Senior Communications Assistant

Deadline for Applications

September 16, 2025

Grade

GS5

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

General Service

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

Hardship Level

H (no hardship)

Family Type

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Residential location (if applicable)

Target Start Date

2025-10-01

Target End Date

2025-12-31

Standard Job Description

Senior Communications Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Communications Assistant is normally supervised by a Communication Officer or other position as decided by the senior management in the area of responsibility. The supervisor provides the incumbent with regular guidance. The incumbent will have frequent contacts involving the exchange of a wide range of information with colleagues within UNHCR as well as media, international organizations, academic institutions and private individuals.

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
- Regularly monitor media and local situation regarding UNHCR.
- Follow-up on administrative and logistical arrangements to organise press briefings and other events, such as workshop and conferences.
- Contribute to the production of information materials for public awareness campaigns and for the preparation of in-house bulletins, newsletters and information kits by contributing to articles, reports and other information gathered from various sources.
- Liaise with printers concerning brochures and publications published by the office.
- Draft routine correspondence and texts for the office's website and maintain information databases.
- Compile and distribute a daily news clipping service.
- Distribute press statements and similar information to media, to other offices locally as well as to Headquarters.
- Maintain up-to-date filing system and appointments diary.

- 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 G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Relations; Journalism; Political Science;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Some work experience relevant to the position. Communication and computer skills. Excellent drafting skills as well as translation and interpreting skills.

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

Functional Skills
CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics)
CO-Drafting and Documentation
IT-Web Content Management
CO-Digital content production
CO-Social Media Publishing/Monitoring/Marketing tools
IT-Web publishing
(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, al