Strategic Communication Officer/Press and Public Information Division

The Strategic Communication Officer/PPID will report to the Head of Field Office Odesa and work in close coordination with the Press and Public Information Division (PPID). As part of the Field Office, the Strategic Communication Officer/Press and Public Information Division will under the guidance of the Head of PPID and Head of Field Office Odesa contribute to the efficient and effective accomplishment of the assigned tasks. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Strategic Communication Officer/PPID will be required, in accordance with the EUAM Mandate, Code of Conduct and the General Service Conditions for Locally Contracted Staff Employed by EUAM Ukraine, Serving in Ukraine, to perform the following tasks, in full coordination with the Mission’s Press and Public Information Division:

• Contribute to assisting, coaching, and mentoring local Law Enforcement Agencies in the field of strategic communications and media interaction;
• Contribute to the planning, preparation, and delivery of regional communication training-related initiatives, activities, projects, and programmes, including delivering presentations and lessons online as well as offline;
• Assist the Head of Field Office (FO) in the effort to raise the visibility and outreach of EUAM Ukraine and FO activities through press and public information initiatives, activities, projects, and programmes;
• Build and maintain relations to regional media representatives, in full coordination with the Mission’s Local Spokesperson;
• Provide support in developing, planning, and organizing meetings and events with regional authorities, stakeholders, international organisations, and the general public;
• Contribute to the Mission’s visibility and outreach in the region by drafting news articles, promotion and publicising of Mission events, organisation of public/press events, and by acting as the Mission’s focal point for local media, in full coordination with the Mission’s Local Spokesperson;
• Provide regular compilations of relevant local media reports , as well as collect, analyse and report information gathered from open sources, including from the media and through the Mission’s counterparts in support of the PPID’s mission-wide media monitoring;
• Draft written analyses, reports, and presentations;
• Perform translations of all types of documents, e.g. articles, presentations, letters, project descriptions, reports, etc. from English to Ukrainian language and vice-versa;
• Perform interpretation in consecutive mode from English to Ukrainian or Russian language and vice versa, inter alia at meetings, training and mentoring sessions with Ukrainian stakeholders for international members of EUAM as assigned;
• Perform administrative duties, including taking notes/minutes, drafting e-mails, memos, letters, and other requested documents as required; maintain and file these and other recorded data in appropriate databases, spreadsheets, or similar data-accessible filing systems;
• Handle information with confidentiality and discretion;
• Perform any other related tasks as requested by his/her Line Manager.

Qualifications and experience

Eligibility criteria:

• Enjoy full civil rights and have no criminal records; 
• Citizenship of Ukraine and/or holding permanent resident and work permits according to Ukrainian laws;
• Successful completion of a full course of university studies attested by a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Media Science, Mass Communication, Journalism, Political Science, International Relations, Social Sciences, Diplomacy or a closely related field of study (Bachelor’s degree is a requirement);
• After having fulfilled the education requirements, at least five (5) years of relevant and proven full-time professional experience in the private or public sector.

Essential criteria:

• Be physically fit to perform the duties relating to the post;
• Fluency in English, Ukrainian and Russian, both oral and written;
• Possess excellent communication skills in English, Ukrainian and Russian;
• Have substantial experience from positions requiring performance of a wide range of media and communication-related skills and competencies;
• Experience in advising on strategic communication and delivering media interaction training;
• Experience in positions requiring excellent drafting, analytical and project management skills, with a service-oriented approach;
• Very good understanding of the Ukrainian media/social media landscape, social and cultural environment;
• Experience in compiling presentations, reports, and project descriptions;
• Knowledge of Ukrainian Governmental Institutions, structures, and governance processes;
• Excellent understanding of the political and social national and international environment;
• Very good knowledge and experience of Microsoft Office Suite in particular in Word and PowerPoint.

Additional advantageous assets:

• Journalistic or similar experience;
• Professional experience in an EU or international environment; 
• Experience in working in an intercultural environment, with respect to diversity.

Personality assets:

• Have a strong sense of initiative, responsibility, and empathy; 
• Ability to build productive and cooperative working relationships with other staff members;
• Ability to deal professionally and courteously with people, including outside contacts;
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to deliver high quality of work on time even under pressure;
• Ability to perform on-call and irregular working schedule if required.