OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The communications team supports the Regional Director by strategically overseeing the communications work within the Regional Office and by generating visibility for WHO’s work in the region. The communications team is responsible for the planning and coordination of all corporate communications and media relations work and it provides advice to technical units and country offices on external communication.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
- Promote the work of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region and protect the Organization’s reputation, specifically:
- Serve as a spokesperson for the Regional Office
- Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of a corporate communications strategy and corresponding plans for WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region including the development of clear communications goals, identification of target audiences, articulation of messaging and measuring the effectiveness of these actions.
- Lead WHO’s corporate branding work in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
- Supervise, draft and manage the production and distribution of public information materials including press releases, newsletters, speeches and statements, brochures, articles, fact sheets and audiovisual materials.
- Write speeches for RD, messaging, media products and other materials as needed.
- Establish and maintain contacts with a network of country-based and regional communication and public information officers in the UN, ministries of health and regional communication centres and others.
- Manage communications campaigns connected with the celebration of World Health Days, thematic health days, launching of key reports and special events such as Regional Committee meetings.
- Provide direct support for internal events led by the Regional Director and appropriate support to the technical units and country offices in their communications efforts.
- Brief visitors and EMRO staff members on WHO public information policies, strategies and activities, and keep EMRO staff informed of news, items concerning WHO and related matters.
- Contribute as required to the implementation of EMRO resource mobilization action plan.
- Perform senior management functions:
- As part of the senior leadership in External Relations and Communications Unit play a lead role in the Communications Team: manage, guide, and inspire its work, taking responsibility for the team, budgets, strategy and work plans.
- Oversee the work of the audio-visual and studio services, events management, communications product development, internal communications and partnerships communications work.
- Control quality of the concept, design and layout of EMRO publications and audiovisual products of all technical units.
- Promote internal communications:
- Lead the development, implementation and monitoring of the internal communications strategy for the regional office.
- Provide clearance for internal communications products for intranet or on other fora.
- Enhance the communication linkages between the Headquarters and other regional offices.
- Lead internal communications efforts during external or institutional crises and during periods of major change.
- Provide advice to technical units at the regional office and country offices on internal communications plans and approaches.
- Lead capacity building for communications:
- Guide and oversee the regional communications training programme, ensure quality control, and monitor progress and outcomes.
- Update, review and draft policies, procedures and tools to enhance EMRO’s communications capacity.
- Provide direct support and advice to country offices briefings, meetings and trainings.
- Promote policy or behavior change through public health communications:
- Oversee public health communications and health advocacy strategies, plans, and communications products for policy change or behavior change and ensure they are evidence-based and accurate.
- Provide Communications Team clearance for selected communications products in print, video or audio in consultation with technical units and country offices.
- Act as EMRO focal point for WHO and UN-wide health-related communications work and initiatives.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Essential: Master degree in social sciences, journalism, communications, health communications or related fields. Combination of first level university degree in one of the above areas with Master Degree in another area can be acceptable.
Desirable: Postgraduate specialization at the level of PhD in any of the above.
Experience
Essential: At least ten years’ of relevant experience at the national and international levels. Experience in dealing with public information in health programmes and with focus on health communication and advocacy and in the development of materials for mass media and policy makers.
Desirable: Experience in WHO or another UN Organization highly desirable; experience working on global public health issues and working in a developing or emerging economy.
Skills
- Excellent communications and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate with respect, tact and diplomacy
- Strong leadership, coordination and networking skills
- Solid writing and editing skills for multiple products such as speeches, media products, and information materials
- Ability to serve as a spokesperson for the Organization exercising political diplomacy and judgment
- Demonstrated ability to work with the media to communicate health messages on a tight deadline
- Proven ability to manage competing priorities and responsibilities
- Excellent organizational and strong problem solving skills
- Excellent facilitation, presentation and negotiation skills
- Ability to work with and manage interdisciplinary and multicultural teams
- Knowledge of modern corporate communications theory and practice
- Sound capacity building skills
- Ability to establish, nurture, lead and care for teams
- Good knowledge of fund raising and ability to leverage existing resources well
Other Skills: Proficiency in MS Office.
WHO Competencies
- Communicating in a credible and effective way
- Producing results
- Creating an empowering and motivating environment
- Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
- Driving the Organization’s Position in Health Leadership
Use of Language Skills
Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Arabic.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of French.
REMUNERATION
WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 84,721 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 1673 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- A written test may be used as a form of screening.
- In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
- Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
- For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
- WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
- WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/ . Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
- Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
More Information
- Job City Cairo
