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Communication Specialist UNICEF

Communication Specialist, the Gulf, P-4, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Temporary Appointment)

Post: Communication Specialist, the Gulf (12 month Temporary Appointment)
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Salary grade: P4 (see below for more details)
Reporting to: Resource Mobilisation Chief, P-5

For 60 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Background to the role
If you are a passionate and committed communication professional wanting to make a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

We are seeking an experienced communication professional to develop and implement UNICEF’s communication strategy for the Gulf area (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait), to contribute to the fulfillment of UNICEF’s advocacy and resource mobilization goals for the region and especially to enhance the organisation's credibility and brand.

Major duties and responsibilities
• Establishes and maintains strong relations with the key media in the Gulf (print, TV, radio, web, photo etc.), ensuring a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close collaboration with the media to communicate the story of UNICEF and the global/regional/country collaboration with Gulf states.
• Works with UNICEF offices to ensure promotion of UNICEF engagement with the Gulf both in programme fora and in regards to visibility of programmes funded by Gulf based Government, Foundation and private entities. Supports those offices in production of press release, visibility materials and support the dissemination of these materials (both to the donors and within the media)
• Establishes and maintains a set of appropriate, regionally-known personalities who have been identified, engaged and support UNICEF's effort and who actively participate in special events and activities to enhance the organisation's credibility and brand.
• Prepares and updates content for media dissemination and for resource mobilization.
• Ensures an effective process is in place for integrating and taking action on UNICEF's global communications priorities, campaigns and partnerships, disseminating these elements in an appropriate way across the Gulf.
• Manages the public Gulf area web site(s) to communicate the UNICEF story effectively and to support fundraising.

Experience and skills required
The most compelling candidates will have the following qualifications, experience and skills:
• Advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations or related field.*
• Minimum eight years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media, at national and international levels, including experience in the international development / humanitarian arena; knowledge of the Gulf region and media is a significant asset.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.
* A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

If you have got experience of working in a similar capacity and want to make an active and lasting contribution to build a better world for children, send a detailed curriculum vitae in English, AND a duly completed United Nations Personal History form (available at www.unicef.org/employ) quoting “Communication Specialist TA” to: mmerie@unicef.org. Applications should be received by 14 November 2011. Only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted.

UNICEF’s salary and benefits package is based on the United Nations Common System; visit www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances for further information.

UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.