Public Information Officer

OVERVIEW

Position Number: 5IQCPE0001PA

Grade: P-3

Parent Sector: Division for Communications and Public Engagement (CPE)

Duty Station: Baghdad

Job Family: Communication and Information

Contract Type: Project Appointment

Duration of contract: 1 year

Recruitment open to: Internal and external candidates

Application deadline (Midnight Paris Time): 30/10/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Duration of contract: 1 year with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funds and satisfactory performance

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The UNESCO Office for Iraq works with the authorities and people of Iraq to promote peace and sustainable development, through education, culture, sciences, communication and information.

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the Iraq Office, and in close cooperation with the Office’s programme staff and UNESCO’s Division for Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) and the Division for Partnerships (DPA), the incumbent will ensure and develop the outreach and visibility of UNESCO’s activities and programmes in Iraq.

KEY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The incumbent of the post will undertake the following responsibilities:

Strategic Communication and Public Information:

• Develop and implement project-specific communication plans in collaboration with Chiefs of Programme Units and Project Officers to ensure effective community mobilization and outreach.
• Monitor the progress of such plans and ensure their timely reporting.
• Manage the UNESCO Iraq Office webpage and social media accounts to enhance visibility, aligning with donor and stakeholder requirements.
• Contribute to strategic communications within the United Nations Country Team Strategic Communications Group (UNCT-SCG), offering substantive advice to enhance the messaging and positioning of the Office's initiatives.
• Organize and facilitate high-level official events, exhibitions, and advocacy campaigns, ensuring seamless coordination and increased awareness of the Office's initiatives.
• Liaise with the Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) Division and the Office of the Director-General at Headquarters (HQ) about strategic communication.
• Establish and maintain fruitful relationships with media outlets through strategic coordination and effective communication as part of press management.
• Effectively manage the Public Information Unit by providing guidance to facilitate their work and ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality outputs.

Long Description

• Develop the office’s communications strategy.
• Collaborate with programme teams to gather compelling stories, testimonials, and multimedia content that effectively convey the importance and success of donor-funded projects.
• Coordinate the input and develop the annual results report.
• Support the Office with the development of a set of compelling communication assets such as fact sheets, a standard slide presentation, etc. that can be customized easily for different donors/partners.
• In coordination with the donor's Public Information (PI) Team, develop and share (joint) project specific communication tools, publications, visual presentations etc., on its outcomes and impact to showcase tangible results.

Long Description

Donor Relations:

• In coordination with the donors Public information (PI) team, develop and share (joint) project specific communication tools, publications, visual presentations etc., on its outcomes and impact to showcase tangible results.
• Develop and update frequently (to be aligned with the UNESCO Country Strategy (UCS)) a resource mobilization and partnership-building strategy in coordination and cooperation with the Programme Leads, under the overall guidance of the Head of Office, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), the UNESCO Programme and Budget (C/5), and the UNESCO Country Strategy (UCS).
• Participate in external meetings to identify fundraising opportunities (e.g. in the context of United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs)) and other thematic groups of technical and financial partners.
• Liaise with the Division for Partnerships (DPA) at Headquarters regarding strategic and new partnerships.

Liaison Function with the United Nations:

• Coordinate the development, monitoring and reporting of UNESCO’s components in the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2025-29).
• Assist the Head of Office in the liaison with the United Nations Development System in Iraq.
• Act as deputy focal point for the Programme Management Team (PMT), Monitoring and Evaluation Group (M&EG), and Priority Working Groups (PWG) 3 and 4 and coordinate UNESCO’s inputs to all PWGs within the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

Head of Office Support:

• Prepare briefings on programmatic and specific issues, including interactions with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and UNESCO's Governing Bodies.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)
• Professionalism (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of business administration, marketing, advertising, journalism, communication or any other related field.

• WORK EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of four (4) years of relevant professional experience in the field of public information and/or communication and partnerships/donor relations of which preferably two (2) years acquired at the international level.

• Experience in supporting large-scale initiatives and projects.

• Demonstrated experience in organizing and coordinating high-level events.

• SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Good understanding of development projects.

• Capacity to produce compelling and relevant multimedia content.

• Ability to manage competing priorities effectively within tight deadlines.

• Demonstrated capacity to take technically sound decisions on visibility aspects of project implementation.

• Fine-tuned interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multicultural environment with diplomacy and sensitivity to cultural differences.

• Capacity to establish and maintain harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the Organization.

• Proven ability to provide professional guidance and manage a team of experts.

• LANGUAGES

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and Arabic.

• DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• WORK EXPERIENCE

• Relevant professional experience in the United Nations system or any other multilateral organization.

• Experience in the field of communication or media in the Middle East.

• SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Understanding of and sensitivity to the geopolitical context of Iraq and the Middle East.

• Familiarity with UNESCO’s programmatic work in Iraq.

• LANGUAGES

• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Chinese, French, Russian and/or Spanish).

• BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

• UNESCO’s salaries consist of a basic salary and other benefits which may include if applicable: 30 days annual leave, family allowance, medical insurance, pension plan etc.

• The approximate annual starting salary for this post is 93,092 USD.

• For full information on benefits and entitlements, please consult our Guide to Staff Benefits.

• SELECTION AND HIRING PROCESS

• Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

• The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.

• Please note that all candidates, whether selected or not, will be informed of the outcome of their application in due course.

• Short-listed candidates may also be added to Talent Pools; subject to their consent (i.e. Data Privacy Statement).

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of staff members shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.

• UNESCO applies to a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.

• UNESCO is committed to achieving and sustaining equitable and diverse geographical distribution, as well as gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity.