The UN Secretary-General launched on 1 January 2019 a bold and new global reform which repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively and efficiently with the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. As part of this reform, UN Resident Coordinator Offices (UN RCO), under the leadership of an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator - the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System and Representative of the UN Secretary-General at country level - support countries in the achievement of their development priorities and the attainment of the SDG's. In its Resolution A/RES/72/279, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the transformation of the Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) as a stand-alone coordination office within the United Nations Secretariat. DCO exercises managerial and oversight functions of the resident coordinator system under the oversight of the Chair of United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG). In 2026, DCO undertook a recalibration to ensure the RC system remains optimally configured to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda and embodies the UN 2.0 shift- anchored in data, digital, innovation, behavioral science, strategic foresight, and a mission driven organizational culture. The position is located in the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in Baghdad, Iraq, under the supervision of the Head of the Resident Coordinator Office.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Associate Communications Officer will perform the following duties:

• Contribute to the implementation of communications strategies that raise awareness, drive engagement, build support and have measurable impact with target audiences.
• Contribute to drafting narratives and messaging on the work of the UN that engage target audiences across different channels and platforms.
• Contribute to the development of media lines, including in crisis situations and on sensitive issues.
• Contribute to the drafting and production of communications products, such as press releases, press statements, web stories, reports, and infographics.
• Contribute to development and coordination of strategic communications partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to reach target audiences and maximize impact.
• Monitor, analyse, and report on communications approaches, activities and strategies to assess their performance and effectiveness.
• Contribute to the collection and analysis of data as well as identification of trends or patterns and provides draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Perform other related tasks as assigned.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Presentation skills. Strategic thinking skills. Public speaking skills. Critical thinking skills. Knowledge and understanding of sustainable development theories, concepts & approaches and knowledge of Media Monitoring tools. Ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. Ability to undertake research, analyze data, make recommendations and write draft reports on sustainable development issues. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring theequal participation of women and men in all areas of work

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be clients and seeks to see things from clients point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Desired Candidate Profile

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, digital communications or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, international relations, or other relevant areas is required. Demonstrated knowledge of risks to information integrity - misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and threats in fragile, post conflict, and crisis environments is required. Demonstrated skills in collecting, processing, and analysing large volumes of unstructured and structured data is required. Demonstrated knowledge of strategic communications principles and practices is required. Demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging digital media platforms, their principles and technologies is desirable. Demonstrated knowledge of data protection and privacy standards is desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or a related area is desirable. Demonstrated skills in data visualization tools to create charts, graphs, and visual outputs is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, fluency in English and Arabic is required.