Crisis Communications Specialist [Open to Tier 0, 1 and 2 applicants], Bonn, Germany

## Crisis Communications Specialist [Open to Tier 0, 1 and 2 applicants], Bonn, Germany - Organization:UNDP - United Nations Development Programme - Office:UN Campus Bonn In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby: - Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026. - Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments - Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers - Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply. Organizational Context As the lead United Nations agency on international development, for six decades, UNDP works 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 Advocacy and External Relations 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. BERA leads efforts to optimally position UNDP within the UN Development System, with Member States and in the inter-governmental and inter-agency fora. It identifies strategic opportunities to partner with agencies through multi-stakeholder and bilateral platforms. It provides intelligence, advises on relationships with key political constituencies, incl. UN Member states, G77 and China, WEOG, EU, Executive Board and develops strategies. BERA coordinates and sets corporate standards across the functions of political positioning, partnerships, marketing and communications within UNDP and leads on internal communications. The Communications Group is responsible for showcasing UNDP and demonstrating the potential and the impact of its work in 170 countries and territories and across the thematic areas of its 2026-2029 Strategic Plan. Within the Communications Group, the Strategic Communications, Planning & Engagement team sets strategic direction and editorial vision for UNDP's global communications, translating complex policy content into compelling narratives for diverse audiences. It develops and executes global plans to strengthen partner engagement and maximize visibility, coordinates across channels and thematic teams, and leads drafting of corporate narratives and the One UNDP communications plan. Under the guidance of the Team Leader for Strategic Communications, Planning & Engagement, the Crisis Communications Specialist supports BERA's communications work in response to crises, including disasters and conflicts, helping to ensure coherence and impact in communicating the effects on people's lives, livelihoods, and development. The incumbent coordinates the production of content that showcases UNDP's work in anticipating, preventing, and recovering from crisis, ensuring outputs meet corporate standards. The Specialist contributes to UNDP's crisis communications delivery, with a focus on the timeliness, quality, and operational efficiency of communication flows during emergency situations. UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of interconnected nature of development risks and crises that the world is facing and that call for assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated and systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration. Duties and Responsibilities 1. Contribute to the Development and Implementation of Communications Strategies for Crisis and Donor Support - Contribute to the development of communications strategies to increase UNDP visibility and support fundraising in sudden-onset and protracted crises, aligned with UNDP's Beyond Crisis Action Agenda messaging, in close collaboration with partnership colleagues and Crisis Bureau's Strategic Partnerships and Communications Team. - Support the identification and production of communications products for visibility and fundraising, assist country teams with implementation, and coordinate inputs from corporate communications teams, including media, digital, brand, donor communications and Crisis Bureau's Strategic Partnerships and Communications Team, - Liaise with the Goodwill Ambassador manager to facilitate the amplification of UNDP's crisis efforts by celebrity supporters. - Collaborate with the Partnership Group to identify relevant donors and coordinate media engagement in priority locations. - Support the production of and curate impactful stories that highlight the importance of core funding during crisis situations. - Support and facilitate regular communications and partnership meetings (including cross-bureaux communications taskforces) together with Country Offices, Regional Bureaux, Crisis Bureau, other BERA units, and the Executive Office to drive communications strategies and promote a coordinated communications response. Provide technical support to the implementation of crisis communications response strategies, including during out-of-hours emergency scenarios. - Participate, as required, in Country Support Management Team and other crisis response meetings, and draft briefing notes and technical inputs for BERA senior management for use at internal Crisis Boards. 2. Provide Technical Support and Coordination for Country Offices - Provide technical support to Country Offices and Regional Bureaux in developing key messages, Q&As, and press releases on crises, in collaboration with the Crisis Bureau's Strategic Partnerships and Communications Team. - Guide and assist Country Offices with pitching media interviews and preparing spokespeople for crisis-related engagements. - Support Country Offices in the identification, production and dissemination of knowledge products that strengthen UNDP's visibility in crisis. - Coordinate technical advice to Country Offices on the production of multimedia content, including video, photography, and web stories. - Serve as a Communications Group focal point for Country Office and Regional Bureau requests related to crises, coordinating timely and effective support under the guidance of the Team Leader. - Support a coordinated and streamlined flow of information between Country Offices and headquarters on crisis communications. - 3. Support UNDP Visibility within UN Communications Mechanis