Senior External Relations Officer

Reason

Senior External Relations Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior External Relations Officer normally reports to the Representative or Deputy Representative. The incumbent has direct supervisory responsibility for External Relations staff.
External contacts are predominantly with partners media government embassies and other international organizations in the country on matters of importance to the organization.

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
- Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the political context the UN and humanitarian reform and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations.
- Through a consultative process with UNHCR colleagues (Programme Protection etc.) with external actors and partners develop and implement protection and assistance strategy with clearly articulated objectives timelines and outputs.
- Implement a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCRs operations from external partners (e.g. the general public governments partners the media academia and persons of concern).
- Articulate all issues pertaining to the needs of the populations of concern and the strategies in place to respond to their needs.
- Ensure that the UNHCR priorities are given adequate weight in the documentation of the UN Country Team.
- Maintain a close dialogue with and provide accurate information to donors by organizing regular briefings bilateral meetings and donor missions. Prepare reports as appropriate.
- In accordance with the operational context and in close cooperation with headquarters access new and non-traditional funding sources as appropriate including private sector and humanitarian pooled/basket funds (e.g. Central Emergency Response Fund Human Security Fund).
- Through a consultative process with headquarters disseminate information on UNHCRs global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for persons of concern in the country operation.
- Participate in inter-agency cooperation and communication strategies initiatives and tools.
- Support senior management in representing UNHCR in the UN Country Team and other UN coordination fora.
- Support and participate in local UN integrated missions Inter-Agency Standing Committee Emergency Relief Coordinator and Cluster communication strategies and initiatives.
- Manage the information flow within the country operations by identifying priority matters securing analyzing and disseminating documentation and information to support country operations and corporate communication processes and priorities.
- Consolidate information on UNHCRs country operations and identify appropriate messages for campaigns and appeals.
- Coordinate the drafting of and/or draft situation reports briefing notes background material talking points fact sheets press releases and articles.
- Develop targeted communications strategies and media packages for situations and/or activities that require focused attention.
- Identify and target major events and initiatives (e.g. commercial cultural political and sports) to promote the work of UNHCR.
- Manage media relations by inter alia responding to direct queries publishing press releases and organizing regular briefings and visits to country operations.
- Approve fund-raising messages.
- Approve any relevant expenditure for the implementation of fund-raising activities.
- Decide which donors to approach and which operations or activities to prioritize for special fundraising appeals.
- Approve the communications strategy.
- Approve budgets and expenditures for communications activities.
- Clear external relations/communication products and tools.
- Represent UNHCR fund-raising and communication priorities in inter-agency initiatives and fora.

- 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
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4/NOD - 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
Political Sciences; Social Sciences; International Relations; Journalism; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment.
Excellent knowledge of local institution politics and culture.

Desirable
Good knowledge of UNHCR operations both at Headquarters and in the Field.
Fund-raising and programming/programme management experience.
Experience of working with social media.

Functional Skills
IT-Web Content Management
IT-Computer Literacy
ER-Inter-Agency External Relations
ER-Inter-Agency Leadership/Coordination
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.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

of Position:

UNHCRs operation in Pakistan dates back over 45 years and as such has been considered a protracted butemergency prone operation. Over the last three years however the protection situation for Afghans has changed considerably due to implementation of all the phases of the Illegal Foreigner Repatriation Plan 2023. In 2025 alone over 1 million Afghans returned home including deportations and there is little protection space for those remaining including those at high risk in Afghanistan.

In this context the incumbent of the position will supervise the External Relations Unit in Islamabad consisting of 5 staff and oversee external relations activities in both the sub-offices. The main tasks comprise public information/communications donor relations including proposal development and reporting. The incumbent is responsible for operationalizing the external relations/communications strategy for UNHCR Pakistan while keeping close coordination and consultation with different offices and units in the operation especially protection and programme. The incumbent will support the Secretariat of the Strategic Solutions for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) platform and coordinate with the Chair and Vice-Chairs regularly. The incumbent will report directly to the Representative.

S/he will also be responsible for managing partnerships especially with government and private sector this context s/he will explore new partnerships and enhance the existing working relationships with key stakeholders (e.g. government donors including private sector the media UN agencies development partners and civil society).
Given the complex and multi-faceted nature of the operation with a large number of divergent interlocutors s/he requires a wide range of skills and experiences in external relations. The role requires proven experience and management in the communication/PI field as well as broad experience and understanding of various aspects of UNHCR work especially protection and operational priorities. This role will require strategic engagement with host governments donor countries relevant media and other target audiences to influence policy outcomes mobilize funds and galvanize political solidarity and action.

Living and Working Conditions:

Islamabad is a category B family duty station and is a low risk security spite of this the situation is fluid with demonstrations and regional tensions occurring sporadically resulting in AWM being implemented and mobile internet and movement restrictions. Occasionally flight restrictions are imposed. Other parts of UNHCRs operation in Pakistan are high-risk duty stations.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Additional Information