Communication Specialist

It's important to note that UNV assignments are volunteer assignments, not employment. The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs.

Mission

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a leading intergovernmental organization in migration, committed to ensuring humane and orderly migration benefits both migrants and society. As part of the United Nations system, IOM supports migrants globally, offering expertise on migration policy and practice.

Context

In Türkiye’s East, Southeast and Mediterranean (ESEM) Region, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) implements a wide range of programming aimed at supporting migrants, refugees and host communities, providing assistance to earthquake-affected individuals and delivering cross-border aid into Northwest Syria.

Task description

Under the overall supervision of the Media and Communications Officer in Ankara and direct supervision of the National Communications Officer in Gaziantep, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for providing media and communications support to activities implemented in the East, Southeast, and Mediterranean (ESEM) Region. The UN Volunteer will work closely with the entire Public Information Unit and with programme teams to enhance visibility efforts and meet the demand for high-quality content, in pursuit of IOM Türkiye’s overall communications strategy.

The UN Volunteer will perform the following duties in accordance with IOM policy and procedures:

• Oversee social media management efforts, facilitating effective coordination within the team and ensuring quality control of published content.
• Support the collection of audio-visual content in the field, including photos, videos, and interviews.
• Draft human-interest stories, social media posts, newsletters, and other communication materials as requested.
• Assist in high-quality translation of content from English and Arabic and vice versa.
• Address public information-related requests, as assigned, and follow-up with programme teams to ensure timely implementation.
• Regularly liaise with programme teams to identify communication opportunities and provide proactive visibility support.
• Assist in press liaison and engagement efforts.
• Communicate and follow-up with the implementing partners to obtain audio-visual content and archive them accordingly.
• Undertake duty travel as required.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Results/Expected Outputs

As an active IOM team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support will be rendered to IOM and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• Human-interest stories.
• Interviews with project participants and beneficiaries.
• Photos and videos.
• Social media content.
• Publications and newsletters.

Additional Volunteerism Responsibilities

UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate and promote volunteerism during their assignment by:

• Participating in UNV activities, such as events for International Volunteer Day, and strengthening their understanding of volunteerism.
• Contributing to UNV publications by sharing field experiences through articles or write-ups.
• Supporting local volunteerism initiatives and encouraging the use of UNV’s Online Volunteering service.
• Documenting and reporting on their volunteer actions, including annual and end-of-assignment reports, and contributing to the UNV Buddy Programme for new volunteers.
• Ensuring the systematic integration of Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) perspectives in all activities.
• Providing a final statement summarizing volunteerism achievements during their assignment, such as the number of volunteers mobilized and activities participated in.

Assignment Requirements

Candidates should have at least 3 years of relevant experience and hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in development communication, media, or a related field. Fluency in English is required, along with working knowledge of Arabic; fluency in Turkish is desirable. The role requires strong values of inclusion, respect for diversity, integrity, transparency, and professionalism. Core competencies include teamwork, delivering results, managing and sharing knowledge, accountability, and effective communication, with a commitment to ethical standards and organizational priorities.

Skills and Experience

Candidates should have at least 3 years of experience in media, communications, advocacy, or awareness-raising, with knowledge of Türkiye’s migration dynamics and media landscape being advantageous. Experience in liaising with government, media, and civil society partners, as well as prior work in international or multicultural settings, is a plus. Proficiency in Microsoft Office is required, and skills in digital content creation (graphic design, photography, videography, and editing) and familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, InDesign, PremierePro) are highly desirable. Candidates must be fluent in at least two of English, Turkish, and Arabic and possess excellent oral and written communication skills. Strong organizational abilities, time management, and teamwork, along with the capacity to work independently in diverse cultural environments, are essential.

Other Information

Living Conditions and Remarks

The UN Volunteer will be based in Gaziantep and is responsible for arranging their own housing and other living essentials.

Please see the summary of UN Volunteer entitlements below. For further information, kindly review the UN Volunteers Unified Conditions of Service document.

Summary of National UN Volunteers (Specialist) Entitlements:

(Paid in Turkish Lira)

• Volunteer Living Allowance (per month): USD 1,360
• Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 400
• Exit allowance: USD 113 per contract service month (upon successful completion of the assignment)
• Health, dental, life, and disability insurance: Cigna Private Insurance (including eligible dependents).
  • As per UN’s diplomatic mission status, this is not included in the National Security Institution’s (SGK) system but can be initiated privately.
• Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month.
• Additional benefits: Free access to learning platforms and the UNV network.

Notes:

1. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for volunteer work.
2. UNV assignments are volunteer-based, not employment.

The purpose of the allowances and entitlements is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. Allowances are contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the assignment, and contractual type and category. Payments begin from the date of Commencement of Service.

For more details on entitlements, please review the Condition of Service document. Please note that amounts can vary due to fluctuations in the monthly post adjustment.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.