UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, … a chance

UNGEI is a global partnership for gender equality in and through education. Our mandate is to catalyze and galvanize action locally, nationally, regionally and global for girls’ education and gender equality in education. We bring together diverse partners to develop and implement bold commitments to gender equality in education. We convene global, regional and local conversations and action for girls’ education and gender equality in education, including through the leadership of young feminist activists around the world. UNGEI partners include multilaterals, regional umbrella and intergovernmental organizations, national and global civil society organizations and young feminist leaders.

The UNGEI Secretariat is governed by UNICEF policies of employment. We strive to uphold feminist and anti-racist principles in how we work and offer flexible work arrangements.

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall direction of the UNGEI Director, the Communications & Advocacy Manager will support UNGEI over a short-term period to lead strategic communications and advocacy initiatives relating to gender equality in and through education. You will be managing an Advocacy and Communications Specialist, a digital and social media consultant and a community co-ordinator to drive forward UNGEI’s communications and advocacy, build our visibility and influence and support UNGEI’s mandate to advance gender equality in and through education.

The Communications & Advocacy Manager will lead UNGEI’s communications and advocacy portfolio, to support our initiatives, including Feminist Network for Gender Transformative Education, Ending Gender Stereotypes, School-Related Gender-Based Violence, Gender at the Centre Initiative, Feminist School, Young Feminist Fund, and our partnerships, especially the UNGEI Partnership.

She/He/They will deliver compelling, fit-for-purpose and fit-for-size communications and advocacy initiatives for UNGEI that respects, leverages and brings together UNGEI’s partners and allies.  will amplify UNGEI’s voice so that decision-makers and stakeholders at global, regional and local levels meaningfully address gendered needs in education.

This is a temporary appointment to cover parental leave from September 2024 – March 2025. This position is offered on a remote basis, with working hours in the EST timezone.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have to…

Lead the communications and advocacy portfolio:

• Deliver UNGEI’s Communications and Advocacy to support UNGEI’s strategic goals and elevate the efforts of UNGEI and its key partners, including donors, to a wider audience. Duties include:
  • Oversee and finalize the production of compelling high-quality policy advocacy and communications material based on complex themes for print and digital platforms.
  • Support the production of advocacy and communications content by other members of the UNGEI team and external contributors; quality assure all content distributed by UNGEI to maintain strong visual and editorial identity and reputation.
  • Work with UNGEI, GCI and other programme contractors, partners and team members to produce original audio, video, written and visual content for the UNGEI campaigns and communications activities.
  • Provide risk and strategic guidance to the UNGEI team on potential issues that may emerge, especially those that may pose a reputational risk, but also more general horizon scanning of broader external trends that may impact UNGEI’s work, and support in the development of mitigation strategies.
  • Lead the planning and implementation of UNGEI events as needed
  • Oversee advocacy and communications interventions relating to UNGEI’s programmes, specifically Feminist Network for Gender Transformative Education, Ending Gender Stereotypes, School-Related Gender-Based Violence, Gender at the Centre Initiative, Feminist School, Young Feminist Fund, and our partnerships, especially the UNGEI Partnership.

• Support and advise the members of the UNGEI team as needed on communications, advocacy, policy advocacy, digital strategies and youth leadership. This specifically includes working with the youth leadership team and young feminist leaders around the world to understand and fill the gap in the knowledge of disenfranchised children and young people around the world on gender and education rights.

Manage the Feminist Network for Gender Transformative Education (FemNet4GTE)

• Manage UNGEI’s flagship event, FemNet4GTE, working closely with the Programme Manager, UNGEI Director and Community Co-ordinator to deliver the event (taking place 16-17 October 2024) and related advocacy and communications products
• Oversee the event management company to ensure the smooth running of the event
• Liaise with partners, including high profile partners and donors, to ensure a they have a positive experience of the event
• Deliver strategic leadership and management of the advocacy opportunities of the event, which will include global and regional advocacy outputs to be launched on International Women’s Day 2025, and a post-event report.
• Manage all pre / during and post event communications, and support the Digital and Social Media Consultant to deliver high quality event communications
• Manage the Community Co-ordinator, FemNet4GTE
• Develop strategic plans for FemNet4GTE 2025

Lead UNGEI’s Digital Communications Portfolio

• Manage the Social Media and Digital Consultant, supporting them to develop and deliver high level content across our channels
• Maintain UNGEI standards and systems for digital content creation, distribution and repurposing.
• Oversee the monitoring and analysis social media and web content metrics and use this for course correction to ensure effective communication strategies, planning and advocacy.
• Support team members to develop content for and manage the UNGEI website and Knowledge Hub, ensuring that these digital platforms are aligned with the overall communications and advocacy strategy.
• Use the opportunity to identify/highlight effective programme activities and results in support of fund-raising.

Management

• Develop work plans for communication activities, monitor compliance and provide support and guidance to ensure objectives are met.
• Manage the Advocacy and Communications Specialist, supporting them to achieve their deliverables and grow in their role.
• Plan and monitor the use of communication budgetary resources. Approve and monitor the overall allocation and disbursement and liquidation of funds. Take appropriate actions to optimize use of funds.
• Manage / supervise staff, technical resources and consultants as necessary. Conduct and implement effective performance planning, monitoring, performance development programme as required.
• Support the UNGEI team on communications-related requirements, providing strategic insights, advice and support.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• An advanced university degree in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, International Development.
  *A first University Degree combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree in the field of journalism, communications, external relations, public affairs, or public relations or corporate communications.

Required: 

• A minimum of eight years of experience of mid to senior-level professional work experience in strategic communications in a relevant field is required, including developing creative ideas, advocacy and communications campaigns at a national or international level, and professional writing for reports, briefs and more

Desired:

• Experience in the gender equality and education sector
• Ability to prioritize and manage a diverse range of partners, projects and activities
• Excellent leadership skills, with experience managing teams 
• A demonstrable commitment to UNGEI's values and feminist principles

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.