Associate Communications Officer

October 3 2025

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

NOB

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Associate 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 Associate 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 Associate 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 Associate Communications Officers.

All Associate 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 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 the implementation of communications strategies for countries situations and special projects; identify thematic priorities and target audiences to meet UNHCRs global communications objectives.
- Monitor news and popular trends to insert UNHCRs messaging into ongoing conversations; identify key moments for proactive communications.
- 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.
- Contribute to the development of news-driven and authoritative content to lead the narrative on forced displacement and show UNHCRs 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).
- Support the supervisor in ensuring content created reaches maximum impact by developing strategies for distribution from the outset boosting the visibility of our content on relevant UNHCR channels and placing it on external channels.
- Closely monitor the implementation of communications projects and adjust accordingly. Benchmark the results of communications projects against set success indicators; build on communications successes.
Additional duties for news and media roles:
- Implement communications strategies campaigns events and other initiatives in support of UNHCRs strategic objectives including its need for leading share of voice on refugee and related matters and ensure coverage of refugee situations in their country or region in global and domestic media.
- Research prepare fact-check edit and produce professional media and communications materials for target audiences and ensure their timely dissemination via UNHCRs communications channels ensuring highest quality standards.
- Draft media releases statements and media briefing notes and secure clearances working in conjunction with relevant focal points and keeping sensitive to needs of both internal and external audiences.
- Act as a spokesperson for UNHCR organizing press events handling interviews requests and providing responses to requests from media relating to UNHCR and its work.
- Engage with journalists and public audiences via social media channels.
- Regularly provide ideas for communications initiatives and considered professional communications advice to senior staff of UNHCR.
- Undertake missions and field trips with media and other official visitors in support of UNHCR and its work.
- Actively maintain media relations for UNHCR ensuring that media (and other important external stakeholders such as governments embassies NGOs etc.) are briefed regularly on issues of importance to UNHCR and have access to information and UNHCR expertise.
- Prepare and manage communications budgets.
- Ensure alignment with UNHCRs global branding and messaging.
- 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.
Additional duties for news and media roles within the Global Communications Service
- Oversee coordination of communications work for their designated regions and thematic issues working closely with communications staff in bureaux and country offices and in collaboration with senior communications officers/advisers in that region.
- Manage a wide network of relationships at all levels across bureaux divisions and offices (including the Executive Office) to ensure timely internal information sharing as a foundation for grounded communications and to build consensus around communications proposals.
- Maintain close involvement in communications recruitment and training needs for assigned regions keeping in mind UNHCRs goals of employing and retaining the worlds leading humanitarian communications expertise.
Additional duties for news and media roles within Country Offices
- Act as the primary interface on communications matters between the country office and the Global Communications Service.
- Support the supervisor in crisis communications work for the country within the AoR alerting the GCS/News & Media Sections crisis communications lead to risk issues and ensuring close coordination.
Additional duties for news and media roles within Regional Bureaux
- Regularly provide ideas for communications initiatives and considered professional communications advice to senior Bureau staff and Representatives of Country Operations overseen by the Bureau.
- Oversee data and information gathering and sharing of information with a view to ensuring the Bureaus authority as a centre of up to date knowledge and expertise relating to its region.
- Ensure Bureau staff are aware of UNHCRs global positioning needs.

- 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
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant 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
Required skills will vary according to the precise nature of the role location etc. but may include:
CO-Digital content production
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
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(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 candidate is expected to be a strategic and dynamic communications professional who can lead public engagement initiatives for forcibly displaced and stateless persons both globally and within Japan.

Skills and experience required include:

Fluency in English and Japanese with excellent communication and drafting skills in both languages. The ability to read write and work effectively in Japanese in a professional/business context is essential.
Proven experience in strategic communications and public relations including risk management and leading communications strategies in complex or challenging environments.
Strong political acumen and experience in stakeholder management coordination and broader external engagement particularly in complex political and social environments.
Prior management and leadership experience with the ability to foster team spirit build strong working relationships and coordinate effectively across teams.
Strong skills in content planning social media strategy and storytelling with the ability to amplify diverse voices and engage broad audiences.
Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships with stakeholdersespecially media and influencersand familiarity with campaign planning and execution.
Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven ability to work under pressure while demonstrating flexibility and maturity.
Culturally sensitive and committed to diversity and inclusion.
A strategic thinker with a results-oriented mindset.


*Functional clearance is required for this position.
*A written test may be administered as part of the selection process.
*The position is only open to nationals of Japan and those who already have the necessary legal status to work in Japan. Please indicate this clearly in the application.

Japanese

English

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

Japan is one of UNHCRs largest donors and plays a critical role in supporting efforts to address global displacement and advance the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). UNHCR Japan based in Tokyo works to mobilize support for forcibly displaced and stateless persons by engaging the government and the people of Japan. The office collaborates with a wide range of partners including those outside the traditional humanitarian sphere such as development institutions the private sector youth municipalities and academia to enhance public awareness and encourage engagement through a whole-of-society approach.

Aligned with UNHCRs Global Communications Strategy and UNHCR Japans multi-year strategy the office seeks skilled strategic communications and public relations professionals to design and implement initiatives that promote a positive narrative around forced displacement generate empathy and mobilize action. The office aims to contribute to a diverse and inclusive society while advancing awareness partnerships and broad-based support for those affected by forced displacement and statelessness domestically and globally. Exploring new opportunities to engage emerging stakeholders is especially important and communications are central to these efforts.

In close collaboration with other units theAssociate Communications Officerwill lead UNHCR Japans communications activities including strategy development planning and implementation of public engagement initiatives such as campaigns public information programmes and content planning and management with a strong focus on social media. The incumbent will be responsible for enhancing UNHCRs brand awareness in Japan cultivating media and influencer relationships to reach new audiences and amplifying diverse voices through storytelling in an effective manner against the background of changing political and social context.

The incumbent will also collaborate closely with Japan for UNHCR oversee external consultants and coordinate with UNHCRs regional and global communications teams.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Communication Bachelor of Arts: International Relations Bachelor of Arts: Journalism Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

HCR Learning Program - UNHCR

Competencies

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

Additional Information

This position requires Functional Clearance