Associate Communications Officer

About the role

The United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in Lilongwe, Malawi is looking for an Associate Communications Officer. The post reports to the Head of RCO and covers communications, media relations, advocacy and reporting. It is a fixed-term appointment of one year, open only to Malawian nationals.

Key responsibilities

• Gather insights from media monitoring (traditional, social and digital) to inform communications strategy
• Contribute to communications strategies, narratives and messaging that engage target audiences and support resource mobilisation
• Build relationships with media outlets and develop media lines, including in crisis situations
• Draft and produce communications products such as press releases, statements, web stories, reports and infographics
• Develop and coordinate communications campaigns and strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
• Create content, interviews and programming for UN and community radio channels and podcasts
• Update policy, guidance and training on strategic communications
• Analyse communications data and trends, document sources and report on performance
• Support reporting, the Crisis Management Team and training activities, and maintain external links with UN agencies, governments, civil society, media and academia

Required profile

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, digital communications or a related field; a first-level degree plus two years of qualifying experience may be accepted
• Minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience developing and implementing communications strategies
• English at UN Level II reading, writing, listening and speaking
• Fixed-term appointment of one year, open to Malawian nationals only

Required skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of media monitoring tools
• Graphic design and production of visual materials such as infographics and social media graphics
• Desirable: knowledge of misinformation and disinformation risks, skills communicating complex topics, multimedia production (photography, video editing) and data analytics experience