Climate Communications Specialist

Job Description

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Office/Unit/Project Description

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP's Strategic Plan. BPPS's staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP's Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP's development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste.

The newly established UNDP Climate Hub is the arrowhead of UNDP’s commitment to the “Climate Promise” that aims to support programming countries designing and implementing pledges under the Paris Agreement, including ambitious National Determined Contributions, with climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions fully embedded in the national development planning and budgetary processes. The Climate Hub will build on UNDP’s existing over USD 4 billion country-level climate portfolio on Climate Change Policies and Strategies, Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Change Mitigation, Climate and Forests, covering over 142 countries, as well as on UNDP’s Nature portfolio, UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP’s Digital offer and other relevant portfolios on youth, gender, health, climate security among others.

The UNDP Climate Hub Is Responsible For

• Thought leadership on Climate and to be the custodian of UNDP policy positions on Climate;
• Strategy and vision formulation;
• Pipeline development in coordination with the other hubs and the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit;
• Provision of integrated policy and programme support to Country Offices;
• Global engagement, advocacy in collaboration with BERA;
• Integration across thematic areas;
• Strategic Partnerships development and resource mobilization;
• Lead and Support global flagship initiatives and partnerships on Climate;
• Serve as focal point with relevant UN coordination mechanisms and Conventions (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change);
• Cross-organization knowledge and learning; and
• Innovation.
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UNDP is recruiting a Climate Communications Specialist to assist the UNDP Climate Communications Lead in managing the daily operations of the UNDP Climate Communications team. The Communications Specialist will play a vital role in overseeing the editorial team, ensuring high-quality content production, and managing the Climate Hub communications team. In addition, h/she will provide support to UNDP Climate advocacy campaigns, collaborating closely with the UNDP Climate Intelligence and Innovation pillar to provide essential communications support for the upcoming knowledge products developed by the Climate team.

Scope of Work

• Lead and oversee editorial content production of UNDP Climate Communications Team: Lead and initiate editorial content; drafting of speeches and op-eds for UNDP Climate director and other high level staff on climate; Lead production and coordination of engaging and informative content produced by the Climate Hub communications team by providing guidance, review and clearance.
• Take an active role in daily management and implementation of the UNDP Climate communications strategy: Oversee day-to-day management of communications team to achieve the goals set in the Climate Hub communications strategy. This includes recruitment of any new members, close supervision of select team members, and setting agenda for weekly communications team calls.
• Support UNDP Climate advocacy campaigns: Provide logistical, editorial and procurement tasks as needed to ensure the team’s advocacy campaigns can be delivered successfully, with impact and on time.
• Coordinate closely with UNDP Climate Intelligence and Innovation pillar to help deliver communications to the Climate team’s upcoming knowledge products: Act as a bridge between knowledge colleagues and UNDP Climate communications team to ensure smooth processes between knowledge management and communications.
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The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The UNDP Climate Communications Specialist reports directly to the UNDP Climate Communications Lead. S/he will be part of the larger Climate Strategies and Policy Team (CSPT) and UNDP Climate Hub.

Competencies

Core

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

Thematic Area Name Definition

Business Management Project Management Ability to plan, organize, prioriti]e and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Digital & innovation Storytelling Ability to empathise with people's perceptions, motivations, feelings and mental models and craft narratives to build an emotive argument for change accordingly. Ability to present data, insights or information in compelling ways to mobilise resources, talent or action. Ability to choose media and channels that is fit for purpose to reach specific target audiences.

Partnership management Relationship management Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Communications Creative direction and copywriting Ability to creatively communicate concepts in an engaging and simple way

Communications Advocacy strategy and implementation Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change

2030 Agenda: Planet Nature, Climate and Energy Climate change Policies: including international climate change regime and application

Business Direction & 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

Minimum Qualifications Of The Successful IPSA

Min. Education requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, International Relations, Business Management, Environmental Sciences, International Development or related discipline is required, or
• A first-level university degree (a bachelor’s degree) in the afore mentioned areas with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.
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Min. Years Of Relevant Work Experience

• A minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional work experience in private sector, a government, civil society organisation, or United Nations agency / international organization working on development and communications is required.
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Required Skills

• Demonstrated experience on editorial content is required.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, including the ability to produce high quality communications products is required.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-expert audiences is required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and presentation skills are required.
• Previous experience in working on climate communications is required.
• Previous experience with UNDP or UN agencies is required.
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Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Familiarity with UNDP’s climate portfolio and with Climate Hub would be considered an asset.
• Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments is an asset.
• Experience in bringing together diverse groups of people, data, information or ideas, and technology to deliver creative products is an asset.
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Required

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English is required.
• Additional UN language would be an asset.
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Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant Information About UNDP Rosters

Note: 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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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