Executive Communications and Content Specialist, Office of the Executive Director (OED), New York, P-3

About the role

The Executive Communications and Content Specialist is located in the Office of the Executive Director (OED) and is a member of the Strategic Leadership Communications Unit. The Specialist contributes to executive content development, translating the Executive Director’s priorities, engagements, and ideas—along with those of Senior Leadership—into compelling narratives and communications products for diverse external audiences and platforms. The role combines strong writing and editorial skills with expertise in contemporary social media, digital storytelling, and executive communications.

Reporting to the Chief, Executive Communications, the Specialist works closely with the Executive Director’s immediate team, Senior Leadership, and colleagues across UNFPA to develop original executive narratives, thought leadership content, and editorial products that position Executive Leadership and align institutional priorities with public narratives across multiple platforms. The role also ensures coherence between executive positioning and broader institutional communications while amplifying leadership content across corporate, regional, and country office channels.

Purpose

The Executive Communications and Content Specialist develops high-quality written, editorial, and digital content that strengthens the Executive Director’s voice, increases the visibility of Executive and Senior Leadership across channels, and advances UNFPA’s strategic priorities. The Specialist transforms complex policy issues, technical evidence, program results, and field experiences into accessible and compelling content, including opinion pieces, articles, blogs, video scripts, social media narratives, and executive communications campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Executive Content Development and Storytelling
  • Research, conceptualize, write, and edit high-quality executive communications content, including opinion pieces, articles, blogs, executive messages, video scripts, and campaign narratives.
  • Develop original content ideas that translate the Executive Director’s priorities and UNFPA’s work into compelling stories for global audiences.
  • Transform complex policy, technical, humanitarian, and program issues into accessible, engaging, and audience-appropriate narratives.
  • Leverage UNFPA research, data, program evidence, and field experiences to develop credible and compelling executive content.
  • Coordinate with technical experts, program colleagues, and partners to identify evidence, stories, and perspectives for executive communications.
  • Develop narrative concepts and content packages around major Executive Director missions, high-level events, institutional priorities, and international moments.
  • Adapt content across formats, ensuring speeches, missions, field visits, reports, or policy initiatives generate articles, digital stories, social media narratives, and multimedia content.
  • Support the development of the Executive Director’s authentic and consistent voice across written and digital communications, aligning with Senior Leadership positioning.
  • Develop content profiling the engagements, expertise, and thought leadership of Senior Leadership in line with the Executive Leadership Communication Strategy.
  • Provide editorial support for other executive communications products as required.
  • Develop narrative packages before, during, and after Executive Director missions to maximize strategic value and long-term visibility.
• Executive Editorial Strategy and Digital Content
  • Develop and implement the editorial approach for the Executive Director’s social media presence and, as needed, for other Senior Leadership members.
  • Create integrated executive editorial narratives and content packages adaptable across speeches, thought leadership, digital communications, multimedia, and social media.
  • Maintain a forward-looking editorial plan aligned with the Executive Director’s schedule, missions, major events, and organizational priorities.
  • Identify opportunities to translate speeches, opinion pieces, reports, and program results into engaging social media narratives.
  • Develop original editorial concepts, multimedia storylines, and audience-focused communications products for multiple platforms.
  • Write and edit executive digital content, editorial features, messaging, and platform-adapted narratives.
  • Ensure coherence of executive voice and messaging across social media platforms while adapting content to different audiences.
  • Increase the visibility and reach of the Executive Director and Senior Leadership across digital channels, including professional platforms like LinkedIn.
  • Coordinate amplification of executive content through UNFPA corporate, regional, and country office channels, as well as partner and UN system platforms.
  • Collaborate with the Strategic Communication Team to translate editorial concepts into visual, video, and platform-native products.
  • Review audience engagement and digital performance to strengthen executive communications continuously.
• Thought Leadership Content
  • Support the identification and development of thought leadership opportunities for the Executive Director and Senior Leadership.
  • Research and draft opinion pieces, articles, essays, blogs, and other authored content for external platforms.
  • Develop content concepts connecting UNFPA’s mandate and evidence with emerging global debates and policy discussions.
  • Work with technical and policy teams to identify research, evidence, and field insights for executive thought leadership.
  • Adapt thought leadership content for different audiences and formats, including digital platforms and social media.
  • Monitor global conversations to identify timely opportunities for executive commentary.
  • Identify high-visibility external platforms, publications, and speaking opportunities to strengthen Executive Leadership positioning.
  • Position the Executive Director as a leading voice on global population, demographic resilience, gender equality, and women’s health.
  • Develop executive editorial series around major policy priorities and international debates.
  • Translate research, evidence, and program results into compelling executive thought leadership.
• Executive Communications Support
  • Develop executive messaging packages around priority initiatives.
  • Support preparation of executive correspondence.
  • Prepare briefing narratives and key messages.
  • Develop executive communication toolkits.
  • Ensure consistency across speeches, articles, interviews, opinion pieces, and digital content.
• Mission, Event, and Campaign Content
  • Develop integrated content plans for Executive Director missions, Senior Leadership engagements, major international events, and priority campaigns.
  • Research destinations, issues, partners, and program results to identify narrative angles and storytelling opportunities.
  • Develop storylines, interview questions, video concepts, scripts, and social media packages for high-level engagements.
  • Produce rapid-turnaround written and digital content during major events and missions.
  • Ensure content generated from missions and events is repurposed and sustained beyond the immediate engagement.
• Editorial Coordination and Content Management
  • Maintain an executive editorial pipeline and track content opportunities, deadlines, and production requirements.
  • Coordinate inputs from technical, policy, regional, and country office colleagues for executive content products.
  • Research and fact-check content to ensure accuracy, appropriate sourcing, and compliance with UNFPA and UN editorial standards.
  • Maintain content resources, including key narratives, evidence, data, stories, and reusable editorial materials.
  • Work closely with the Strategic Leadership Communications team to align speeches, thought leadership, social media, and other executive communications.
  • Monitor the visibility, reach, and engagement of executive content across channels and recommend improvements.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of editorial processes, content planning, and digital storytelling.

Qualifications

UNFPA seeks candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact, sustained results while upholding international norms and standards. Ideal candidates are principled, ethical, and committed to defending human rights with full conviction. The organization values staff who are transparent, exceptional in resource management, and dedicated to delivering excellence in program results, external relations, communications, partnership-building, and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape.