UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
Family Type
Family
Residential location (if applicable)
Grade
PR3
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Professional
- Staff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality.
In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.
Reason
Regular > Regular Assignment
Remote work accepted
No
Target Start Date
2024-01-01
Job Posting End Date
December 21, 2023
Standard Job Description
External Relations Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
Direct supervision is normally exercised by a Senior External Relations Officer of Representative who provides guidance on the applicable procedures. Advice may also be provided by relevant functional units at HQ. The incumbent may supervise some support staff. External contacts are predominantly with Partners, media, government embassies and other international organizations on matters of importance to the Organization.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
- Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations.
- Assist in the planning of a consultative process with UNHCR colleagues (Programme, Protection, etc.) with external actors and partners, so as to develop and implement protection and assistance strategy, with clearly articulated objectives, timelines and outputs.
- Assist the implementation of a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR s operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, the media, academia and persons of concern).
- Assist in the articulation of all issues pertaining to the needs of the populations of concern and the strategies in place to respond to their needs.
- Inform the UNHCR Country Team on the UNHCR priorities so as to ensure that they are given adequate weight in the publications and documentation of the UN Country Team.
- Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide accurate information by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and missions. Prepare reports as appropriate.
- In accordance with the operational context and in close cooperation with headquarters, propose new and non-traditional funding sources, as appropriate, including private sector and humanitarian pooled/basket funds (e.g. Central Emergency Response Fund, Human Security Fund).
- Through a consultative process with headquarters, disseminate information on UNHCR’s global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for persons of concern in the country operation.
- Participate on behalf of the Representative and other supervisors in inter-agency cooperation and communication strategies, initiatives and tools.
- Support senior management in representing UNHCR in the UN Country Team and other UN coordination fora.
- Support, and participate in, local UN integrated missions, Inter-Agency Standing Committee, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Cluster communication strategies and initiatives.
- Assist in the management of information flows within the country operations by identifying priority matters, securing, analyzing and disseminating documentation and information to support country operations and corporate communication processes and priorities.
- Consolidate information on UNHCR’s country operations and identify appropriate messages for campaigns and appeals.
- Assist in the coordination of the drafting of, situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.
- Assist in the development of targeted communications strategies and media packages for situations and/or activities that require focused attention.
- Propose events and initiatives (e.g. commercial, cultural, political and sports) to promote the work of UNHCR and take action as appropriate.
- Support the management of media relations by, inter alia, responding to direct queries, publishing press releases and organizing regular briefings and visits to country operations.
- On behalf of the Representative, approve fundraising messages.
- On behalf of the Representative, approve any relevant expenditure for the implementation of fundraising activities.
- Propose which donors to approach and which operations or activities to prioritize for special fundraising appeals.
- Implement all aspects of a communications strategy.
- Approve budgets and expenditures for communications activities.
- Clear external relations/communication products and tools as appropriate.
- Represent UNHCR on behalf of senior management in fund-raising and communication priorities in inter-agency initiatives and fora.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Political Sciences, Social Sciences, International Relations, Journalism,
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment.
Excellent knowledge of local institution, politics and culture.
Desirable
Good knowledge of UNHCR operations both at Headquarters and in the Field.
Fund-raising and programming/programme management experience.
Experience of working with social media.
Functional Skills
IT-Web Content Management
IT-Computer Literacy
CO-Drafting and Documentation
ER-Inter-Agency External Relations
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile
The incumbent should demonstrate a proven capacity to understand an operation in its globality at strategic level, have excellent inter-personal skills, ability to communicate well with internal and external stakeholders (Head of Units, donors, representatives of public institutions or pf the private sector), both verbal and in writing and in English and Spanish.
Further to this, the incumbent should have solid programme management knowledge (experience in programme is an added value), including knowledge of RAF and Budgetary issues, implementing mechanisms, fundraising regulations and reporting capabilities.
Understanding donors priorities in the region is a must. Experience with private sector fundraising, with engaging in new partnerships and alliance building is a plus. Knowledge of development issues and inter-agency coordination (including funding mechanisms between UN agencies) is highly desired.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
Spanish
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Nature of Position
With over 1.5 million Venezuelans, out of which 532,000 are asylum-seekers, Peru is the second destination country for Venezuelan nationals, only after Colombia, and the first host country for Venezuelan asylum-seekers worldwide. Lima city constitutes the third city globally with the largest number of Venezuelans, after Caracas and Maracaibo (the last two in Venezuela).
UNHCR and partners have so far supported over 90.000 persons in 2023 with legal assistance, psychosocial support, core relief items, multipurpose cash grants, access to shelter and safe spaces for people with specific needs, especially survivors of SGBV, and economic inclusion projects among others.
Besides, UNHCR advocacy efforts with authorities for regularization paths and access to proper documentation remains a high priority .
UNHCR supported the Special Commission for Refugees (CEPR) and works closely with the Ombudsperson’s Office and the judicial system to guarantee and promote access to international protection.
UNHCR Peru operates with a Country Office in Lima, a Field Office in Lima, a Field Office in Tumbes, a Field Unit in Tacna, and antennas in Arequipa and Trujillo.
Peru is a relatively new operation with newly created sustainable partnerships, contacts and donors. The External Relations Teams is responsable for maintaining and reinforcing those partnerships, complying with reporting standards and formats, and well as building an innovative approach to raise awareness of UNHCR’s work in Peru among strategic partners and strengthen relationships.
This post is supervised by the Deputy Representative and supervises a team of 3 colleagues. The incumbent is expected to manage the reporting for the operation, the development of proposals, as well as the implementation of engagement strategies. The External Relations Officer is in constant interaction with other Units when drafting reports and project proposals, and often works closely with the Representative and the Deputy Representative when communicating and meeting with Donors and other key stakeholders.
Living and Working Conditions:
Despite the security concerns mentioned below and the current stranded health situation, Lima is an “A” family duty station having good medical services.
Recreational facilities, schools, and hotels are of international standards. There are possibilities of renting private accommodation, as well as good banking and currency exchange facilities available at the airport terminal, local banks, shopping malls, and main hotels; there is also unlimited access to communication options such as the internet, telephone sim cards, etc. Lima is a modern city with a great variety of commercial, economic, cultural, and industrial activities.
Besides COVID-19 3rd vaccine set is mandatory, no other vaccinations are required to enter the country; however, it is important to check if the itinerary of the incumbent includes endemic areas of malaria, dengue, or yellow fever to take precautionary prevention measures.
February is the hottest month in Lima with an average temperature of 24°C and the coldest is August at 17°C.
Lima is considered of Low-Security level according to the security Level system methodology.
The most frequent crimes reported nationwide are violent assaults in the streets occurring at night, extortion robberies in hotels, restaurants, and malls.
Traffic accidents have become a public health issue nationwide due to driving negligence, low road safety as well as climatic factors.
It is strongly advised to avoid using ATMs or banking services without basic precautions and, if necessary, use of credit and debit cards, which should never leave one sight, to prevent possible fraud through cloning. Also, avoid withdrawing large amounts of cash, use cashier cheques as much as possible or electronic transactions.
Social unrest is frequently reported in the city of Lima, due to its media impact with demonstrations; however, these are also registered in other cities of the coastal regions. These actions, mainly related to socio-environmental conflicts, cause roadblocks and demonstrations in Lima tending to happen at the historical downtown area near the Congress and in areas where the main government buildings are located, showing a recent tendency towards localized violence, thereby stressing the government crowd control mechanisms.
Skills
Additional Qualifications
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Journalism, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science
Certifications
Work Experience
Competencies
Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
Add. 2 to Bi-annual Compendium 2023 – Part B
Additional Information
Functional clearance
This position doesn’t require a functional clearance
To apply for this job please visit unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com.