Senior Communications Officer - Research and Impact

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

PR4

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

July 11 2025

Senior Communications Officer - Research and Impact

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Communications Officer - Research and Impact position reports to the Associate Head of Global Communications Service in Geneva. S/he leads the Analytics Team and develops the annual work plan in accordance with his/her supervisor ensuring its implementation and quality. The plan includes flagship reports such as the Quarterly Reports and routine reports to assess the impact of UNHCRs communications projects and initiatives. S/he also ensures the monitoring and reporting on any media and social coverage of issues affecting UNHCRs reputation i.e. crisis communications. The incumbent drives innovation in communications analysis across the team particularly in AI and reporting.

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 UNStaff 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

• Monitor news public social activity public opinion brand and digital trends reporting back regularly to internal and external stakeholders through a series of weekly monthly quarterly and ad-hoc reports.

• Monitor and report back on communications strategies for the bureaux countries situations and special projects.

• Set success indicators and closely monitor the implementation of communications projects. Benchmark the results of communications projects against set success indicators and build on communications successes through report feedback.

• Select and manage UNHCRs suite of monitoring and tracking tools to provide accurate and timely monitoring of media coverage broadcast print and online social coverage UNHCRs owned-platforms social platforms and website and journalist contact database. Base analysis on reliable methodology.

• Manage software tool and consultant relationships.

• Collate and condense data for easy reference and analysis including the management of a data warehouse and accompanying Power BI dashboards.

• Plan and schedule reporting with counterparts in the Executive Office bureaux national and field offices SET / SMC campaigns and events goodwill ambassadors programme private sector fundraising communications and public information donor resource mobilisation national fundraising partners and external donors and supporters.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure tracking and analysis is appropriate directed and results in concrete recommendations.

• Provide impactful visual and written presentation of data and analysis in an easily understandable and shareable manner.

• Provide technical training to field colleagues to support decentralised data gathering and analytical efforts while retaining global coherence in methodology.

• Develop an annual work plan coordinating the teams work performance management managing the teams training and learning programme and monitoring work objectives.

• Ensure highest standards of accuracy and analysis in all reporting outputs using transparent and standardised methodology.

• Upgrade communication research skills keeping abreast of emerging platforms and tools systematically reviewing media impact results and other measurement tools for learning purposes.

• Provide expert communications advice to senior staff including on strategies and tactics.

• Perform crisis communications analysis and provide real time monitoring of crisis communications situations providing accurate media and social insights as well as relevant qualitative summary points and actionable insights.

• Use Python code to manage and upgrade UNHCRs web crawling research.

• Monitor the broader communication as well as public opinion trends and environment including peer organisations in order to provide sector context.

• Regularly audit work and performance with internal stake holders in order to improve and optimise the outputs of the team.

• Ensure research and communications reporting is regularly updated and shared in a timely manner with the relevant internal and external stakeholders.

• Building and tracking customised UTM codes in Google Analytics.

• Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate as needed. If a Risk Owner designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year as needed.

• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P4 - 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

International Relations;

Communication;

Public Information;

Political Science;

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Demonstrated professional experience in social research or communications. Experience with measurement and evaluation providing analysis of media coverage social media engagement and web traffic. Advanced understanding of Boolean search language. Advanced experience as Google Analytics user. Advanced experience using and managing media or social monitoring software - this includes building search terms dashboards and interactive reports. Advanced experience using and managing on-platform social analytical tools including Facebook Insights Twitter Analytics Instagram Analytics and LinkedIn Analytics. Experience building Power BI databases and dashboards. Database management experience. Functional understanding of Python code. Experience writing reports and giving oral presentations.

Desirable

Experience processing and interpreting public opinion data. Experience with setting and monitoring brand success indicators.

Functional Skills

DI-Data Activation and Analytics;

CO-Media monitoring and analysis;

CO-Social media monitoring and evaluation;

DI-Crisis communications;

CO-Strategic Communication;

DM-Data Collection and Analysis;

(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.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies:

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies:

Empowering and Building Trust

Judgement and Decision Making

Managing Performance

Strategic Planning and Vision

Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies:

Analytical Thinking

Innovation and Creativity

Technological Awareness

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.

Technical experience
- Minimum 7 years of professional experience in social research and/or communications.
- Minimum 7 years of experience using media monitoring software
- Minimum 7 years of experience using social monitoring software
- Minimum 7 years of experience using audience analysis software
- Minimum 7 years of experience using web analysis software including Google Analytics
- Minimum 7 years of experience using on-platform social analysis tools e.g. Meta Insights X Analytics
- Minimum 7 years of experience building Boolean search queries for media and social listening
- Minimum 7 years of experience developing and managing communication KPIs
- Minimum 7 years of experience of managing data bases and large data sets
- Minimum 7 years of writing communication research and data-driven reports

Additional experience
- Experience in brand management measurement and evaluation
- Advanced experience building search queries dashboards and interactive reports.
- Experience working on strategic communication and advocacy campaigns
- Experience working with goodwill ambassadors and other high-profile influencers
- Experience with governmental and private sector donors / supporters
- Experience in coding for data analysis or automation
Proven team management and leadership capabilities.
Strong stakeholder management experience across HQ regional and national levels.
Confident in presenting findings and strategies to internal and external stakeholders. - Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

of Position:

The role focuses on communications analytics media and social media monitoring audience research support and brand management.

Team Management

The incumbent will manage a team of 3-4 colleagues based in Spain and report to the Associate Head of the Global Communication Service in Geneva. S/he will ensure daily contact and have weekly meetings with the team and hold a weekly meeting with the team plus a regular weekly catch-up with the Associate Head based in Geneva.
Client Management

The role involves regular engagement with clients across the Executive Office (EO) Division of External Relations (DER) various divisions/entities and regional bureaus. This ensures that outputs are tailored to client needs and aligned with available resources. The incumbent will also manage relationships with software providers and external consultants.

Technical Expertise
This is a highly technical field requiring substantial working experience with the relevant communications and analytics software tools.

Working Under Pressure
The role can be high-pressure particularly during crisis communications situations that require rapid and accurate responses to urgent requests from DER and the EO.

Strategic Thinking
The incumbent plays a key role in ensuring that UNHCR develops audience-driven strategic and impactful communication products and strategies. This includes producing audience analyses impact reports strategic advice and lessons learned while supporting the Global Communication Service (GCS).

Brand Compliance and Strengthening
The incumbent will lead brand-related initiatives working closely with internal stakeholders to ensure brand consistency and to enhance UNHCRs public image.

Living and Working Conditions:

This position is located in Madrid. Living and working conditions are consistent with an A-level duty station.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Media monitoring and analysis CO-Social media monitoring and evaluation CO-Strategic Communication DI-Crisis communications DI-Data Activation and Analytics DM-Data Collection and Analysis

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Communication Bachelor of Arts: International Relations 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 Judgement & decision making Managing performance Managing resource Organizational awareness Strategic planning & visions Teamwork & collaboration Technological awareness

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Additional Information

This position requires Functional Clearance