Communication Officer (Polio)

UNICEF, operating in over 190 countries and territories, is dedicated to saving children’s lives, defending their rights, and helping them reach their full potential from early childhood through adolescence. The organization approaches the promotion of children’s rights as a calling, offering diverse opportunities for professional and personal growth within a supportive and inclusive culture. Alongside an attractive compensation and benefits package, UNICEF fosters an environment where committed and passionate individuals can thrive. The Communication Officer role within the Polio section is essential to supporting the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of communication and media strategies aimed at polio eradication under the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC). This position is key to generating public awareness, building trust in vaccination campaigns, and strengthening political and community support. The officer’s expertise in media relations, stakeholder engagement, event management, and producing high-quality communication materials ensures visibility, credibility, and continuity in polio eradication efforts, reinforcing UNICEF’s leadership in public health communication.

Key Responsibilities

- Develop, produce, and disseminate communication strategies, products, and materials aligned with national priorities to support polio eradication and immunization campaigns, enhancing community trust and political commitment.
- Provide timely support in media relations by drafting and maintaining materials and relationships with journalists and media outlets across print, broadcast, digital, and social media platforms to highlight Pakistan’s polio eradication progress and UNICEF’s role.
- Lead crisis communications by monitoring media coverage, alerting senior management to issues affecting the program’s reputation or frontline worker safety, and proactively addressing misinformation through rebuttals, corrections, and positive narratives.
- Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of communication activities to assess effectiveness, identify lessons learned, and recommend improvements; prepare and share analysis and reports with UNICEF, PEI, and NEOC partners.
- Maintain and expand a network of journalists, influencers, partners, government entities, UN agencies, civil society, and community leaders to strengthen advocacy and communication objectives. Support organization of events and campaigns that promote vaccination, recognize frontline workers, and advance UNICEF and PEI goals.

Required Qualifications

- University degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.
- Minimum of two years of professional experience in communication, media relations (print, broadcast, digital), or public information.
- Mandatory field experience and familiarity with emergency situations.
- Proven ability to build and maintain strong media relationships, pitch stories, and produce high-quality media products.
- Demonstrated skills in managing complex partnerships and engaging diverse stakeholders effectively.
- Experience in planning and implementing digital campaigns and creating impactful, audience-focused social media content.
- Strong analytical, presentation, and writing skills with the ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling content in both English and Urdu.
- Fluency in English and Urdu is required.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

- Field experience and familiarity with emergency contexts are advantageous.
- Prior experience with the UN or international organizations in communication or public information is highly desirable.
- Knowledge of additional UN official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) or local languages is an asset.
- UNICEF values diversity and inclusion, offering benefits such as paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.
- The organization promotes flexible working arrangements and maintains a zero-tolerance policy on misconduct, including sexual exploitation, harassment, and discrimination.
- This position is classified as an elevated risk role for child safeguarding, requiring rigorous background checks and adherence to UNICEF’s child protection standards.
- UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women and persons with disabilities, and provides reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to global public health and child rights through strategic communication in polio eradication efforts. UNICEF is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, reflecting the diversity of the children it serves.