Communications Specialist, P4

Position description

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The role of the Communications unit is to use strategic communications as a tool to help achieve the Organization’s mission of promoting, providing and protecting health. This involves providing accessible, understandable, relevant, credible, timely and actionable information to ensure key stakeholders in the Western Pacific are aware of and support WHO’s work, and they understand key health issues and their role in addressing them. Key audiences include media, policymakers, donors and other partners, and the general public in the Western Pacific Region.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• In coordination with relevant staff in the Regional Office, country offices and headquarters, develop and steer the implementation of comprehensive communication strategies and plans to advocate for and ensure public awareness of key health issues, WHO’s leadership, programmes and achievements in countries and areas of the Western Pacific Region.
• Support the implementation of the WHO corporate communication strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and key health initiatives.
• Identify marketable subjects, success stories, and health-related trends, and develop a wide range of communications and advocacy products including for partnerships’ initiatives, to promote the regional public health agenda.
• Oversee office processes for identifying, producing, disseminating and measuring the impact of communication content, ensuring high-quality materials and optimal outreach across suitable channels and platforms.
• Ensure active communication support for the Regional Director, and from the Regional Office to COs and GDSOs in the Western Pacific.
• Coordinate across the three levels of the Organization and with key partners on editorial issues, media relations, and digital engagement to ensure consistency and strategic alignment.
• Organize events, campaigns, and media briefings, coordinating between media and WHO experts, as required.
• Endeavour to create new and strategically important networks and contacts with the media, communication counterparts at relevant government agencies and partner organizations, and other key players to ensure strong knowledge of health issues and trust in WHO’s work in the Region.
• Manage the development/updating of content on the WHO Regional and country websites in the Western Pacific and the regional intranet presence, and chair regular meetings of the regional web working group, ensuring regular updates and measurement, evaluation and learning.
• Oversee the design and delivery of effective social media engagement strategies.
• Ensure regular media monitoring, tracking audience/target group perceptions of the organization. Develop strategies to address deficiencies and manage risk-mitigation communications.
• Collaborate with regional stakeholders, development and other strategic partners to produce and disseminate information on regional health strategies. Advocate for organizational priorities, foster related initiatives, and represent WHO in relevant fora.
• Coordinate closely with the WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) to develop and deliver specialized emergency or multi-hazard risk communications, social mobilization and advocacy plans before, during and after public health crises, emergencies, and outbreaks.
• Advise Regional Office leadership and support implementation of strategic external and internal communications.
• Coordinate and deliver communication and media-sensitization training for WHO staff, contributing to capacity building in the Region.
• Perform other communication-related tasks as requested by the supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential: Advanced university degree in communications, journalism, marketing, political or international relations, or health.
• Desirable: Formal qualification in public health. Courses in communication techniques, graphic design, or social media. Training in risk communication.

Experience

• Essential: A minimum of seven years work experience in communications strategy development and implementation, including delivery of communications services and products, with some obtained in an international work environment.
• Desirable: Some of the above-listed experience to have been obtained in the health field.

Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of WHO’s mandate and goals.
• Thorough understanding of public health and international development issues.
• Proven skills in the development and implementation of communication/media products and approaches including solid writing ability.
• Skills and ability to represent and promote the WHO brand in virtual communities and networks.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop messaging and positioning for an international organization.
• Ability to elicit and communicate success stories.
• Ability to transform technical information for different target audiences.
• Desirable:
  • Knowledge of WHO/United Nations programmes and practices.
  • Knowledge of the Western Pacific Region.

Use of Language Skills

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Knowledge of French and/or Chinese is an advantage.

Application instructions

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