Senior External Relations Associate

A (least hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS7

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

June 25 2025

Senior External Relations Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior External Relations Associate is to be a key external point of contact for the UNHCR office with media and other external organisations. The incumbent will be responsible for creating greater public (Donors NGOs Government Refugees Civil Society etc.) awareness and understanding of refugee issues and the work of UNHCR and for amplifying the voice of refugees and other people of concern (PoC). S/he will have a pivotal role in drafting reports updates briefing documents maintenance of the UNHCR local web site and social media channels and providing support to the supervisor.

The Senior External Relations Associate supports activities events campaigns and outreach working with partner organisations to support the protection of PoC. Essential to these efforts are coherent and consistent visual and verbal messaging and linking the substantive media elements (news) to milestone events (World Refugee Day Nansen Refugee Award #IBelong Campaign to end Statelessness HCs Dialogues and the launch of one off campaigns and events.) The overall aim is to mobilise further financial support increase awareness and empathy for forcibly displaced people.

The incumbent normally reports to a Representative Head of Office/Section or a Senior Communication or External Relations Officer depending on the office setup.

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 UNHCRs core values of professionalism integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Support UNHCRs media relations and advocacy work in the geographic and thematic area.
- Monitor evolving issues concerning asylum seekers stateless persons and refugees within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) and suggest stories and topics for media coverage.
- Provide support to Senior Management in dealing with the challenges posed by the political context the UN and humanitarian reform and institutional developments.
- Ensure that the office is kept informed of local developments which may have a political or operational impact on its activities.
- Provide background briefings to local and international media.
- Accompany visits of foreign delegations and the media to refugee sites give appropriate briefings commentaries and prepare briefing material for visitors.
- Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide accurate information by organizing regular briefings bilateral meetings and missions.
- Assist Senior Management in disseminating information on UNHCRs global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for PoC.
- Manage budget when requested including tracking expenditures and incoming donations. Ensure payments through UNHCR and prepare budget documents for partners and reports on spending.
- Assist in the drafting of situation reports briefing notes background material talking points fact sheets press releases and articles.
- Assist in planning and organizing advertisements exhibitions training seminars conferences meetings social events campaigns and other activities to promote a better understanding of UNHCRs activities and accomplishments by the general public and/or organized groups.
- Organize press briefings for external parties as required.
- Reach out proactively to a broad range of external actors including social media influencers good will ambassadors and the private sector to build new alliances within the AoR in order to promote the protection of PoC.
- Manage preparation of contracts for artists production companies journalist photographers etc.

- 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 applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Political or Social Sciences International Relations Journalism Communication
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Not specified

Desirable:
Experience with event management. Demonstrated ability to work against tight deadlines.

Functional Skills
MS-Advocacy
CO-Journalism (incl. print broadcast photography video )
CO-Multimedia storytelling
ER-External Relations in UNHCR or other humanitarian agencies
EX-Experience in an international decentralized and/or multinational environment
MG-Project Management
FR-Marketing
MG- Partnership Development
(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.

-At least 4 years of experience in external relations. In the absence of this significant engagement with donors and external actors for fundraising and awareness raising purposes may be considered an asset.
-Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and with great attention to detail while adapting priorities in response to shifting operational needs and emerging issues.
-Experience in drafting high-quality donor reports proposals briefing materials etc.
-Demonstrated ability to manage events campaigns and external communications initiatives.
-Skilled in building and maintaining relations with external stakeholders.
-Capacity to convey complex information clearly to diverse audiences tailoring the message according to the interlocutor.
-Ability to manage budgets and track funding and expenditures.
-Strong political awareness and understanding of humanitarian and development issues as well as UNHCR as a global organization including opportunities and challenges.
-Excellent language skills in both spoken and written English and Arabic.
-Creative proactive and solution-oriented mindset.
-Team player with a collaborative approach.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

The Security Level for Amman and the rest of the country is assessed at Level 1 (MINIMAL) except the northeast Jordanian Syrian border area where it is assessed at Level 3 (MODERATE). Road traffic accidents remain a pertinent risk to staff. Vehicle travel is difficult at certain times due to adverse weather conditions low visibility and/or heavy traffic.

Nature of Position:

Jordan is one of the largest refugee hosting countries per capita. Most of the refugees live in communities across the country only a minority of 18 per cent live in refugee camps. The refugee response is now facing a new reality. Following the change in government in Syria in December 2024 hope for a solution for the many Syrian refugees has been restored. At the same time funding for the response and services to refugees are rapidly decreasing because of reduced donor support globally.

The Senior External Relations Associate is part of the External Relations (ER) Unit in Amman and will report to the Reporting Officer. The generic job description applies. In particular the incumbent will support drafting donor products (proposals reports responses to queries etc) visibility funding tracking and provide mission support. The role will also support with other core ER activities including events campaigns briefings and engage with external actors to mobilize further (financial) support and increase awareness for the refugee cause. The incumbent may also be requested to perform other duties as per the generic job description.

Living and Working Conditions:

Amman: Jordan has a total population of 9.4 million people. Amman houses 42% of Jordans population 4.008 million making it the populous city in the country. Amman is categorized as (A) duty station.

Rent in Amman can vary depending on the size of the property itself number of bedrooms and the area of Amman in which it is located. Renting a 3-bedroom apartment can range fromUSD per month.

Amman tends to have a Mediterranean climate; summers are mildly hot winter usually starts around the end of November and continues until mid-March there is occasional snowfall.

The medium for teaching in international schools is English however there are a few French language schools as well. There is a plethora of institutions for children of all ages from pre-school to high school as well universities.

The majority of international educational institutions are in Amman.

Amman is the home to many top-end hospitals and clinics. Due to Jordanian healthcares international appeal nearly all doctors and many support staff speak English. Healthcare here is also very accessible and affordable.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability Client & results orientation Commitment to continuous learning Communication Empowering & building trust Innovation & creativity Managing resource Organizational awareness Political awareness Stakeholder management Teamwork & collaboration

Additional Information

This position doesnt require a functional clearance