Protocol & Strategic Engagements Specialist

The Protocol and Strategic Engagements Specialist supports the effective preparation, coordination and follow-up of executive leadership engagements with Member States and other external stakeholders. The Specialist provides substantive drafting and briefing support, coordinates protocol and engagement requirements for high-level meetings, events and missions and helps ensure that executive engagements are strategically prepared, effectively delivered and systematically followed up.

Responsibilities

• Prepare speeches, remarks, talking points, briefing notes, messages, correspondence and other substantive materials for the Executive Director, Chief of Staff and other members of executive leadership.
• Draft and coordinate briefing materials for meetings with Member States, government counterparts, senior United Nations officials and other external stakeholders.
• Synthesize substantive, political and contextual inputs from across the organization into concise, coherent and audience-appropriate materials for executive leadership.
• Contribute to the development of clear messages and narratives around UNFPA’s mandate, programme priorities and strategic initiatives for different audiences and engagement contexts.
• Support the preparation of key messages, press lines, media briefs, event summaries and other communications materials related to executive engagements, in close coordination with the Strategic Leadership Communications Unit.
• Review and edit materials to ensure accuracy, consistency, appropriate tone and alignment with UNFPA’s mandate, policies and executive priorities.
• Support the preparation and follow-up of executive leadership engagement with Permanent Missions, Member State representatives and government counterparts.
• Prepare background information, stakeholder profiles, meeting objectives, talking points and other materials to support bilateral and group-level engagements.
• Support executive leadership engagement with external partners, including the private sector, foundations, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations and other strategic stakeholders.
• Coordinate inputs from relevant headquarters, regional and country offices to ensure that engagement materials reflect substantive priorities, political context and relevant country and regional perspectives.
• Maintain records of key engagements, decisions, commitments and agreed follow-up actions and support timely coordination of next steps.
• Contribute to maintaining institutional knowledge on executive-level relationships and engagements with Member States and other strategic stakeholders.
• Provide protocol guidance and coordination in accordance with established United Nations practices, and appropriate arrangements for executive-level engagements and communication.
• Coordinate preparation for high-level meetings, official events, ceremonies, receptions and other engagements involving Executive Leadership.
• Prepare or coordinate agendas, programmes, scenarios, speaking orders, seating arrangements, protocol notes, biographies, participant information and other relevant materials.
• Liaise with Permanent Missions, United Nations protocol counterparts, host governments, event organizers and other relevant counterparts on protocol and engagement requirements.
• Coordinate closely with substantive, communications, security, travel and administrative colleagues to ensure that high-level engagements are appropriately prepared and delivered.
• Support official visits by senior government officials and other dignitaries to UNFPA, ensuring coordinated substantive preparation, protocol arrangements and follow-up.
• Coordinate with regional and country offices, Permanent Missions, government counterparts, United Nations entities, external partners and other relevant stakeholders in preparing executive missions.
• Monitor political, intergovernmental, partner and media developments relevant to UNFPA’s mandate, executive engagements and institutional priorities.
• Prepare concise updates, summaries and briefing notes for the Chief of Branch and executive leadership on developments requiring attention or follow-up.
• Monitor developments and public positioning relevant to planned executive engagements and flag potential sensitivities, opportunities or emerging issues.
• Support the Branch in maintaining situational awareness of key Member State and stakeholder developments relevant to executive engagement.
• Contribute research and analysis to political briefs, stakeholder mapping and strategic engagement planning.
• Coordinate with relevant OED teams, headquarters divisions, regional offices and country offices to ensure that executive engagements and missions are prepared on time and supported by accurate and complete materials.
• Track decisions, commitments, requests and action points arising from executive meetings, events and missions and facilitate timely follow-up with responsible business units.
• Maintain effective systems for tracking executive engagements, briefing requirements and follow-up actions.
• Anticipate upcoming requirements and identify gaps, dependencies or delays requiring attention.
• Support coordination across relevant teams to ensure consistency between substantive preparation, political engagement, communications, protocol and logistical arrangements.
• Perform other related duties as required by the Chief, Political Affairs and Advocacy Branch.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree in (minimum Master’s degree or equivalent) international relations, political science, diplomacy, communications, public policy, international development, law, public administration or another related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in international relations, political affairs, diplomacy, protocol, strategic communications, external relations, executive support or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience preparing speeches, remarks, talking points, briefing notes, key messages and other materials for senior leadership.
• Experience supporting high-level engagement with Member States, Permanent Missions, government officials or senior stakeholders in an international or multilateral environment.
• Knowledge of diplomatic protocol and established practices for high-level official engagements, visits and events is required.
• Experience coordinating complex high-level meetings, official events, visits or missions involving senior leadership.
• Strong analytical, research, drafting and editing skills, with demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information into concise and audience-appropriate materials.
• Experience coordinating across multiple organizational units and stakeholders under tight deadlines.
• Experience supporting engagement with external partners, including private sector entities, foundations, civil society organizations or non-governmental organizations, is desirable.
• Experience preparing communications and media-related materials, including key messages, press lines, media briefs or event summaries, is desirable.
• Experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of the United Nations system, multilateral processes and UNFPA’s mandate is desirable.
• Fluency in English is required;
• Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Skills

• International Relations
• Political Affairs
• Diplomacy
• Protocol Management
• Strategic Communications
• External Relations
• Executive Support
• Speech Writing
• Briefing Note Preparation
• Key Message Development
• High-Level Engagement
• Multi-lateral Environment Experience
• Meeting Coordination
• Event Coordination
• Research and Analysis
• Drafting and Editing
• Stakeholder Coordination
• Communications Material Preparation
• Media Relations
• United Nations System Knowledge

Languages

English