UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. 

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling. 

 
UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package. 

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF. 

For every child, a voice 

The Communications Associate will play a key role in supporting UNICEF’s communications efforts at both national and local levels. This includes assisting in media relations and managing the organization and logistics of field visits for media and donors to programs supported by UNICEF and its partners. A core responsibility will be to contribute to the creation and dissemination of multimedia communication products—such as videos, infographics, and presentations—that highlight the situation of children and promote the fulfillment of their rights. 

The appointed staff member will also provide ongoing support in the planning, coordination, and management of social media content and engagement, helping to amplify UNICEF’s messages across digital platforms and reach broader audiences. 

Additionally, the role involves the preparation of reports, briefs, and human-interest stories for internal dissemination within UNICEF at the regional and global levels, as well as with the United Nations System and key external partners. The appointed staff member will contribute to the inclusion of programmatic results and impact stories in key organizational platforms such as UNINFO and CSIs. 

Administrative support for contracting communication-related services will be required, along with logistical coordination for field visits involving UNICEF staff, ambassadors, and social media influencers. 

How can you make a difference? 

Media and Content Production 

1. Support the execution of the national communication strategy and the country's work plan. 

2. Assist in the creation and adaptation of communication materials tailored to different audiences. 

3. Localize global and regional communication assets for adaption and use in the Costa Rican context. 

4. Monitor and document coverage in traditional and digital media, and conduct social listening to identify trends, conversations, and public sentiment related to UNICEF and key child rights issues at the national and local levels. 

5. Draft and edit press releases, articles, blog entries, and human-interest stories for web and media. 

6. Maintain and update the database of journalists, opinion leaders, and social influencers to strengthen relationships and collaborations. 

Digital Communication and Multimedia 

1. Support the execution of the digital content strategy, including the development of materials aligned with the month-to-month content plan. 

2. Adapt global and regional social media content using localized data, tone, and language. 

3. Provide technical assistance in the design and production of multimedia assets (videos, graphics, presentations, etc.). 

4. Capture and organize audiovisual content during events, ensuring the shared media gallery is regularly updated. 

5. Regularly update the UNICEF Costa Rica website with relevant local, regional, and international information. 

6. Track website and social media performance and provide quarterly KPI reports. 

7. Monitor digital platforms to ensure information security and flag potential vulnerabilities. 

 Events coordination support 

1. Provide logistical and technical support for internal and external events such as workshops, public campaigns, donor visits, and high-level advocacy meetings. 

2. Ensure the effective coordination of UNICEF’s participation in public events, including media outreach, branding, and documentation. 

3. Maintain updated contact lists of key individuals, groups, and organizations, including government, civil society, and private sector actors, to support event planning and engagement. 

Advocacy Support 

1. Assist in the preparation of targeted advocacy materials tailored to specific audiences and aligned with UNICEF’s priorities. 

2. Support the follow-up and documentation of progress on advocacy plans and related commitments. 

3. Help identify opportunities to amplify advocacy messages through events, media, influencers, and social media platforms. 

Fundraising and Private Sector Engagement 

1. Contribute to the planning and rollout of fundraising campaigns, including the development of communication and promotional materials. 

2. Support the creation and dissemination of accountability materials for donors and private sector partners. 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Education:   

• University degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or Marketing. 

• Knowledge of graphic design and related tools is considered an asset. 

Work Experience:   

• A minimum of six years of professional experience in communication, including work in media, digital content, and/or advertising and publicity. 

• Demonstrated experience in managing and producing content for interactive digital media, including social media platforms and multimedia storytelling. 

• Proven skills in  web content management systems (CMS such as Drupal), as well as design, analytics and monitoring tools such as: Adobe Creative Suite, Google Analytics, and other relevant platforms for digital content development and performance tracking. 

• Experience working with or within international organizations is considered an asset. 

Skills:  

• Strong digital communication skills, including content creation for web and social media platforms. 

• Photography and basic video production skills, with proficiency in software for graphic design and editorial layout (e.g., Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign). 

• Familiarity with tools and practices related to digital storytelling, branding, and audience engagement. 

• Additional expertise in areas such as advocacy communication, campaign management, or fundraising communications is considered a strong asset. 

• Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish and English is required. 

For every Child, you demonstrate... 

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values 

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are… 

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. 

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled. 

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