Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

B

Family

UNOPS LICA9

2025-01-01

December 19, 2024

Nature of Position:
In line with its Global Communications Strategy, UNHCR requires skilled communications professionals to conceive and execute a range of activities that help us lead the narrative on forced displacement, generate empathy and mobilize action. This body of work spans communications strategy and coordination, news and media relations, multimedia content production, social media engagement, Goodwill Ambassadors and other influencers, public outreach and campaigns, fundraising, analytics and brand.

UNHCR’s Associate Social Media Officers need to cultivate a keen understanding of our target audience – including an up-to-the-minute grasp of the methods and tone of voice that resonate deeply, win trust and spark quality engagement. They must be vigilant about editorial and journalistic standards, attentive to protection concerns and political sensitivities, and focused on communicating successfully with key demographics. These audiences will vary by location, language and platform, among other factors, as well as whether the aim is to inform, advocate or raise funds.

Social media is one of UNHCR’s most powerful tools for public communication, and the Nigeria operation’s social media channels are an integral part of the organization’s global network. Through these channels, UNHCR delivers compelling content to advance awareness, advocacy, partnerships and fundraising objectives for displaced populations, including those in Nigeria. With millions of followers worldwide, UNHCR’s social media presence requires expert management to meet the objectives of the Global Communications Strategy and to support UNHCR’s mission in Nigeria and beyond.

The Associate Social Media Officer will report to the Senior External Relations and will manage the UNHCR Nigeria social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube). S/he will also provide training, strategic and operational support to UNHCR Nigeria’s senior management and colleagues.

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.

Desired Candidate Profile:
The ideal candidate for the Associate Social Media Officer role should have a strong background in digital communications, with extensive experience managing social media for international brands or organizations with audiences exceeding one million followers. S/he should demonstrate expertise in producing and scripting social video content for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, with a solid understanding of brand management and running advocacy campaigns.

The candidate should be skilled in digital analytics, performance reporting, and social media measurement, with the ability to analyze engagement metrics and audience trends to maximize impact. Experience in working with digital asset management systems, collaborating with goodwill ambassadors, and engaging high-profile influencers is highly desirable. The role also requires strong skills in coordinating with geographically diverse teams across multiple time zones and adapting strategies to emerging social media trends. An active personal social media presence and commitment to innovative content creation are essential qualities for success in this position.

Standard Job Description

Associate Social Media Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
In line with its Global Communications Strategy, UNHCR requires skilled communications professionals to conceive and execute a range of activities that help us lead the narrative on forced displacement, generate empathy and mobilize action. This body of work spans communications strategy and coordination, news and media relations, multimedia content production, social media engagement, Goodwill Ambassadors and other influencers, public outreach and campaigns, fundraising, analytics and brand.
UNHCR’s Associate Social Media Officers need to cultivate a keen understanding of our target audience – including an up-to-the-minute grasp of the methods and tone of voice that resonate deeply, win trust and spark quality engagement. They must be vigilant about editorial and journalistic standards, attentive to protection concerns and political sensitivities, and focused on communicating successfully with key demographics. These audiences will vary by location, language and platform, among other factors, as well as whether the aim is to inform, advocate or raise funds.

Social Media is one of UNHCR’s most important channels of public communications and its global accounts are one of the organization’s leading drivers of public communications, information sharing and engagement, delivering compelling, sharable content to targeted and priority audiences, advancing awareness, advocacy and fundraising objectives. UNHCR’s global social media channels have millions of followers worldwide. Expert management of social media – including UNHCR’s own global social media accounts – is essential to meeting the objectives of the Global Communications Strategy and UNHCR’s broader objectives.
The Associate Social Media Officer is part of UNHCR’s Global Communications Service, within the Social Media Unit, and reports to the Social Media Officer (Video). The Global Social Media Unit manages UNHCR’s global social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Snap, among others). The Unit also provides training strategic and operational support to UNHCR’s leadership, national account managers and regional bureaux.

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
The Associate Social Media Officer will bring dedicated, specialized capacity with strong political and editorial judgement, technical multimedia skills and keen audience awareness, with a particular focus on three areas: (1) social video content production, (2) social media planning, strategy and content creation around reports, events and initiatives, and (3) paid social.
Under the supervision of the Social Media Officer (Video), the Associate Social Media Officer will work on the following:
– Production of multimedia content for the global English UNHCR Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn accounts.
– Publication of content and messaging on UNHCR social media accounts.
– Supporting the Social Media Video Producer by submitting creative ideas for social videos especially on news issues, drafting social video scripts for her review, providing timely feedback, and editing/production support as needed.
– Leading on the Social Media Unit’s strategy for paid social, advertising and boosting of organic content, in close collaboration with the Digital Engagement team.
– Sourcing and receiving content from country operations and field officers for potential use on the global accounts.
– Contribute to the management of the editorial calendar and actively share information on internal collaboration tools, with the ongoing aim of strengthening inter-organization coordination, internal communications and workflow.
– Update other language account managers as required about new / upcoming content and social media campaigns.
– Identify photos from UNHCR’s Refugees Media library and archives which can be used on the social accounts.
– Community Management – listen to and identify conversations on social media around global issues related to UNHCR’s mandate and make recommendations on keeping the digital community engaged in interactive and meaningful ways.
– Develop and support social media campaigns, including those involving goodwill ambassadors and other social media influencers.
– Ensure alignment with UNHCR’s global branding and messaging.
– Support the implementation of social media communications strategies for countries, situations and special projects; identify thematic priorities and target audiences to meet UNHCR’s global communications objectives.
– Monitor news and popular trends to insert UNHCR’s messaging into ongoing conversations on social media; identify key moments for proactive communications.
– Contribute to the development of news-driven and authoritative content to lead the narrative on forced displacement and show UNHCR’s impact, create emotive storytelling to generate empathy and mobilize action by signposting concrete steps people can take to help refugees.
– Support the supervisor in ensuring content created reaches maximum impact by developing strategies for distribution from the outset, boosting the visibility of our content on relevant UNHCR channels and placing it on external channels.
– Closely monitor the implementation of communications projects and adjust accordingly. Benchmark the results of communications projects against set success indicators; build on communications successes.
– Continually maintain and upgrade communications skills, keeping abreast of emerging social media platforms and tools, and systematically reviewing social media impact results and other measurement tools for learning purposes.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).

– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Journalism; International Relations; Political Science;
Communications; Public Information; Media
Film / Video; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Minimum 2 years of professional experience in journalism and/or communications, mainly at international level. Experience managing social media accounts for an international brand or organization with over one million followers, working as part of a geographically diverse team (across time-zones).
Experience writing scripts for and producing social videos for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn. Experience working on advocacy campaigns. Experience with brand management. Experience with measurement and evaluation, especially providing analysis of social media coverage, engagement, trending conversations, etc.

Desirable
Experience reporting, writing, editing for magazines, newspapers and websites. Experience using digital asset management systems. Experience with digital analytics and performance reporting. Experience working with goodwill ambassadors and other high-profile influencers. Active personal social media presence.

Functional Skills
CO-Digital content production
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CO-Editing
CO-International Media Contacts
CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics)
CO-Preparation of key messages/talking points/speeches
CO-Public Speaking
CO-Spokesperson skills
CO-Video production for digital platforms (including news organizations)
IT-Web Content Management
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Digital content production, CO-Drafting and Documentation, CO-Editing, CO-International Media Contacts, CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics), CO-Preparation of key messages/talking points/speeches, CO-Public Speaking, CO-Spokesperson skills, CO-Video production for digital platforms (including news organizations), IT-Web Content Management

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Audio-visual techniques and media production, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Communication, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Journalism, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Public Information

Certifications

Other information

A written test may be administered for this function. Female candidates are encouraged to apply.This position requires Functional Clearance

Home-Based

No

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements