Snr Communications Associate

Deadline for Applications

August 12, 2026

Hardship Level

H (no hardship)

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

GS7

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

2026-10-01

Standard Job Description

Senior Communications Associate
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Communications Associate is normally supervised by a Communication Officer or other position as decided by the senior management in the area of responsibility (AoR). The supervisor provides the incumbent with regular guidance, who works quite independently on regular assignments with an oversight from the supervisor. S/he keeps frequent contacts with staff at various levels in the office and occasionally with staff at the same level in other duty stations and/or Headquarters; with media, local suppliers, NGO, implementing partners, embassies and UN agencies. The incumbent normally supervises some support staff.
The Senior Communications Associate, depending on the organizational structure and location, may also be required to provide support in executing a range of communications activities in the fields of news and media relations, multimedia content production, social media engagement, video production, Goodwill Ambassadors and other influencers, public outreach and campaigns, fundraising, analytics and brand. The incumbent may also be required to help strengthen coordination and editorial planning in the AoR, support advocacy, awareness-raising and digital fundraising efforts as well as strengthening analytics to inform the social media strategies and work plans.

All UNHCR 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.

Duties
- Support the implementation of communications strategies for countries, situations and special projects within the AoR; help identify thematic priorities and target audiences to meet UNHCR's global, regional and country-level communications objectives of leading the narrative, generating empathy and mobilizing action for forcibly displaced and stateless people.
- Monitor news and popular trends to insert UNHCR's messaging into ongoing conversations; identify key moments for proactive communications.
- Help forge strategic partnerships with individuals and organizations who can help produce and promote UNHCR content, activities and messaging as well as provide research insights to improve communications; promote the work of engaged businesses and civil society actors.
- Support the development of news-driven and authoritative content to lead the narrative on forced displacement and show UNHCR's impact (e.g. interviews, press releases, flagship reports, speeches), create emotive storytelling to generate empathy (e.g. stories, multimedia content) and mobilize action by signposting concrete steps people can take to help refugees (e.g. digital diplomacy, action-driven campaigns, fundraising).
- Help ensure that content created reaches maximum impact by supporting the development of strategies for distribution from the outset, boosting the visibility of our content on relevant UNHCR channels and placing it on external channels.
- Monitor the implementation of communications projects and adjust accordingly.
- Assist in research, preparation, editing and production of professional media and communications materials for target audiences and ensure their timely dissemination via UNHCR's communications channels, ensuring highest quality standards.
- Continually maintain and upgrade communications skills, keeping abreast of emerging platforms and tools, and systematically reviewing media impact results and other measurement tools for learning purposes.
- May be required to support the implementation of campaigns, events and other initiatives in support of UNHCR's strategic objectives, including its need for a leading share of voice on refugee and related matters.
- May be required to undertake missions and field trips with media and other official visitors in support of UNHCR and its work.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 - 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not specified.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Journalism, Social Sciences, Humanities or related fields
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Excellent computer skills and knowledge of MS Office applications. Excellent drafting skills.
Desirable:
Experience implementing communications strategies. Professional writing and editing skills. Experience working on advocacy campaigns.
Functional Skills
CO - Drafting and editing content for International Organizations
CO-International Media Contacts
CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics)
CO-Video production for digital platforms (including news organizations)
CO-Editing
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a dynamic and proactive communications professional with demonstrated experience in social media management, website content updates and optimization, and content dissemination, ensuring consistency in messaging and branding. The candidate can adapt and translate global content to local audience and can coordinate and produce locally tailored multimedia content, including short-form videos and digital storytelling assets, to enhance visibility and audience engagement. S/he brings strong writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to produce engaging, high-quality content and adapt messaging for diverse audiences across channels, featuring refugees themselves and reflecting meaningfully their perspectives.

The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of the French media, institutional, and public affairs landscape; s/he is able to identify emerging trends, monitor digital conversations, and map relevant influencers and partners to amplify outreach and impact. S/he also has a solid understanding of media relations and French-speaking media landscape.

The candidate is comfortable supporting the organization of events and able to identify strategic communication opportunities around key moments to maximize visibility and audience engagement.

A collaborative and solutions-oriented team player with emerging managerial capacity, the candidate can coordinate effectively with multiple stakeholders, support colleagues across units and operations, and contribute to a positive and high-performing team environment. Curious and eager to learn, s/he continuously seeks innovative tools, formats, and approaches to strengthen communications effectiveness and audience engagement.

Candidates shall be legally present in France at the time of application, recruitment, and hire.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees)

No late applications will be accepted.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test.

An individual whose mother, father, son, daughter, brother or sister is a staff member of UNHCR, including a Temporary Appointment holder or a member of Affiliate Workforce, shall not be appointed.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

English

,

French

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

L'adjoint.e principal.e en charge de la communication est supervisé.e par l'Administratrice Principale en charge des Relations extérieures à Paris. Il/elle entretient des contacts fréquents avec les membres de l'unità, le personnel du Bureau de Paris, et le personnel dans d'autres lieux d'affectation et/ou au Siège, ainsi qu 'avec les médias, les autorité nationales, les organisations de la société civile, le secteur privé, le monde universitaire, les partenaires, les ambassades et les agences des Nations Unies. Le/la titulaire supervise l'assistante principale chargée d'information publique. L'unità Relations Extérieures du HCR en France est responsable de l'engagement des publics cibles en France, notamment le « milieu ambivalent » tel qu'identifié dans l'étude menée par Purpose et l'IFOP en 2017, et du renforcement des partenariats afin d'élargir l'espace de protection en France pour les réfugiés et de contribuer à la recherche de solutions durables, dans l'esprit du Pacte mondial avec les réfugiés, adopté en 2018. Dans ce contexte, le/la titulaire soutient les activités de l'unità en matière de communication digitale et de relations presse avec la production de contenu multimédia, la production vidéo, la mobilisation des ambassadeurs de bonne volonté et autres influenceurs, la sensibilisation du public, le développement de campagnes et maintient un engagement fort avec les médias. Le/la titulaire peut également être amené.e à contribuer au renforcement de la coordination et de la planification éditoriale du bureau, et à soutenir les efforts de plaidoyer, de sensibilisation et de collecte de fonds. Fonctions spécifiques au poste en France : -Créer du contenu original pour les plateformes numériques du HCR en français. -Établir des relations de travail étroites avec la télévision, la radio et les agences de presse pour promouvoir et diffuser les objectifs, activités et valeurs du HCR. -Assurer une couverture médiatique appropriée, organiser des points de presse et des conférences si nécessaire et en coordination avec la responsable des Relations Extérieures et Porte-parole. Organiser et participer à des briefings de journalistes ainsi qu'à des conférences de presse pour les hauts fonctionnaires du HCR. -Suggérer des histoires et des sujets à couvrir par les médias. -Soutenir l'unità, notamment en étant responsable de l'unità en l'absence de la responsable des Relations Extérieures -Aider à la prèparation du budget de communication.

Living and Working Conditions:

Paris est une capitale moderne avec toutes les moyens de communication nècessaires et de bonnes conditions de vie. Cependant, comme d'autres capitales en Europe, l'hébergement est cher. La ville dispose d'une gamme complète d'établissements de santé et d'éducation et d'un accès facile à tous types de biens et de services. Un réseau de métro et de bus dessert l'ensemble de la ville et des lignes RER et TER (trains régionaux) desservent la banlieue. Les temps de trajet vers et depuis le bureau peuvent être longs, selon l'endroit où se trouve l'hébergement. Les liaisons aériennes et les grandes lignes ferroviaires connectent efficacement la ville avec le territoire et le monde entier. La ville est classifié comme un poste d'affectation H / famille avec un faible niveau de menace pour la sécurité. Paris a toutefois été exposée à des attentats terroristes depuis novembre 2014 et certaines manifestations se sont transformées en émeutes au cours des dernières années. Globalement, la situation sécuritaire et politique en France est stable et calme.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Number of Workforce in Operation/Work Setting, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees, Working with Persons of Concern: Stateless

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Managing performance, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

N/A

The English version is considered original and authoritative, translation to other language(s) serve the purpose of advertisement of local positions where applicable but are not considered as official translations

N/A

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance