Private Sector Communications Officer

Deadline for Applications

September 7, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS IICA2

Target Start Date

2026-10-01

Terms of Reference

1. General Background

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect and assist refugees and other persons of concern. The Private Sector Partnerships Service (PSP), within UNHCR's Division of External Relations (DER), mobilizes resources and builds strategic engagement with individuals, companies, foundations and philanthropists in support of UNHCR’s protection assistance and solutions priorities. PSP works across Individual Giving (IG) and Private Partnerships and Philanthropy (PPH), combining fundraising, donor engagement, communications and partnership development to secure sustainable support and maximize impact for people forced to flee.

Individual Giving (IG) is targeted at the general public to secure the support of individuals through regular, unrestricted donations, cash appeals and legacies. The aim is to generate both monthly and one-time donations from individuals using various channels and methods including direct mail, face-to-face fundraising, telemarketing, digital fundraising, DRTV and emergency fundraising, with focus on strong donor loyalty and lifetime value.

Private Partnership and Philanthropy (PPH) develops and strengthens strategic, long-term partnerships with companies, foundations, and high-net worth individuals. These partnerships may include funding as well as expertise, innovation, advocacy, communications, employment and market-based opportunities, with the aim of creating meaningful and sustainable outcomes for forcibly displaced and stateless people and the communities that host them.

In an increasingly complex humanitarian and fundraising environment, PSP roles require close collaboration across headquarters, regional bureaux, country operations and external partners. They combine communications and marketing expertise with fundraising, donor engagement and external-relations capabilities to translate operational and protection priorities into compelling engagement products, strengthen donor stewardship, support senior management engagement and advance coherent, results-oriented partnerships.

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.

Duty station of the position: Office-based in Bangkok, Thailand, or home-based

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The Private Sector Communications Officer is the lead focal point at PSP Asia for marketing and fundraising communications related to Individual Giving and Private Partnerships and Philanthropy. The postholder will contribute to the strategic goals of PSP in the region through the strategic planning, development and delivery of communications and marketing strategies, assets, tools, resources, and guidance for Individual Giving and partnerships with companies, foundations and high-net worth individuals - to increase brand awareness, trust, engagement, and ultimately accelerate income for UNHCR. This marketing, fundraising communications and external engagement support will enable private sector fundraisers in Asian markets to strengthen IG programs, as well as the cultivation and retention of the donor base; reach out to new potential private sector prospects; engage new partners; cultivate, grow and strengthen existing partnerships; and develop high-quality donor-facing engagement products, including proposals, concept notes, investment cases, pitch decks and donor reports.

The postholder will contribute to the development and implementation of a content strategy for PSP in Asia & Pacific, with an eye to strengthening online communications, brand awareness, public and supporter engagement. This entails identifying appropriate stories, messages, formats, platforms, and partners in line with the key priorities and audiences for the Division of External Relations (DER). The postholder will also lead the preparation, editing and quality assurance of briefing notes, talking points and background materials for senior management engagements with private-sector partners, ensuring clear, consistent and strategically aligned messaging.

The incumbent reports to the Chief of PSP Asia and will work in close collaboration with income streams within the IG section and PPH section, also liaising frequently with internal and external stakeholders, including PPH donors, IG contractors and teams, and communication agencies. S/he will coordinate closely with colleagues in Global Communications and other key stakeholders across DER such as Goodwill Ambassadors, Crisis Communications, Emergencies and External Engagement Section, Brand units and the Partnership Support Unit (PSU). The incumbent will also work closely with the Asia Regional Bureau, country operations, External Engagement, and Public Information colleagues to obtain timely inputs and ensure the accuracy, completeness, clearance and strategic alignment of donor-facing and senior management materials with UNHCR standards, donor expectations, protection principles and overall communication objectives in Asia & Pacific.

Occasional international travel (up to 10%) is required for this position.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Priority markets in the region are supported in the development and implementation of a long-term communication strategy, that includes at least: in-depth analysis of brand equity research carried out in key markets to draw conclusions and set some concrete action plans; clear indications of audiences to target; specific /appropriate contents for each audience; media strategy targeting owned, earned, and paid media; milestones and opportunities.

• PSP staff across the region are supported on communication-related topics by effectively engaging with different internal stakeholders (including: Division of External Relations, PSP HQ, Regional Bureau Asia & Pacific, Representatives, Communications and Public Information colleagues in country operations), in a timely manner, with strategic and technical advice, with the objective of accelerating income for UNHCR and meeting specific measurables targets and KPIs (e.g.: visibility and media impact).

• Content strategy and annual content plans for PSP in Asia & Pacific are developed and implemented in a coordinated way with the Asia bureau, Public Information officers in country operations.

• Priority markets are supported in developing media partnerships, and key partnerships with regional media are in place to support PSP Asia.

• Strong, engaging and on-brand fundraising communication is delivered on a regular basis to relevant stakeholders to effectively engage IG and PPH audiences.

• High-quality, donor-ready proposals, concept notes, investment cases and pitch decks are developed or adapted for regional and targeted use, in close coordination with PSP markets, PSU, the Regional Bureau and country operations, with appropriate quality assurance and clearance.

• As last-resort regional support, timely and donor-aligned reports are developed or quality-assured to demonstrate impact and quantitative and qualitative results against agreed targets, while meeting UNHCR standards and donor expectations.

• Briefing notes, talking points and background materials for senior management engagements with private-sector partners are prepared, edited and quality-assured in a timely manner, with coordinated inputs and clear, consistent and strategically aligned messaging.

• PSP markets, country operations and the Bureau receive targeted strategic guidance and quality assurance on private-sector engagement materials, results-based framing, protection integration and donor alignment, informed by relevant political and operational developments globally and in the region.

• PSP Operations and National Partners are supported in the planning and implementation of their annual plans. Technical support and training are delivered, to ensure capacity building and adherence to UNHCR quality and performance standards across the region.

• Assigned budget is implemented efficiently and in accordance with UNHCR rules and regulations.

• Crisis communications related to PSP operations and partnerships in Asia & Pacific are responded quickly, in coordination with relevant internal stakeholders, and minimizing reputational damage.

• Effective working relationships, with sensitivity and respect for diversity, are developed with relevant internal and external stakeholders.

4. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

Degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Political Sciences, Public Information, Media, International Relations, Economics, Business Administration/Management, External Relations, Fundraising, or a related field.

b. Work Experience

Minimum 5 years of relevant (international) job experience with graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's), 6 years with undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) working in communication, media, journalism, fundraising, external relations, donor engagement, donor relations, or advocacy. Experience developing donor-facing proposals, pitches, reports and senior management briefing materials is highly desirable.

c. Key Competencies

Essential:

• Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) with strong interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective working relationships with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

• Experience developing and implementing communications strategies.

• Strong project management skills including planning and schedule creation.

• Knowledge of marketing techniques including audience research methods.

• Experience of working with multiple stakeholders across functional and national boundaries.

• Proven strong social media skills.

• Outstanding writing, re-writing, headline-writing and editing skills, including the ability to translate complex operational and protection information into high-quality, donor-facing proposals, concept notes, investment cases, pitch decks, donor reports, briefing notes and talking points tailored to specific audiences and markets on tight deadlines.

• Languages: Proficiency in English is required.

Desirable:

• Demonstrated experience in private-sector fundraising, external engagement or donor relations, including coordinating inputs and advising stakeholders across country, regional and headquarters structures.

• Strong understanding of the Asian media environment.

• Experience working with goodwill ambassadors and other and other Influencers, including digital influencers.

• Experience with measurement and evaluation, especially providing analysis of media coverage, social media engagement, web traffic, etc.

• Experience with digital analytics and performance reporting.

• Grounded knowledge of the UN's refugee and related human rights frameworks, conventions and treaties.

• Knowledge of UNHCR operations, mandate and global affairs.

• Desirable Proficiency in another relevant UN language and/or work level proficiency in an Asian language.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No