Press and Communications Officer – P02
Grade: P02
Type of Appointment: Series A - Short Term
Duration of Contract: 6 months
Secretary/Department/Off.: The Exec. Secretariat of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Announcement Number: EO/10/22
Duty Station: US - Washington D.C.
Job Family: Human Rights Commission
Job Category: Professionals and Higher Categories
Recruitment Type: External
Employment Schedule: Full time
Publication Date: 3/11/22
Closing Date: 3/25/22
# of Openings: 1

  Annual Basic Salary (net of taxes):
Basic Salary: 49,254.00

 Annual Post Adjustment (net of taxes):
Post Adjustment: 26,646.00

Description

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

*   Develop, formulate and analyze a proactive and coherent agenda for communication strategies, and key messages to promote the IACHR visibility, its mandate, priorities and achievements.
*   Produce information materials, including but not limited to: presentations, briefings, activity reports, fact sheets, brochures, banners, covers for reports, infographics, posters, postings for social media, etc. to raise awareness of and visibility of the IACHR mandate, priorities and achievements.
*   Participate in the development of communication and advocacy campaigns, including the definition of the core concept, development of the graphic identity based on that core concept, hierarchizing the information to be conveyed to the audience, and coordinating the work of the graphic designers and other professionals involved in the production of the campaign in order to ensure appropriate development and execution of all communication products and materials, ensuring consistency and facilitating access to and wide dissemination of these; identifying media opportunities and target audiences such as governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, international entities, the public and private sector, subjects of interest and success stories; and how to best handle politically sensitive issues, at national, regional and international levels.
*   Within the delegated authority, establish and maintain networks to bolster partnerships and opportunities to advocate IACHR strategies, priorities and achievements, to respond to IACHR needs, as well as to further donors’ interest in providing financial support for ongoing and future IACHR projects, including establishing and maintaining effective relations with the press and media to promote a better and increased understanding of the IACHR mandate, priorities and achievements;
*   Liaise and collaborate with legal staff at the IACHR for the development and dissemination of information and advocacy campaigns for the dissemination of reports, on-site visits, working visits, Commission’s hearings and participation of the Commission in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ hearings, periods of sessions, seminars and other training events, Inter-American Forums, case reports, allegations before the Inter-American Court, among others; providing advice on best practices and communication strategies, and drawing attention to politically sensitive information and presentation.
*   Provide assistance to the IACHR Section on Thematic and Country Monitoring of Human Rights, including all Thematic Rapporteurships and Thematic Units; the IACHR Section of Processing of Petitions, Cases and Precautionary Measures; the IACHR Section on Training, the IACHR Commissioners, the IACHR Office of the Executive Secretary and other entities, assisting in the commissioning of research and ensuring linkage with overall advocacy agenda, including participation in the development of strategic work plans and budgets for communication and advocacy strategies.
*   Create, develop, execute and permanently update all graphic aspects of the IACHR institutional identity, applying the latest technological developments.
*   Develop a visual identity for every thematic and country report issued by the IACHR, which includes working with the legal staff that elaborated the report, creating a concept and deciding on the graphic metaphors to be used on the cover of the report and all communication products to be elaborated for its dissemination, ensuring the execution of these products maintain the visual identity defined for the report and coherence with the general institutional identity of the Commission.
*   Design and produce an ample range of communication products, such as posters, publications, brochures, digital files such as interactive PDFs, ePubs, Web pages, interactive microsites for the IACHR Website, in the four official languages of the Organization, using currently available IT hardware (PCs, printers, scanners) and professional Windows-based software such as Indesign CC, Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, Acrobat CC, HTML, CSS and Adobe DPS, as well as Content Management Systems (CMS) and data bases, and presentation softwares.
*   Manage tailored communications for specific target groups that work closely with the IACHR, through the conception, development and supervision of execution of specific campaigns and products, including management of subscription systems; knowledge of latest technological platforms of bulk email marketing systems.
*   Select and coordinate the work of graphic designers, multimedia specialists, photographers, videographers and other professionals for the production of graphic products, supervise their work ensuring coherence with the general institutional image of the Commission, maintain a roaster of highly competent graphic designers, multimedia specialists, photographers, videographers and other professionals to be hired when necessary for the development of campaigns, supervise their work and provide orientation to ensure that inter-American human rights standards are represented appropriately.
*   Research the best and most effective graphic arts for communication and production methods, and apply them or supervise their application, as required by each assignment, displaying excellent knowledge of the latest techniques, platforms, software and production processes, and taking into account the target audience, including Member States, victims of human rights violations, civil society organizations, petitioners, human rights defenders, media, donors, scholars and education institutions, and the public at large.
*   Permanently work on improving the Website of the IACHR, creating new sections and adding new functionalities, improving navigability, supervising the work of staff updating webpages and ensuring the Webpage is current in the publication of all reports, press releases, activities, etc.
*   Select social media and other digital platforms to be used for an ample dissemination of the Organization’s activities and products, based on excellent knowledge of the platforms and their capabilities as well as on their specific audiences, choosing the most appropriate platform of the different messages directed to different target groups, produce guidelines on the adaptation and application of the IACHR institutional image to each of these platforms, supervising the production of all materials to be disseminated through institutional social media accounts.
*   Responsible for the institution’s historical archives of photography and footage, appropriate preservation of materials, and implementation of user-friendly systems and platforms to make these photos and footage available to the public, when appropriate or required.
*   Proactively proposing the use of new information and communication technologies, new systems
*   As assigned, advise staff throughout the IACHR on communications and advocacy issues, relations with the media and donors, with particular attention to the institutional image.
*   As required, represent the department and/or the Secretariat at national, regional and international meetings and forums, advocating for continuing/new partnerships, presenting results, and identifying funding opportunities to support new/emerging partnerships, and facilitating practical inter-partnerships exchanges and delivery mechanisms.
*   Perform other related duties as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others.

QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE : 
 
Essential: First University Degree (Bachelor) in Graphic Design, Multimedia Design, Visual Communication, Journalism, Communications, or other related field issued by a duly accredited institution and 4 years of relevant experience at the national and/or international level OR Advanced University Degree (Master) in one of the fields listed above issued by a duly accredited institution and 2 years of relevant experience.

Desirable:
*   Knowledge and training in programming is highly desirable, especially html and asp, Java script.
*   Experience or knowledge of the OAS mandates and priorities as related to Human Rights and/or the dynamics of the Inter-American human rights system.
*   Experience managing a highly complex system of institutional identity.
*   Experience working in a multidisciplinary team working on multiplatform communications campaigns on human rights or humanitarian situations.
*   Experience or knowledge of the OAS mandates and priorities as related to the area of work and/or the dynamics of the Inter-American agenda and system.

LANGUAGES:

Essential – Proficient in at least two of the official languages of the OAS (read, write and communicate).

Desirable – Working knowledge of other two OAS official languages.

PERSONAL COMPETENCIES: Client Orientation, Knowledge Sharing, Teamwork, Interpersonal Skills.  Ability to clearly communicate in the languages required for the post.

The GS/OAS embraces equality, diversity and inclusion. Thus, the GS/OAS, in accordance with its rules and regulations, is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, achieving a diverse staff, and will take into account a wide geographic representation, as well as gender equity and equality, in the selection of candidates.
Please note that the mandatory retirement age for staff members at the General Secretariat of the OAS is 65.