About the Role

UNICEF Gulf Area Office (GAO) is seeking a Communication Specialist for a temporary appointment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This role focuses on strategic advisory, executive communications, and donor reporting. The specialist will provide dedicated support to the GAO Director from September to December 2026, during a period of intensive events, high-level partnership meetings, and donor-reporting requirements.

The UNICEF Gulf Area Office and Role Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries, committed to saving children’s lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential. The UNICEF Gulf Area Office (GAO) works to advance children's rights and strengthen strategic partnerships with Gulf governments and institutions. GAO is strategically repositioning itself as a globally influential hub, leveraging the resources and ambition of the GCC states to maximize impact for children domestically, regionally, and globally. This temporary position is integral to supporting this strategic positioning during a critical period.

Key Functions and Responsibilities

• Strategic planning and positioning support for the GAO Director.
• Executive communications and external engagement, including drafting speeches, briefing notes, and talking points for senior leadership.
• Evidence-based donor reporting and quality assurance for partnership materials.
• Knowledge management and institutional learning initiatives.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Education: An advanced university degree (Master's or higher) in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, International Relations, Political Science, Marketing, or a related field is required. A first university degree combined with two additional years of relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Work Experience: A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic communications, advocacy, executive communications, or a related field. This includes demonstrated experience supporting senior leadership through various executive communications for major international events and high-level meetings. Experience working with governments, development partners, and other high-level stakeholders, alongside experience in reviewing or producing high-quality donor reports and partnership materials, is essential.
• Skills: Expertise in strategic communications planning, speech writing, editorial, and quality assurance processes. The ability to deliver high-quality outputs independently within tight deadlines is also required.
• Language: Fluency in English is mandatory, with excellent drafting and editing skills.

Desirable Attributes and Core Competencies

• Desirables: Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. Experience working with multicultural and multidisciplinary teams, knowledge of the Gulf region, field work experience, and familiarity with emergency situations are also desirable. Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings, and humanitarian contexts, is beneficial.
• UNICEF Core Values: Candidates are expected to embody UNICEF's Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
• UNICEF Competencies: Required competencies for this post include building and maintaining partnerships, demonstrating self-awareness and ethical awareness, driving to achieve results for impact, innovating and embracing change, managing ambiguity and complexity, thinking and acting strategically, and working collaboratively with others.

Commitment to Values, Diversity, and Safeguarding

UNICEF is dedicated to protecting the rights of every child, everywhere, and its global workforce reflects this commitment to diversity and inclusion. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities. UNICEF offers benefits such as paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. UNICEF maintains a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and are expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Appointments are subject to medical clearance and compliance with vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate them.