The United Nations is seeking a skilled Communications Officer to join its team, offering a competitive annual salary starting at over $80,000. This high-impact role is a unique opportunity for a strategic communicator to contribute to the UN’s global mission of promoting peace, sustainable development, and human rights.
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Career Opportunity: Communications Officer (P4) – United Nations
Job Opening ID: 263028
Job Network: Public Information and Conference Management
Job Family: Public Information
Category and Level: Professional and Higher Categories, P-4
Duty Station: Various Duty Stations – Rosters Administered by Department of Operational Support
Date Posted: September 16, 2025
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
Organizational Setting and Reporting: A Role of Strategic Influence
This position is managed through rosters administered by the Department of Operational Support (DOS), signifying a critical need for seasoned communications professionals across the global spectrum of United Nations operations. As a Communications Officer at the P4 level, you will be deployed to a field mission, regional commission, or other UN entity where your expertise will be paramount. The role is situated at the heart of the organization’s efforts to articulate its complex mandate, manage its public perception, and engage with a diverse global audience.
Reporting typically to a Senior Communications Officer or Head of Office, the incumbent will operate with a high degree of autonomy and strategic responsibility, providing essential analysis and guidance to senior management on some of the most pressing issues on the international agenda. This position is not merely about disseminating information; it is about shaping narratives, building public support for multilateralism, safeguarding the UN’s reputation, and countering threats to information integrity in often challenging and high-stakes environments.
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Responsibilities: A Multifaceted and Impactful Portfolio
The Communications Officer (P4) will be entrusted with a wide array of strategic and operational duties, requiring a blend of creative talent, analytical rigor, and managerial acumen. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Strategic Counsel & Analysis:
- Serve as a primary advisor to mission leadership and senior colleagues on the full spectrum of strategic communications, including opportunities for proactive engagement, complex crisis communications, reputational risk management, and countering misinformation and disinformation.
- Conduct in-depth monitoring and analysis of traditional media, social media, and digital platforms to identify emerging public narratives, assess sentiment, and pinpoint areas of potential reputational risk, translating this intelligence into actionable insights for communications strategy and policy formulation.
- Provide expert analysis on threats to information integrity—including hate speech and coordinated disinformation campaigns—particularly in fragile, post-conflict, and crisis settings, advising on appropriate counter-messaging and public engagement strategies.
Content Creation & Narrative Development:
- Conceive, draft, and produce high-quality, compelling content that effectively communicates the UN’s work, impact, and values to a multitude of global audiences. This includes press releases, official statements, web stories, feature articles, reports, infographics, and digital content.
- Develop core messaging frameworks and narrative arcs on complex UN priorities, ensuring consistency and resonance across all communications channels and platforms, and tailoring language and tone for diverse cultural and linguistic audiences.
- Create, present, and produce content for UN radio channels, podcasts, and other audio-visual media, conducting interviews with field personnel, beneficiaries, and officials to tell the human story behind the mission’s work.
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Media Relations & Spokesperson Role:
- Proactively build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with journalists, editors, and producers across international, regional, and local traditional and digital media outlets.
- Develop precise media lines and talking points, including on sensitive or crisis situations, and meticulously prepare senior officials for media engagements.
- Plan, coordinate, and execute press conferences, background briefings, and media field missions.
- Act as an official spokesperson for the organization when designated, representing the UN with professionalism, clarity, and authority during live and recorded interviews.
Campaign Management & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive multi-channel communications campaigns aimed at raising awareness, driving public engagement, and building support for UN initiatives, with a strong emphasis on measuring impact and return on investment.
- Identify and forge strategic communications partnerships with key internal units, UN agencies, civil society organizations, influencers, and other external stakeholders to amplify reach and maximize the impact of messaging.
Team Leadership & Management:
- Provide substantive leadership, management, and coordination to a team of communications professionals, including planning, assigning tasks, and overseeing workflow to ensure the timely and high-quality delivery of products.
- Be responsible for the full performance management cycle, including hiring, training, setting clear goals, providing regular feedback and coaching, conducting fair performance evaluations, and supporting the career development of team members.
- Manage the assigned budgetary and human resources, ensuring optimal allocation to achieve strategic objectives and project deliverables.
Data-Driven Decision Making:
- Collect, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends, patterns, and insights. Present these findings through graphs, charts, and reports using data visualization methods to enable evidence-based planning, decision-making, and reporting on communications efficacy.
Policy & Standards:
- Develop, update, and disseminate communications policies, guidance, and training materials related to strategic communications, public information, and media engagement, in close consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
- Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and discretion in the handling of sensitive information, operating in strict compliance with UN data privacy and security protocols.
Competencies: The Profile of an Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will demonstrate proven expertise in the following core competencies:
- PROFESSIONALISM:Â Possesses an authoritative knowledge of strategic communications principles, practices, and ethics. Demonstrates a deep understanding of the global information ecosystem and specific risks to information integrity in fragile states. Exhibits the ability to develop sophisticated communications strategies, craft compelling narratives, and conduct rigorous research. Shows pride in work, professional competence, persistence in solving complex problems, and remains calm and effective under extreme pressure. A committed advocate for gender equality and the full inclusion of women and men in all work aspects.
- PLANNING AND ORGANIZING:Â Exceptional ability to develop clear, strategic goals aligned with organizational objectives; identify priorities; allocate resources efficiently; anticipate risks; and meticulously monitor and adjust plans in a dynamic environment.
- COMMUNICATION:Â Exemplary oral and written communication skills. Articulates complex ideas with clarity, precision, and persuasive power. Listens actively, tailors messages for diverse audiences, and fosters open, two-way communication.
- MANAGING PERFORMANCE:Â Strong leadership skills with a proven ability to delegate effectively, ensure clear reporting lines, accurately judge task requirements, and monitor progress. Provides constructive feedback, supports staff development, encourages initiative, and conducts performance appraisals fairly.
Qualifications, Experience, and Languages
Education:
- An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public relations, digital communications, or a closely related field is required.
- A bachelor’s degree, along with two years of relevant experience, may be considered as a substitute for the advanced university degree.
- Desirable: Successful completion of data analytics, business analytics, or data science programs (both degree and non-degree).
Work Experience:
- A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in strategic communications, public information, journalism, international relations, or a related area is required.
- Experience within an international organization, government, or large NGO operating in complex environments is highly desirable.
- Experience in data analytics or a related area is also desirable.
Languages:
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
- For this position, fluency in either English or French is required (at the UN Language Level II – “Confident” user in reading, writing, listening, and speaking).
- Knowledge of the other language or another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) is a significant asset.
Assessment:
- The evaluation of qualified candidates may incorporate an assessment exercise, such as a written test or case study, designed to evaluate core competencies, which may be followed by a competency-based structured interview.
