Logo of UNHCR 

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR)

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Vacancy Notice No. VA/BGDDA/TA/2021/001

Title of Post Assistant External Relations Officer Category/grade National Professional Officer, NOA
Post Number One TA Position Type of contract Temporary Appointment (for six months with possibility of extension)
Location Dhaka, Bangladesh Date of Issue 29 April 2021
The Effective Date of Assignment As soon as possible Closing Date 12 May 2021

Operational Context:

The position is expected to work on and assist in various external relations activities, including to prepare donor reports and other communication materials for external audiences The incumbent will plan and organize activities to increase UNHCR’s outreach capacity and engage with a range of entities to present UNCHR’s work.

Required experience/skills include the following.

  • The incumbent requires strong analytical, drafting and communication skills. In particular, strong English writing skills equivalent to IELTS 7.0+ (writing above 7) or TOEFL IBT 95+ (writing above 24) or an undergraduate degree from universities in English speaking countries are required.
  • Strong strategic thinking, planning and prioritization skills, and an ability to carry out tasks independently with minimal supervision are required.
  • Solid command of MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel and skills of data analysis are a must to support drafting of funding proposals and reports and other communication materials.
  • Multi-tasking skills, attention to detail, and an ability to find necessary information from various sources with minimal support by others.
  • Experience in donor relations/resource mobilization at the UN agencies and knowledge of UNHCR programming and donors’ funding schemes are an asset.
  • Strong coordination skills and an ability to work as a team.
  • Previous experience in a similar position in the UN and/or humanitarian work is an asset.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties:

  • Assist the management in dealing with the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations.
  • Assist in planning and organizing communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR s operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, the media, academia and persons of concern).
  • Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide accurate information by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and missions.
  • Assist the management in disseminating information on UNHCR’s global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for persons of concern.
  • Participate when requested in the inter-agency cooperation and communication strategies, initiatives and tools.
  • Assist in the management of information flows within the country operations by identifying priority matters, securing, analyzing and disseminating documentation and information to support country operations and corporate communication processes and priorities.
  • Assist in the drafting of situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.
  • Assist in planning and organizing advertisements, exhibitions, training seminars, conferences, meetings, social events and other activities to promote a better understanding of UNHCR’s activities and accomplishments by the general public and/or organized groups.
  • Support the management of media relations by, inter alia, drafting responses to direct queries, draft press releases and organizing regular briefings and visits to country operations.
  • Organize press briefings for external parties as required.
  • Organize the distribution of UNHCR publications and the provision of materials to various institutions and individuals.
  • Produce reports for donor agencies as required.
  • Perform other related duties as required.

Essential Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

Years of Experience / Degree Level

  • One year of relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

  • Political Sciences, Journalism, Social Sciences, International Relations, Journalism, Communication or other relevant field.

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

  • Excellent knowledge of local institution, politics and culture.

Desirable

  • Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.

Functional Skills

  • IT-Computer Literacy
  • IT-Web Content Management
  • MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
  • MS-Translation
  • ER-Communications/ media/ digital/ social media communication, monitoring/ analysis/ presentation

Language Requirements:

  • English writing skills equivalent to IELTS 7.0+ (writing above 7) or TOELF IBT 95+ (writing above 24), or an undergraduate degree from universities in English speaking countries.

Competency requirements:

Core Competencies

  • Accountability
  • Communication
  • Organizational Awareness
  • Teamwork & Collaboration
  • Commitment to Continuous Learning
  • Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies:

  • Empowering and Building Trust

Cross-Functional Competencies

  • Analytical Thinking
  • Innovation and Creativity
  • Political Awareness

Eligibility:

Candidates must be Bangladeshi Nationals.

Interested staff members should consult the Administrative Instruction on Recruitment and Assignment of Locally Recruited Staff (RALS, UNHCR/AI/2020/1/Rev.1). If you have questions regarding your eligibility, you may also contact the HR Unit.

In line with the RALS, the below category of candidates is eligible to apply for internally advertised vacancies.

External candidates: External candidates are candidates who are not in Group 1 or Group 2. They must meet the essential minimum requirements of the position and candidates not citizens of the country must comply with all eligibility requirements for employment in line with the prevailing legislative prerequisites in the country.

Remuneration:

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the International Civil Service Commission at: http://icsc.un.org

Submission of Applications:

Interested candidates meeting the above requirements are requested to submit their applications with fully completed and signed Personal History Form and Supplementary Pages as well as updated factsheet (internal candidates only) via online: UNHCR Bangladesh Job Portal www.unhcr.io/jobs.

Personal History Form not submitted in UNHCR format as well as not signed, incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

UNHCR strongly encourages qualified female applicants for this position. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behaviour and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal. Any concerns or suspicions about a possible case of SEA should be reported immediately to the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at inspector@unhcr.org or through the online complain form at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.

Refugees – who cares? We Do