular flow of material from the SGP Country teams and help to organise and support communications events: preparing materials, organising meetings, facilitating as required. 
• Liaison with designers, editors and other experts as required

Education/Experience/Language requirements

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

*CANDIDATES WITH NO UNITED NATIONS OR UNOPS EXPERIENCE ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in communications, business or public administration, environmental management, development or related fields.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively more responsible relevant experience in the field of branding corporate programmes and projects, including knowledge management, communications, learning and strategic planning, preferably in the field of environment. 
• Proven track record on knowledge management and communications and their application to strategic planning and management.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in working with multicultural institutions;
• Experience with business systems, information analysis, database, CMS, and portfolio management;

Language Requirements:

• Excellent command of written and spoken English is essential. 
• Spoken and written fluency in French and/or Spanish highly desirable; knowledge of another UN official language an asset.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)

Contract level: LICA 10 (ICSC 10)

Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx.