English Writer/Editor

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS IICA1

Target Start Date

2023-03-15-07:00

Job Posting End Date

March 14, 2023

Terms of Reference

UNHCR’s Global Communications Service works to lead the narrative on forced displacement and statelessness, generate empathy among various audiences and mobilize action, including fundraising and support.

To advance these strategic objectives, the Service’s Multimedia Content Section requires an English Editor/Writer based in Copenhagen, Denmark, to report, write and edit content including fundraising copy, human-interest feature stories and news for UNHCR’s online and digital channels. The English Editor/Writer will be required to undertake reporting assignments to UNHCR operations, and other writing and editing tasks as needed.

Reporting to the Senior English Editor in Geneva and working closely with the fundraising content team in Copenhagen, the English Writer/Editor will produce compelling public- and donor-focused content to support UNHCR’s communications and fundraising objectives. Specific duties include:

• Assisting the Senior English Editor in commissioning, writing and editing news and feature stories for the global website and publishing them using the content management system.
• Working with the Senior English Editor and regional bureaux to identify priorities for content coverage.
• Collaborating with the fundraising content team to produce engaging and relevant content for public and private donor audiences including governments, the private sector, private partnerships and philanthropy (PPH) and individual giving (IG).
  
  

Producing fundraising content including human-interest stories, thematic content packages, donor updates and impact stories.

• Offering editorial guidance and support to UNHCR colleagues in regional and country offices by providing input on story pitches, content gathering assignments and text production.
• Collaborating with other teams in GCS, including social media, video and photo, to produce multimedia content using the most appropriate UNHCR platforms.
• Editing and proofreading of various assets.
• Undertaking additional assignments as required, including writing global wraps, explainers and photo captions, and editing press releases, briefing notes and other written products.
• Being available as required for occasional weekend on-call editing duties and overseas writing assignments, including in emergency situations.
  
  

Monitoring and Progress Controls

Deliver accurate, timely and engaging stories and fundraising content to better engage public, donor and supporter audiences.

Impact of content will be measured through donor and audience engagement, as reflected in Google Analytics and PowerBi dashboards and other tools.

Education (Level And Area Of Required And/or Preferred Education)

• A university degree (BA or BS) in media/communication, business/marketing, social sciences or a related field
  
  

b. Work Experience

• Minimum 3 years (2 years with advanced university degree) of previous experience in communication at the professional level gained in an international context in one of the following settings: a not-for-profit organisation, global media outlet or a marketing/fundraising consultancy firm.
• Previous experience as a Public Information Officer or similar communications role would be helpful (especially UNHCR experience).
  
  

Experience in planning and participating in field missions, including coordinating mission logistics.

• Experience in developing fundraising communication material for donors.
• Experience in managing projects and liaising with multiple stakeholders.
• Proven experience in content management and curation.
  
  

Key Competencies:

Required:

• Advanced writing and editing skills in English
• Excellent research skills
• Proven track record of writing and adapting content for different audiences and channels, including digital
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Computer literacy, with a good knowledge of computer applications
  
  

Desired:

• Understanding of fundraising, including campaigns, cause-related marketing and corporate fundraising
• Knowledge of InDesign, Photoshop or email marketing software desirable
• Sound understanding of social media landscape
• Track record developing effective social media copy and/or assets
• Knowledge of a second UN language (Arabic/Chinese/French/Russian/Spanish)
  
  

Standard Job Description

Web Editor/Writer Profile

Various Locations

Grade: Junior (P2), Mid (P3) and Senior (P4) Level Positions

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.

It is constantly seeking talented, compassionate candidates with high-integrity to strengthen its

capacity to respond urgently to crises with the right skills. Given the nature of UNHCR’s work,

it is essential that its workforce has the right mix of skills and qualities to fulfil its mandate. In

this regard, Division of External Relations at UNHCR is looking for talented individuals to

complement the team.

Typical functions may include:

• Commission and edit news and feature stories for unhcr.org, reflecting UNHCR's
  
  

communications priorities and key messages and liaising with public information officers at

headquarters and in the field and with the photo, video and social media units.

• Report and write news stories for unhcr.org from the field, striving for timely reportage that
  
  

engages key audiences, respects protection concerns, and navigates political sensitivities.

• Clear news and feature stories with relevant country and regional offices and bureaux
  
  

prior to publication.

• Write and edit other content for unhcr.org, ensuring that text is accessible, dignified,
  
  

informative and interesting and paying close attention to narrative flow, messaging,

accuracy, tone and house style.

• Collaborate with video, photo and social media colleagues to package multimedia content
  
  

effectively and compellingly.

• Post stories and other content to unhcr.org via the content management system.
• Produce and publish our weekly newsletter, Refugees Weekly.
• Write and edit op-eds, reports and other text as required.
• Monitor web analytics with an eye to strengthening web content in ways that attract and
  
  

retain visitor interest and improve user journeys on unhcr.org.

General Requirements for all levels:

• Experience producing, editing and disseminating multimedia content for online audiences
  
  

ideally for media outlets, international brands, political parties, NGOs, or other

international institutions.

• Experience using content management systems and other advanced tools for online
  
  

publishing and distribution of content.

• Experience working in sensitive and fast-moving news, communications, advocacy and/or
  
  

fundraising contexts.

• Experience producing and interpreting web or social media analytics to inform strategies
  
  

and work plans.

• Strong editorial judgement, including ethical and political awareness.
• Sophisticated understanding of multimedia content, including how it can best be produced,
  
  

packaged, published and shared on websites, on social media and with news

organizations.

• Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as transfer knowledge and
  
  

skills.

• Proven skills in communication, networking, negotiation, and ability to relate to different
  
  

audiences.

• Strong diplomatic skills, highly developed political skills and judgement, understanding of
  
  

UNHCR's external relationships.

• Excellent command of English and another relevant UN language (written, oral,
  
  

comprehension) and highly developed writing and editing skills.

• Excellent computer skills (MS Office essential; Slack, Trello and Adobe Photoshop an
  
  

asset).

Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience Required:

For positions at the P2 level

• Education: Degree in Communications, Political Science, International Relations or a
  
  

related field.

• Job experience: Minimum 2 years of relevant experience with graduate degree (equivalent
  
  

of a Master’s), 3 years with undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in journalism,

communications, marketing or humanitarian work (ideally public information or content

production).

• Strong command of multimedia content and digital tools and platforms, including the
  
  

development of web content, pages and sites.

• Excellent communication and editorial skills.
• Background in journalism, communications and/or advocacy.
• Languages: Proficiency in English is required.
  
  

For positions at the P3 level

• Education: Degree in Communications, Political Science, International Relations or a
  
  

related field.

• Job 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) in journalism, communications, marketing or humanitarian work (ideally public

information or content production).

• Proven ability to act with discretion and diplomacy.
• Excellent communication and editorial skills.
• Strong understanding of the international global media environment, including grasp of
  
  

social media.

• Strong knowledge of UNHCR operations mandate and global affairs.
• Languages: Proficiency in English is required.
  
  

For positions at the P4 level

• Education: Degree in Communications, Political Science, International Relations or a
  
  

related field.

• Job experience: Minimum 8 years of relevant (international) job experience with graduate
  
  

degree (equivalent of a Master’s), 9 years with undergraduate degree (equivalent of a

BA/BS) in journalism, communications, marketing or humanitarian work (ideally public

information or content production).

• Advanced professional news writing and editing skills.
• Experience in preparing key messages, speeches, talking points and delivering them to a
  
  

targeted audience.

• Flexibility to undertake on short-notice field missions to humanitarian emergencies and
  
  

other situations as needed.

• Languages: Proficiency in English and knowledge of a second UN language (Arabic/
  
  

Chinese/French/Russian/Spanish) at B21

is required.

To apply, please visit: International vacancies.

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and

opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities

as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are

encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex,

national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

1 See http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/resources/european-language-levels-cefr, the Common

European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Required Languages

,

Desired Languages

,

Skills

Additional Qualifications

Education

BA: Business Marketing (Required), BA: Communication (Required), BA: International Relations (Required), BA: Social Science (Required)

Certifications

HCR Learning Program - UNHCR

Work Experience

Other Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance