Senior Communication Associate (Writer & Editor) (G-7), Fixed Term, #00134069, Global Communication and Advocacy, ICSE - Budapest, Hungary

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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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

For every child, the right to be heard

Internal Communication and Staff Engagement (ICSE) is a strategic organizational enabler that supports staff engagement, organizational alignment, and culture across UNICEF's global workforce. As UNICEF continues to evolve in a changing global environment, effective internal communication plays an essential role in strengthening connection to UNICEF's mission and values, supporting organizational priorities, and fostering trust across the workforce.

The position is located within the Global Internal Communication and Staff Engagement (ICSE) section of the Division of Global Communication and Advocacy (DGCA). The ICSE team leads the development and implementation of global internal communication strategies, channels, campaigns, and engagement initiatives that inform, connect, and engage UNICEF personnel worldwide. It also serves as a coordination, guidance, and support hub for internal communication across Headquarters, Regional Offices, and Country Offices.

How can you make a difference?

The Senior Communication Associate (Writer & Editor) serves as the principal writer and editor within UNICEF's Global ICSE team. The role is responsible for developing high-quality organizational communications, stories and other editorial content that help personnel stay informed about UNICEF's priorities, initiatives, organizational developments, and impact.

The role identifies content opportunities, researches complex topics, and develops clear, accurate and engaging communications informed by diverse perspectives and sources. Through strong writing, editing, and storytelling, the incumbent translates complex organizational information into accessible content that informs, engages, and connects UNICEF personnel worldwide.

Key functions and related duties:

1. Organizational Communications, Writing and Editorial Content Development

• Write, edit and produce high-quality organizational communications, strategic updates, stories, feature articles, interviews, and other editorial content for global internal audiences.
• Develop content that supports awareness and understanding of UNICEF's strategic priorities, key initiatives, organizational developments and matters of institutional importance.
• Research complex topics, gather and synthesize information from multiple sources, and translate it into clear, accurate, and engaging communications for diverse internal audiences.
• Identify content opportunities, develop compelling and strategic story angles, and produce timely content related to organizational priorities and developments affecting UNICEF's work.
• Conduct interviews and stakeholder engagement to support content development and storytelling.
• Exercise sound editorial judgment to ensure content is strategic, relevant, audience-focused and aligned with internal communication objectives.
• Ensure factual accuracy, editorial quality and alignment with internal communication standards, editorial guidelines and UNICEF values.

2. Content Publishing and Editorial Production

• Publish and distribute content across UNICEF's internal communication channels, including ICON, SharePoint, Outlook, Viva Amplify, Viva Engage, Teams and other key platforms.
• Create, format and maintain SharePoint pages and other digital content assets for stories, organizational messages, announcements, and campaign content.
• Manage uMessage, including coordinating, drafting and distributing organizational messages in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain ICON, UNICEF's intranet homepage, and related internal communication products, ensuring content remains timely, accurate and engaging.
• Coordinate content publication schedules and related publishing activities across channels.
• Support lock-screen communications and related publishing processes.
• Ensure published content complies with accessibility, usability and brand standards.

3. Contributor Engagement, Editorial Guidance and Standards

• Build and maintain productive relationships with communication focal points, contributors and stakeholders across UNICEF.
• Identify content opportunities and work with contributors across the organization to source, develop, and strengthen content for global internal audiences.
• Review and edit submissions to improve clarity, structure, storytelling, audience relevance, and alignment with editorial standards.
• Provide guidance and practical support to colleagues and contributors developing content for internal communication channels.
• Help identify and amplify compelling stories, innovations, lessons learned and good practices from across the organization.
• Contribute to the development and application of editorial guidance, standards, templates and tools that support content quality and consistency.
• Support knowledge-sharing and capacity-building initiatives related to internal writing, editing, and storytelling.

4. Monitoring, Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Monitor content performance and audience engagement using available analytics tools.
• Provide periodic reports and recommendations that support continuous improvement of internal communication products and approaches.
• Assess audience engagement trends and contribute insights to improve content quality, relevance, and effectiveness.
• Support the application of editorial and publishing standards and identify opportunities to strengthen content quality and consistency.

5. Administrative Support

• Support coordination with Operations and other relevant business units as required.
• Support procurement and administrative processes, including the processing of purchase orders and invoices.
• Provide periodic updates on administrative and budget-related matters, as required.
• Provide administrative support to the ICSE team.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: Senior Communication Associate (Writer & Editor), GS7-ICSE.pdf

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements

• Education: Completion of secondary education is required. A Bachelor or equivalent (First Level University Degree) from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may replace 3 years of related work experience. A Master or equivalent (Advanced University Degree) may replace an additional 2 years.
• Work Experience: A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in journalism, writing, editing, publishing, communications, digital media, or a related field is required.
• Demonstrated experience researching, gathering and synthesizing information from multiple sources, and developing, writing and editing stories, features, interviews and other editorial content for diverse audiences is essential.
• Proven ability to manage multiple assignments and deliver high-quality content within demanding timelines is essential.
• Experience working with contributors, subject-matter experts and stakeholders to develop and curate content is essential. Skills: Exceptional writing and editing skills in English, including the ability to develop and review organizational communications and editorial content.
• Strong editorial judgment and news sense, including the ability to identify organizational priorities, audience-relevant stories, key messages and effective storytelling approaches.
• Strong interviewing, research, and fact-checking skills.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear, accurate, and engaging content.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities while maintaining high standards of quality and accuracy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 tools, including SharePoint, Viva Engage, and Viva Amplify.
• Language Requirements: Fluency and excellent command of written and spoken English is required.

Desirables

• Language: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.
• A university degree (Bachelor's or higher) in Journalism, English, Communications, Media Studies, Digital Media, International Relations or another relevant field is an asset.
• Specialized training or coursework in writing, editing, journalism, storytelling, digital publishing, multimedia content production or related fields is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience writing and editing high-quality organizational communications, strategic updates, leadership messages or other communications for internal or professional audiences is highly desirable.
• Experience publishing content through digital channels, content management systems, or internal communication platforms is desirable.
• Experience using content analytics, reporting, or audience insights to support content improvement is desirable.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel. Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable applicants are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants' bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF's Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: i.e. UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.