Senior Communications Assistant

Описание

Description

and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Desired Candidate Profile

For this position we are looking for an individual who has experience with digital communications, incl social media and ideally also graphics production and video editing, who can quickly adapt to support the digital communications activities of UNHCR Ukraine’s communications unit. This includes communication to both national and international audiences, providing testimonies and stories of people on the ground as well as sharing messaging and advocacy on the situation and needs on the ground as well as UNHCR’s work and impact.
The person needs the experience and confidence to engage constructively on communications with both NGO partners, the diplomatic community and other UN entities, as well as across UNHCR (the operation in Ukraine and the global teams). The person needs to be able to manage social media channels: planning and posting content, monitoring and analyzing trends and potential risks, and producing different types of engaging, relevant and impactful digital content.
As the role will also entail ad hoc communications tasks as part of the communications team and in a large operation and organization, we are looking for a candidate who can work well independently and in a team – and who can deliver, prioritize and keep the overview in a situation under pressure and with multiple competing tasks and a heavy workload.

It is a clear advantage for this position to have prior experience with:
-Working with a UN agency, humanitarian agency or another international organization
- Managing social media channels (X, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Telegram)
- Video content gathering and editing
- Producing basic graphics for digital communications use

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Experience with digital communications (Social media, production of digital communications content). Experience producing social media content and managing social media channels. Excellent computer skills and knowledge of MS Office applications. Excellent drafting skills

Desirable:
Experience implementing communications strategies. Experience with graphic design and video editing. Experience working on digital campaigns. Experience with programmes like Adobe Premiere and Canva.

Language Requirements:
Excellent knowledge of English, spoken and in writing. Fluency in Ukrainian

The selection process may include a written test and candidates may be required to undergo a written assessment

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

English

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Ukrainian

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Desired languages

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

Operational Context

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been present in Ukraine since 1994 and substantially increased its presence and response after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The geographical presence within Ukraine has significatively expanded to deliver the emergency response. The country office is located in the capital, Kyiv, and sub- and field offices are currently located in Dnipro, Kyiv, L’viv, Odesa and Kharkiv. 

The war in Ukraine has caused death and suffering on a dramatic scale. In 2025, more than 12.7 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection, according to the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. Some 3.7 million people are internally displaced, while around 6.8 million refugees from Ukraine are recorded across Europe and beyond. Some 75,000 people, including some of the most vulnerable notable older people and people with disabilities, live in collective sites spread across the country. Ukraine also hosts asylum-seekers and refugees and is home to thousands of people who are stateless or at risk of statelessness. 

The massive destruction of civilian infrastructure, with the energy sector being particularly targeted has made life extremely challenging for millions of people who have lost their homes and livelihoods, and has severely disrupted access to electricity, water, heating as well as critical services, including healthcare, education and social protection services. Humanitarian access continues to be hampered, particularly in frontline areas as well as to areas under temporary occupation of the Russian Federation. Civilians remain exposed to serious risks to their physical security and integrity, particularly in eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. The risk of GBV, including sexual violence, continues to prevail, alongside family separations, loss of housing and properties, as well as identity and civil documentation. Populations displaced or otherwise affected by the war live in situations of deprivation, following the loss or damage of their housing, loss of income, and often become dependent on an overstretched social protection system.

The Government of Ukraine maintains a strong lead role in responding to the needs of its population and UNHCR supports the Government and its central and local institutions to provide protection, shelter/housing, cash and in-kind assistance to displaced and other people impacted by the war. Currently, UNHCR has MOUs with five-line ministries, the First Lady’s foundation as well as the Office of the Ombudsman, 19 regional state administrations and agreements with 14 partners to deliver assistance and support the localization of the response. 

Under the leadership of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, UNHCR operates as part of the Inter-agency humanitarian response, working in close coordination with local authorities and humanitarian partners. UNHCR is leading three clusters - Protection, Shelter and NFIs, and CCCM. The strategic orientation of UNHCR’s response is to reach people, particularly those with specific vulnerabilities, who remain in frontline and heavily affected areas with immediate relief while supporting displaced people and those who have remained in their homes, or returned, with protection advice, housing support, livelihoods advice and cash assistance to enable their recovery and attainment of durable solutions. 

Protection needs to be truly at the center of this response, as the highest critical needs of the population caused by the international armed conflict are in the area of protection. Since Ukraine is a highly sophisticated country with a strong government leadership and well-established administrative, social protection and digital systems, it is essential to design and deliver UNHCR’s protection programs in a way which simultaneously addresses immediate needs and supports the further development of sustainable and inclusive national protection systems. 

With the EU having voted to confirm Ukraine’s accession to the EU at the end of 2023, Ukraine will also embark on a series of substantial and long-term reforms in numerous sectors, including justice and home affairs, which presents an opportunity to contribute to strengthened and more inclusive protection, asylum and statelessness reduction systems. Working closely with government authorities, local community representatives and partners from the embassies, UN, civil society and international financial institutions, amongst others, is thus key to ensuring that UNHCR’s response is closely aligned with and complementary of national and local strategies and recovery plans. 

As the war continues, new urgent humanitarian needs are created every day, alongside protracted ones and peoples’ and communities’ efforts to recover and rebuild their lives in war-torn communities. Among the IDPs and refugees from Ukraine, the majority express a hope and desire to return to their homes as soon as the security situation allows. The protection needs of the population thus need to be analyzed and addressed both from a humanitarian as well as from an early recovery and durable solutions perspective, with UNHCR playing a leading role in this work. 

Additional Qualifications

CO-Digital content production, CO-Drafting and Documentation, CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video, layout & graphics), CO-Social Media Publishing/Monitoring/Marketing tools, IT-Web Content Management, IT-Web publishingInternational Relations - Other, Journalism - Other, Political Science - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Innovation & creativity, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness

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Compendium

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance