Communications Officer

Communications Officer (Communications and Partnerships Development Officer)

Job categories: Communications, Partnerships
Vacancy code: VA/2024/B5516/29296
Department/office: AR, SAMCO, Nepal
Duty station: Kathmandu, Nepal
Contract type: Local ICA Specialist
Contract level: LICA Specialist-8
Duration: Open-ended subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and/or satisfactory performance
Application period: 28-Nov-2024 to 13-Dec-2024

Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement.

Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.

Background Information – Job-specific

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement, and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors, and United Nations organizations. With over 6,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical, and management knowledge they need, where they need it. By implementing around 1,000 projects for our partners at any given time, UNOPS makes significant contributions to results on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.

UNOPS Nepal Context:

Since 2015, UNOPS has engaged closely with the Government of Nepal and Development Partners across a range of sectors including Security and Justice, Urbanization, Post-earthquake Reconstruction including damaged assessments, retrofitting of damaged houses, reconstruction of disability-friendly schools, delivering of essential equipment to support COVID-19 response amongst others.

The functional objective of UNOPS Nepal is to deliver its projects efficiently and effectively in alignment with Government priorities following UNOPS rules and regulations. This is to drive forward the outcomes sought by the clients and funding partners and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while ensuring gender, diversity, and inclusion are mainstreamed in all its work for the people of Nepal.

Functional Responsibilities

The Communications Officer ( Communications and Partnerships Development Officer) is responsible for supporting the Country Manager, UNOPS Nepal, in the implementation of partnerships, business development and strategic communication responsibilities related to the Nepal Office.

The incumbent will reports to the Country Manager and works in close coordination with the Portfolio Manager.

Functions / Key Results Expected:

1. Partnership Development
2. Strategic Communication
3. Knowledge Management and Innovation

1. Partnership Development

The Communications Officer ( Communications and Partnerships Development Officer will work in close collaboration with the Portfolio Manager and the Country Manager and will:

• Contribute to the development of partnership and programme development plan in line with UNOPS Strategic Plan and Asia Pacific Regional Strategies including country context and analysis of development and humanitarian landscape;
• Provide support in formulation and implementation of annual Partnerships work plans;
• Support the Portfolio Manager to coordinate and promote collaboration between relevant Partnerships personnel at local, liaison, and HQ levels, and key personnel across the Nepal Office, to ensure aligned and coherent interactions with partners;
• Research events, publications, and announcements, to track and screen opportunities for possible UNOPS Nepal Office interventions and identify trends that will drive partnership opportunities;
• Contribute to the identification, design, formulation and negotiation of new projects and programs and draft concept notes and project document briefs for discussion with partners;
• Build a network of key partners, keeping abreast of evolving trends.

2. Strategic Communications

• Provide content to be used for public information, communication, and outreach activities for the Nepal Office in collaboration with the South Asia Multi Country Office (SAMCO) and Asia Pacific Region (APR) Communication Unit and UNOPS Communication Group, as required.
• Promote UNOPS branding standards for all communication products of the Nepal Office.
• Propose to the Portfolio Manager a reporting/communications plan for all internal and external communications for the project;
• Ensure adherence to internal reporting mechanisms;
• Ensure the implementation of the communications and visibility plan including the production of project factsheet and other visibility materials including the timely distribution of press releases when required;
• Coordinate regularly with the Communications Team and other internal stakeholders to ensure the timely update of project related information;
• Draft communications materials and facilitate actions in line with the project communication to publicize project results and achievements.

3. Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Contribute to disseminating and sharing best practices and lessons learned for planning and building knowledge within project and partnership development.
• Contribute to the preparation and publication of UNOPS Nepal Internal Newsletter (Quarterly Highlights) to ensure information flow and keep the personnel up to date with developments
• Participate in the UNOPS’ relevant groups, fora, and communities for information and knowledge sharing
• Stimulate coordination, information flow, and lessons exchange through regular engagement with project communications personnel
• Contribute to the identification and sharing of the lessons learned and the best practices

Impact of Results

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Communications Officer ( Communications and Partnerships Development Officer) impacts the performance of the Nepal Office by maintaining a diverse pipeline of project opportunities and strategic communications, supporting the sustainable growth of the UNOPS’ presence and fulfillment of its mandate in Nepal.
Education/Experience/Language requirements

Education

• A Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field such as Business Administration, Public Administration, International Development, Engineering, Political Science, Communications, or International Relations is required.
• A Master’s degree in the above-mentioned field would be an advantage.

Experience

• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant work experience in partnership development and proposal writing, communications, and other related fields is required.
• Acquisition of projects is a strong asset;
• Project and programme management experience is an asset

Language

• Fluency in Nepali and English is required.

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: ICA – Individual Contractor Agreement
Contract level: Local ICA Specialist 8
Contract duration: Ongoing ICA – Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link:
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx

Additional Information

• This Vacancy is open for NEPALI Nationals ONLY.
• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce.
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.