Senior External Relations Assistant

The Senior External Relations Assistant supports the External Relations Unit by managing external relations activities including organizing visits, drafting reports and public information materials, and assisting with social media strategy. The role requires strong communication skills and experience in external relations preferably within an international organization.

Responsibilities

• Draft briefing notes, press releases, bulletins, reports, newsletters and prepare any other public information material, as required.
• Facilitate and accompany visits of foreign delegations, partner NGOs, donors and the media to refugee camps.
• Draft and translate routine correspondence and texts.
• Assist with developing and implementing UNHCR's social media strategy conceptualize and pitch stories for UNHCR's global website.
• Ensure that public information materials including fact sheets, information brochures, briefing materials from the Branch Office, etc. are available.
• Organize visibility events (e.g. World Refugee Day) and liaise with partners, refugees and local communities on implementation.
• May be required to assist in compilation of weekly, monthly, annual/quarterly thematic reports, situations reports etc.
• Review media daily and ensure the office is kept informed of local developments.
• Provide information on UNHCR's activities to external partners.
• Respond to non-complex media queries and incoming correspondence.
• 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.

Requirements

• At least two years of previous experience in External Relations, preferably in an international organization.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing project proposals.
• Strong writing and speaking skills in English and Spanish; (B2 minimum for English, native Spanish).
• Experience drafting internal and external documents such as briefing notes/talking points, fact sheets, operational updates, etc.
• Demonstrated experience organizing field visits and bilateral meetings.
• Experience monitoring and ensuring visibility for donors (i.e. Japan, EU, Canada, USA).
• Experience in the planning and execution of events.
• Excellent reporting skills (i.e. donor reporting, database management, or similar).
• Experience in refugee, mixed movements, and development settings is highly desirable.
• Experience with social media publications would be an asset.
• Experience working with private donors would be an asset.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, strong coordination, organization and communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and in teams.
• Person interested in applying for this position should be legally present in the country at the time of application, recruitment, and appointment.
• Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.
• For G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.
• Certificates and/or Licenses in International Relations, Journalism, Political Science.
• Previous experience in UN/UNHCR is desirable.
• Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of position is desirable.
• Knowledge of another relevant UN language is desirable.
• HQ and Field experience with UNHCR or with other humanitarian organizations is desirable.
• Functional skills include TI-Interpretation, IT-Computer Literacy, CO-Drafting and Documentation.
• Knowledge of English and Spanish required.

Skills

• External Relations
• Project Proposal Preparation
• Briefing Notes Drafting
• Talking Points Preparation
• Fact Sheets Development
• Operational Updates Reporting
• Field visit organization
• Bilateral Meetings Coordination
• Donor Visibility Monitoring
• Event Planning
• Donor Reporting
• Database Management
• Refugee Settings Experience
• Mixed Movements Experience
• Development Settings
• Social Media Publishing
• Private Donor Engagement
• TI-Interpretation
• IT-Computer Literacy
• CO-Drafting and Documentation

Languages

English, Spanish