Director of Communications [Open to internal and external applicants]

UNDP • New York, NY

10h

About The Position

As the lead United Nations agency on international development, UNDP works in
170 countries For six decades, and in some 170 countries and territories, UNDP
has shaped the progress of human development, providing integrated support at
scale to improve lives for millions of people worldwide. UNDP’s Strategic Plan
2026-2029 helps countries and communities in their progress towards high human
development while protecting the planet through four strategic objectives –
prosperity for all, effective governance, crisis resilience, and healthy planet.
The plan is powered by three accelerators: digital and AI transformation; gender
equality; and sustainable finance. All are underpinned by a commitment to human
rights and to leaving no one behind.

The Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) leads and supports UNDP to
build and deliver essential strategic relationships and alliances. It creates
and delivers a strong public narrative about the organization, impact of our
work, and how we align with partners to identify and build solutions towards
achieving sustainable development. The Bureau also leads UNDP’s work with
traditional donors, as well as building innovative and diversified funding
relationships.  BERA communications enable strong political and financial
backing by providing partners and supporters with a clear understanding of what
UNDP does and how our mission, capabilities and services reinforce global,
regional, and national development priorities.

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) is responsible for developing
all relevant policies and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s 2026-2029
Strategic Plan.  BPPS staff provide technical advice to Country Offices,
advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora
including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and
engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas.  BPPS works
closely with BERA and the UNDP Executive Office to craft technical and thematic
messages and advocacy initiatives.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

The Director of Communications reports to the Bureau for External Relations and
Advocacy and the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, setting,
coordinating, and executing strategic communications direction and corporate
standards and ensuring delivery across the functions of partnerships,
marketing, thematics, and external and internal communications within UNDP.

The Director is responsible for eight Communication Specialist Teams, which are
the standard bearers for excellence in communication channels and tools across
UNDP. The eight teams comprise: Strategic Communications, Planning & Engagement,
Brand, Visibility and Impact for Partnerships, Social & Digital Engagement,
Thematic Strategic Communications, Multilateral Events, Media Engagement, and
Digital Platforms and Web Design. This pooled and shared resource also
supports the Executive Office (ExO)  and ensures the best optimal communication
practices are being leveraged across UNDP and reinforce the UNDP Strategic
Plan.

The Director has dual reporting accountability to both the head of BERA and
BPPS, and the Strategic Communications Leadership Team (SCLT).  This role
requires strong strategic leadership and performance management skills to ensure
that the function provides world class communications across UNDP and
to leverage the rich diversity of skill sets in the communications teams around
the globe. The Director is also expected to encourage and instill a strategic
communications mindset across all of UNDP.

The Director, together with the SCLT, will set, decide, monitor, and evaluate
annual communications priorities for UNDP, ensuring that the communications
efforts deliver on their part of the UNDP strategic plan 2026 – 2029. The
Director will be accountable for the degree to which communications work is
leveraging the brand, reports and other communications products that are central
to UNDP’s identity and positioning within the UN system and in the multilateral
ecosystem.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and
leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals.
Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams,
and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable
horizontal collaboration.

Requirements

• Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications or Marketing is required.  Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of 15 years (with master's degree) or 17 years (with bachelor's degree) of professional experience and visionary leadership at increasing senior level in media, marketing, branding, and/or advocacy communications is required.
• Fluency in English is required.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated ability to deliver superior performance in fast-paced environments using "out-of-the-box" thinking and adaptive strategies is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in expert-level interpersonal skills and relationship-building capabilities, backed by an extensive and active professional network is desired
• Proven ability to effectively lead high profile global initiatives, experience with successful communications advocacy, digital communications, and outreach to diverse global and national audiences is desired.
• Proven track record of success in generating and garnering traditional and new media coverage for international development or international relations issues is desired.
• Experience leading teams who carry out best practices in digital communications, including web sites, editorial, media, video, blogs, and social media is desired.
• Proven excellence in people management leading large dynamic teams is desired.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively interact with and maintain strong working relationships with a broad array of stakeholders, including high-level officials, staff, the public, and the media is desired.
• Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Positioning and "One UNDP" Brand Leadership
• Lead Management of Integrated Specialist Teams and Service Delivery
• Lead Joint Governance and Communications Planning
• Provision of high-level Knowledge-Based Advocacy and Strategic Analytical Approaches
• Media Landscape and Global Engagement
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director