United Nations University (UNU)
The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organization within the United Nations System. UNU engages in policy-relevant research, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination in furtherance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The work of UNU contributes to solving pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations and its Member States.
For the past five decades, UNU has been a source of impartial research on sustainability, human security, and economic development. With hundreds of researchers working at institutes in 12 countries, UNU's expertise spans the full breadth of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, generating policy-relevant knowledge to effect positive global change. UNU collaborates closely with other UN entities and leading research institutions across the globe. For more information, please visit http://unu.edu
About Office/Institute
UNU-INWEH, headquartered in Richmond Hill (Greater Toronto Area, Canada), is one of 13 research and training institutions that comprise the think tanks in the UNU system. UNU-INWEH’s vision is a world free of water, environmental, and health problems where sustainable development, environmental health, and human security are assured for all. Its mission is to help resolve pressing water, environmental, and health challenges that are of concern to the United Nations, its Member States, and their people. UNU-INWEH pursues its mission through critical analysis and synthesis of existing bodies of scientific discovery; targeted research that identifies emerging policy issues; application of on-the-ground scalable science-based solutions to grand water, environmental, and health challenges; and global outreach.
Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Director, the Communications Assistant will provide support in the areas of UNU-INWEH’s external communications, digital presence, and outreach activities. The incumbent contributes to strengthening the Institute’s visibility, credibility, and engagement through coordinated content production, website and social media management, media liaison support, and collaboration with UNU and external communications stakeholders.
Contingent upon the level of appointment, the incumbent is expected to:
1. Social Media & Digital Communications Support
- Support management of UNU-INWEH’s social media channels (including LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Threads, BlueSky, and TikTok), including drafting, scheduling, and publishing content under supervision.
- Support monitoring of engagement metrics and preparation of basic analytics summaries to inform content planning.
- Ensure consistency of institutional branding and messaging across platforms, in alignment with UNU guidelines.
- Assist in identifying potential reputational risks on social media and escalating concerns as appropriate.
2. Website Maintenance & Editorial Support
- Assist in maintaining and updating UNU-INWEH’s website to ensure content remains accurate, timely, and aligned with institutional priorities.
- Support news, publications, and institutional announcements across appropriate communication channels.
- Provide layout, proofreading, and editorial assistance to ensure high-quality, professional communication products.
- Support consistency in branding, messaging, and visual identity across web and publication materials.
3. Content Production & Multimedia Development
- Support and adapt digital content, including articles, summaries, newsletters, promotional materials, and multimedia resources highlighting UNU-INWEH’s work and impact.
- Transform technical research outputs into accessible content for diverse audiences in collaboration with programme teams.
- Support video and multimedia production, including basic filming, editing, and coordination with designers or external vendors.
- Contribute to graphic design tasks (e.g., social media visuals, presentations, simple layouts) using approved design tools and templates.
- Maintain organized repositories of communication assets, images, and publications.
4. Media & Institutional Communications Engagement
- Assist in drafting press releases, news articles, and official communications to inform partners, donors, and the public.
- Support media monitoring, maintain media contact lists, and help coordinate responses to media inquiries as requested.
- Liaise, under supervision, with communications counterparts at UNU Centre and across UNU institutes and relevant UN or partner networks to support joint visibility initiatives and cross-platform amplification.
5. Campaigns, Outreach & Coordination Support
- Support the planning and implementation of communication campaigns promoting UNU-INWEH projects, events, and knowledge products.
- Assist with coordination of communication activities, including timelines, deliverables, and collaboration with internal teams and service providers.
- Monitor trends and emerging practices in digital communications and contribute ideas to enhance outreach effectiveness.
- Provide inputs for institutional reporting, donor communications, and outreach documentation as required.
6. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Key Performance Indicators
- Timely and high-quality production and management of UNU-INWEH communications outputs, including digital content, newsletters, publications, outreach materials, multimedia support, and maintenance of webpages and social media channels - ensuring accuracy, institutional branding consistency, and measurable audience engagement growth.
- Quality and reliability of support to social media campaigns, media activities, and communication initiatives, including preparation of posts, visuals, press materials, and media lists.
- Effective collaboration and engagement with the Office of the Director, UNU-INWEH staff, consultants, and external partners, as required.
- Accuracy and attention to detail in content development, record-keeping, reporting, and administrative communication tasks.
- Contribution to maintaining UNU-INWEH’s reputation as a credible, neutral, and trustworthy partner among research institutions, governments, donors, and civil society.
Competencies
Values:
- Inclusion — take action to create an environment of dignity and respect for all, regardless of age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, geography, grade, language, nationality, racial identity, religion, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, social origin or any other aspect of identity
- Integrity — act ethically, demonstrating the standards of conduct of the United Nations and taking prompt action in case of witnessing unprofessional or unethical behaviour, or any other breach of UN standards
- Humility — demonstrate self-awareness and willingness to learn from others
- Humanity — act according to the purposes of the United Nations: peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet
Behaviours:
- Connect and collaborate — build positive relationships with others to advance the work of the United Nations and work coherently as One UN
- Analyse and plan — seek out and use data from a wide range of sources to understand problems, inform decision-making, propose evidence-based solutions and plan action
- Deliver results with positive impact — hold oneself and others accountable for delivering results and making a positive difference to the people and causes that the United Nations serves
- Learn and develop — pursue own learning and development and contribute to the learning and development of others
- Adapt and innovate — demonstrate flexibility, agility and the ability to think and act in novel ways
