Assistant Communications Officer

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

June 19 2025

Assistant Communications Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
In line with its Global Communications Strategy UNHCR requires skilled communications professionals to conceive and execute a range of activities that help us lead the narrative on forced displacement generate empathy and mobilize action. This body of work spans communications strategy and coordination news and media relations multimedia content production social media engagement Goodwill Ambassadors and other influencers public outreach and campaigns fundraising analytics and brand.
UNHCRs Assistant Communications Officers need to cultivate a keen understanding of our target audiences - including an up-to-the-minute grasp of the methods and tone of voice that resonate deeply win trust and spark quality engagement. They must be vigilant about editorial and journalistic standards attentive to protection concerns and political sensitivities and focused on communicating successfully with key demographics. These audiences will vary by location language and platform among other factors as well as whether the aim is to inform advocate or raise funds.

The Assistant Communications Officers functions working relationships and skills specializations differ depending on language location grade and whether they sit within a country operation a regional bureau or the Global Communications Service. UNHCRs primary target audiences include public media and policymakers while our main partners and influencers include peers and private sector trusted figures and our own workforce. Some communicators will focus mainly on news and media relations for example while others will produce multimedia content manage social media accounts or lead advocacy campaigns. Forging partnerships with media outlets that reach target audiences is a central role for all Assistant Communications Officers.

All Assistant Communications Officers are expected to work strategically in support of UNHCRs operational and communications objectives for their geographic area of responsibility (AoR) as well as global priorities. Communications approaches should reflect our core values as an organization that is caring trustworthy proactive outcome-focused and responsive. This will reinforce UNHCRs role as the lead agency that protects refugees internally displaced and stateless people and mobilizes action to provide solutions.


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
- Assist in establishment of close working relationships with television radio and news agencies to promote and ensure the dissemination of UNHCR aims activities and principles.
- Assist in development of working relationships with the Government NGOs and UN Agencies in order to raise interest and develop co-operation in inter-related activities.
- Organize UNHCRs public awareness campaign in the duty station.
- Draft bulletins and updates on UNHCRs operations in the duty station.
- Brief national and international media of developments in UNHCRs operations in the duty stations and accompany visiting media to the refugee camps where applicable.
- Assist in planning and organizing advertisements exhibitions training seminars conferences meetings social events and other activities to promote a better understanding of UNHCRs activities and accomplishments by the general public and/or organized groups.
- Assist in preparation of communication budget.

- 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 P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Journalism; International Relations; Political Science;
Communications; Public Information; Media
Film / Video; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience

Essential
Minimum 1 year of professional experience in journalism and/or communications mainly at international level.

Desirable
Strong social media presence. Experience working on advocacy campaigns. Experience working with goodwill ambassadors and other high-profile influencers. Experience with brand management. Experience with measurement and evaluation especially providing analysis of media coverage social media engagement web traffic etc. Experience reporting writing editing for magazines newspapers and websites. Experience using digital asset management systems. Experience with digital analytics and performance reporting.

Functional Skills
CO-Digital content production
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CO-Editing
CO-International Media Contacts
CO-Journalism (incl. print broadcast photography video layout & graphics)
CO-Preparation of key messages/talking points/speeches
CO-Public Speaking
CO-Spokesperson skills
CO-Video production for digital platforms (including news organizations)
IT-Web Content Management
(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.

The Assistant Communications Officer will be a professional with experience of and a keen understanding of UNHCRs target audiences including an up-to-the-minute grasp of the methods and tone of voice that will resonate deeply win trust and spark quality engagement to further the cause of refugees. S/he will have experience and full knowledge of UNHCRs work in Greece and also throughout the world as oftentimes s/he will be asked to comment on refugee situations outside Greece. S/he will have a deep knowledge of the media environment in Greece and ideally have established contacts with media outlets and personalities and have a strong media presence. S/he will have a track record of high editorial and journalistic standards attention to protection concerns and political sensitivities and of communicating effectively the plight of refugees including with key demographics both in writing and orally.

The successful candidate will also have strong experience working on advocacy campaigns brand management and of working with different media. S/he will also have experience in conducting analyses of media coverage social media engagement web traffic etc.

Given the centrality of this position in the Greek operation the successful candidate must speak and write Greek at mother tongue standard.

This is a National Professional Officer position. National Professional Officers should be of the nationality of the country where the office concerned is located.

Greek

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station please visit: of Position:

Currently some 150000 asylum-seekers and refugees are hosted in Greece. In 2024 some 62000 people arrived either by sea or land. UNHCR provides expert advice to the State and evidence-based information that helps inform programmes and policies for asylum-seekers and refugees. Access to international protection identifying durable solutions and support to vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees such as unaccompanied children and survivors of gender-based violence are UNHCRs key also works with national and local authorities the private sector civil society and refugee communities to advance protection solutions and inclusion develop support networks and create employability and training opportunities for refugees. The Office retains a readiness to respond to emergencies and new arrivals with a focus on immediate support to the most vulnerable. UNHCR Greece plays a strong advocacy role since continued support is needed particularly from EU countries and EU institutions in providing immediate protection to those most at-risk through sufficient resources ensuring capacity in the country and responsibility-sharing. UNHCR will continue to assist Greek authorities in responding to both short and long-term challenges.

Under the overall authority and direct supervision of the Representative the Assistant Communications Officer is expected to work strategically in support of UNHCRs operational and communications objectives for the Greece operation. With a focus on news and media relations the incumbent will produce multimedia content manage social media accounts or lead advocacy campaigns aimed at engaging UNHCRs primary target audiencesincluding media policymakers and segments of the wider public that may hold negative perceptions about refugees and migrants.

Further to his/her duties as reflected in the Job Description the Assistant Communications Officer will be required to:

- Act as the primary interface on communications matters between the Country Office and the Regional Bureau for Europe.

- Provide advice and guidance on proactive and reactive communications to Field Offices.

- Within the new External Engagement Unit in CO Athens supervise and lead the communications team.

Living and Working Conditions:

Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens is a family duty station classified as H by ICSC. Public Transportation and medical facilities are well-developed and easily accessible. The educational institutions at all levels as well as international schools are available. The climate can be described as Mediterranean with hot and dry summers and cool and mild winters.

In accordance with UNDSS security risk assessment the whole Greek operation is classified as Security Level 2 (low). Security Clearance is required for travelling in the country.

For more detailed information please consult the continuously updated living conditions booklet on Intranet.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Communication Bachelor of Arts: International Relations Bachelor of Arts: Journalism Bachelor of Arts: Media Bachelor of Arts: Political Science Bachelor of Arts: Public Information

Certifications

Work Experience

Competencies

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

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Additional Information

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and will have to undergo an oral interview.

Functional clearance

This position requires Functional Clearance