Crisis Communications Specialist [Open to Tier 0, 1 and 2 applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

- Tier 0 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.

- Tier 1 : Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments

- Tier 2 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers

- Tier 3 or no tier indicated : All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Organizational Context

As the lead United Nations agency on international development, for six decades, UNDP works in some 170 countries and territories. UNDP has shaped the progress of human development, providing integrated support at scale to improve lives for millions of people worldwide. UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2026-2029 helps countries and communities in their progress towards high human development while protecting the planet through four strategic objectives – prosperity for all, effective governance, crisis resilience, and healthy planet. The plan is powered by three accelerators: digital and AI transformation; gender equality; and sustainable finance. All are underpinned by a commitment to human rights and to leaving no one behind.

The Bureau for Advocacy and External Relations leads and supports UNDP to build and deliver essential strategic relationships and alliances. It creates and delivers a strong public narrative about the organization, impact of our work, and how we align with partners to identify and build solutions towards achieving sustainable development. The Bureau also leads UNDP’s work with traditional donors, as well as building innovative and diversified funding relationships. BERA communications enable strong political and financial backing by providing partners and supporters with a clear understanding of what UNDP does and how our mission, capabilities and services reinforce global, regional, and national development priorities. BERA leads efforts to optimally position UNDP within the UN Development System, with Member States and in the inter-governmental and inter-agency fora. It identifies strategic opportunities to partner with agencies through multi-stakeholder and bilateral platforms. It provides intelligence, advises on relationships with key political constituencies, incl. UN Member states, G77 and China, WEOG, EU, Executive Board and develops strategies. BERA coordinates and sets corporate standards across the functions of political positioning, partnerships, marketing and communications within UNDP and leads on internal communications.

The Communications Group is responsible for showcasing UNDP and demonstrating the potential and the impact of its work in 170 countries and territories and across the thematic areas of its 2026-2029 Strategic Plan.

Within the Communications Group, the Strategic Communications, Planning & Engagement team sets strategic direction and editorial vision for UNDP’s global communications, translating complex policy content into compelling narratives for diverse audiences. It develops and executes global plans to strengthen partner engagement and maximize visibility, coordinates across channels and thematic teams, and leads drafting of corporate narratives and the One UNDP communications plan.

Job Purpose

Under the guidance of the Team Leader for Strategic Communications, Planning & Engagement, the Crisis Communications Specialist supports BERA’s communications work in response to crises, including disasters and conflicts, helping to ensure coherence and impact in communicating the effects on people’s lives, livelihoods, and development. The incumbent coordinates the production of content that showcases UNDP’s work in anticipating, preventing, and recovering from crisis, ensuring outputs meet corporate standards. The Specialist contributes to UNDP’s crisis communications delivery, with a focus on the timeliness, quality, and operational efficiency of communication flows during emergency situations.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks and crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated and systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Contribute to the Development and Implementation of Communications Strategies for Crisis and Donor Support

- Contribute to the development of communications strategies to increase UNDP visibility and support fundraising in sudden-onset and protracted crises, aligned with UNDP’s Beyond Crisis Action Agenda messaging, in close collaboration with partnership colleagues and Crisis Bureau’s Strategic Partnerships and Communications Team.

- Support the identification and production of communications products for visibility and fundraising, assist country teams with implementation, and coordinate inputs from corporate communications teams, including media, digital, brand, donor communications and Crisis Bureau’s Strategic Partnerships and Communications Team,

- Liaise with the Goodwill Ambassador manager to facilitate the amplification of UNDP’s crisis efforts by celebrity supporters.

- Collaborate with the Partnership Group to identify relevant donors and coordinate media engagement in priority locations.

- Support the production of and curate impactful stories that highlight the importance of core funding during crisis situations.

- Support and facilitate regular communications and partnership meetings (including cross-bureaux communications taskforces) together with Country Offices, Regional Bureaux, Crisis Bureau, other BERA units, and the Executive Office to drive communications strategies and promote a coordinated communications response. Provide technical support to the implementation of crisis communications response strategies, including during out-of-hours emergency scenarios.

- Participate, as required, in Country Support Management Team and other crisis response meetings, and draft briefing notes and technical inputs for BERA senior management for use at internal Crisis Boards.

2. Provide Technical Support and Coordination for Country Offices

- Provide technical support to Country Offices and Regional Bureaux in developing key messages, Q&As, and press releases on crises, in collaboration with the Crisis Bureau’s Strategic Partnerships and Communications Team.

- Guide and assist Country Offices with pitching media interviews and preparing spokespeople for crisis-related engagements.

- Support Country Offices in the identification, production and dissemination of knowledge products that strengthen UNDP’s visibility in crisis.

- Coordinate technical advice to Country Offices on the production of multimedia content, including video, photography, and web stories.

- Serve as a Communications Group focal point for Country Office and Regional Bureau requests related to crises, coordinating timely and effective support under the guidance of the Team Leader.

- Support a coordinated and streamlined flow of information between Country Offices and headquarters on crisis communications.

- 3. Support UNDP Visibility within UN Communications Mechanisms

- Support liaison with the UN Spokesperson’s Office to facilitate timely communication of UNDP results and agreed positions.

- Participate in weekly United Nations Communications Group crisis cell meetings, presenting cleared UNDP inputs and helping to ensure that UNDP’s work is visible and accurately reflected, with due regard to political sensitivities.

- Coordinate with other agencies on media messaging, media statements and other crisis-related communications.

- Ensure the integration of UNDP messaging into broader UN system-wide crisis communications on a regular basis.

- Monitor UN-wide communications mechanisms and share relevant, politically sensitive information with appropriate UNDP stakeholders, including Crisis Cells, the Executive Office, and BERA, in line with established protocols.

4. Contribute to Improvements and Readiness in Crisis Communications and Facilitate Knowledge Sharing

- Contribute to improving UNDP’s crisis communications by organizing consultations, "Ask Comms" sessions, and technical training for Resident Representatives and staff in coordination with the Crisis Bureau.

- Undertake proactive outreach to Country Office leadership and communications staff to ensure they are aware of available resources and can deploy them immediately.

- Support the review and updating of corporate Crisis SOPs, in conjunction with the Crisis Bureau, and BERA SOPs related to crisis communications to strengthen crisis readiness.

- Contribute to efforts to document crisis coordination mechanisms and the division of labour across teams and Bureaux, helping to strengthen operational clarity before a crisis occurs.

- Maintain and update a library of pre-developed messaging on crisis themes to ensure rapid response capability, in close cooperation with Crisis Bureau’s Strategic Partnerships and Communications team.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

Competencies

Core : Full list of UNDP Core Competencies can be found here

- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

- Business Management Communications Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

- Business Direction and Strategy System Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

- Business Development UNDP Representation Effectively represent and advocate for UNDP, its values, mission, work, and positions with various constituencies/audiences, shares UNDP knowledge and activities

- Business Development Knowledge Facilitation Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

- Business Management Portfolio Management Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.

- Communications Media Relations Ability to develop media relations across all aspects of media work including relationships with media and preparing media materials such as messages

- Policy and Programme Crisis management / Country Management Support Crisis related communication and advocacy

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Communications, Journalism, Media Studies, International Relations, Political or Social Sciences, Public Policy, or a related field is required. Or

- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

- Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in journalism, communications, crisis communications, and / or content production coordination is required.

- Demonstrated experience coordinating multiple workstreams or projects in a complex environment is required.

- Experience supporting media engagement and generating coverage of international development, humanitarian, or international relations issues is desired.

- International experience, including experience in developing countries or crisis-affected contexts, is preferred.

- Experience working with the United Nations system, including at headquarters, regional or country level, is an asset.

- Experience in providing technical advice to Country Offices on the production of multimedia content, including video, photography, and web stories is desired.

- Experience in documenting crisis coordination mechanisms is desired.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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