Senior External Relations Associate

March 13, 2026

A (least hardship)

Family

GS7

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-04-01

Senior External Relations Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior External Relations Associate is to be a key external point of contact for the UNHCR office with media and other external organisations. The incumbent will be responsible for creating greater public (Donors, NGOs, Government, Refugees, Civil Society, etc.) awareness and understanding of refugee issues and the work of UNHCR and for amplifying the voice of refugees and other people of concern (PoC). S/he will have a pivotal role in drafting reports, updates, briefing documents, maintenance of the UNHCR local web site and social media channels and providing support to the supervisor.

The Senior External Relations Associate supports activities, events, campaigns and outreach, working with partner organisations to support the protection of PoC. Essential to these efforts are coherent and consistent visual and verbal messaging and linking the substantive media elements (news) to milestone events (World Refugee Day, Nansen Refugee Award, #IBelong Campaign to end Statelessness, HCs Dialogues, and the launch of one off campaigns and events.) The overall aim is to mobilise further financial support, increase awareness and empathy for forcibly displaced people.

The incumbent normally reports to a Representative, Head of Office/Section or a Senior Communication or External Relations Officer, depending on the office setup.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Support UNHCR's media relations and advocacy work in the geographic and thematic area.
- Monitor evolving issues concerning asylum seekers, stateless persons and refugees within the Area of Responsibility (AoR) and suggest stories and topics for media coverage.
- Provide support to Senior Management in dealing with the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments.
- Ensure that the office is kept informed of local developments which may have a political or operational impact on its activities.
- Provide background briefings to local and international media.
- Accompany visits of foreign delegations and the media to refugee sites, give appropriate briefings, commentaries and prepare briefing material for visitors.
- Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide accurate information by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and missions.
- Assist Senior Management in disseminating information on UNHCR's global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for PoC.
- Manage budget, when requested, including tracking expenditures and incoming donations. Ensure payments through UNHCR and prepare budget documents for partners and reports on spending.
- Assist in the drafting of situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.
- Assist in planning and organizing advertisements, exhibitions, training seminars, conferences, meetings, social events, campaigns and other activities to promote a better understanding of UNHCR's activities and accomplishments by the general public and/or organized groups.
- Organize press briefings for external parties as required.
- Reach out proactively to a broad range of external actors, including social media influencers, good will ambassadors and the private sector to build new alliances within the AoR in order to promote the protection of PoC.
- Manage preparation of contracts for artists, production companies, journalist, photographers etc.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 - 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Journalism, Communication
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Not specified

Desirable:
Experience with event management. Demonstrated ability to work against tight deadlines.

Functional Skills
MS-Advocacy
CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video )
CO-Multimedia storytelling
ER-External Relations in UNHCR or other humanitarian agencies
EX-Experience in an international, decentralized and/or multinational environment
MG-Project Management
FR-Marketing
MG- Partnership Development
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.


All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

The ideal candidate is a strategic communicator and relationship builder who can effectively bridge external relations and donor relations to elevate UNHCR’s visibility and impact across the Americas and in key global donor markets. They bring strong experience in crafting compelling narratives, donor visibility products, and communication materials that clearly articulate needs, demonstrate UNHCR’s value added, and strengthen support from governments, the media, the public, and partners. The candidate must excel in coordinating across operations, HQ, and regional platforms, supporting donor and media briefings, high level missions, and inter agency engagement. They should be adept at producing high quality presentations, briefing kits, and funding proposal inputs, while staying abreast of regional funding trends and operational priorities. A proactive, collegial team member, they will play a key role in supporting the Senior External Relations Officer in amplifying UNHCR’s work, results, and donor contributions across the region and globally.

Main duties:

- Support the Senior External Relations Officer, and in close collaboration with Donor Relations and Communications, strengthen external engagement and visibility by developing impactful communications, advocacy, and outreach initiatives that highlight UNHCR’s work and priorities across the Americas.

- Act as a bridge between External Relations and Donor Relations, ensuring donor visibility requirements are met and that UNHCR’s value added, impact, and funding needs are conveyed through clear, compelling narratives and visibility products.

- Lead a community of practice of regional external relations and donor relations focal points, ensuring a broad range of topics are discussed and resources provided to operations across the Americas.

- Prepare high quality communication and donor materials—including talking points, briefing kits, presentations, situation overviews, and mission packages—for donor briefings, media engagements, high level missions, and inter agency meetings.

- Lead on donor visibility and donor communications, producing tailored content that showcases donor contributions and strengthens strategic partnerships across the region.

- Monitor and support reporting of regional funding trends and operational priorities, supporting the drafting and refinement of funding proposal narratives to ensure accuracy and alignment with regional strategies.

- Enhance global visibility in key donor markets by producing and disseminating communication products that highlight UNHCR’s operational impact and results in the Americas.

- Support external engagement in regional coordination platforms, including R4V, MIRPS, the Quito Process, and the Chile Plan of Action, ensuring UNHCR’s priorities are effectively represented in joint initiatives.

- Ensure coherence of messaging across the Bureau, Country Offices, HQ, and partners, contributing to timely, well coordinated external materials.

- Maintain strong working relationships with media, government counterparts, donors, and partners, supporting outreach, briefings, events, and missions that advance understanding and support for UNHCR’s mandate.


Additional information:

Candidates applying to the position must be nationals of Panama or Non-Panamanian legal residents of the country with a valid work permit which will be required to be attached at the time of application.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. No late applications will be accepted. UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

Deadline for Applications: March 12th , 2026 (Midnight, Geneva Time)

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations: 

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Regional Bureau for the Americas operates in one of the world’s most complex mobility landscapes, characterized by large‑scale forced displacement, increasingly fluid mixed movements, and shrinking humanitarian space across the region. Protection risks continue, driven by organized crime, violence, political instability, and climate‑related shocks, while evolving border and migration policies have reshaped movement patterns—including sharp fluctuations in crossings through the Darién and rising reverse flows across Panama. Despite this, regional solidarity continues to offer significant opportunities for advancing protection and solutions, including socioeconomic integration. The Bureau plays a central role in steering regional coordination through platforms such as R4V, MIRPS, the Quito Process, and the Chile Plan of Action, while supporting operations to maintain protection space, advance solutions, and mobilize resources. Within this environment, strong and coherent external relations are critical to sustain visibility, donor confidence, and political support for UNHCR’s regional response.

Living and Working Conditions:

Panama City is classified as a Category “A” duty station (family duty station) with security threat ratings raging from low for Armed Conflict and Terrorist threats to Substantial for Crime and Civil Unrest, while the exposure to hazards has been assessed as Moderate in Panama City. The city offers good infrastructure, including reliable health services, housing, banking, transportation, telecommunications, and recreational facilities. Goods and services are widely available, although the cost of living is relatively high compared to other countries in the region, particularly for housing and healthcare.

 

UNHCR offices are in the Ciudad del Saber (City of Knowledge), a green campus area outside the city centre, which also hosts other UN agencies, international schools, NGOs, and research centres. A variety of accommodation options are available both near the office and in central Panama City, ranging from modern apartments to family housing. The city is a regional transportation hub, with direct flight connections to mostly all countries in the Americas, as well as regular international routes. There is a wide range of international schools, several of which follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, making it a suitable location for families. Recreational options include shopping malls, restaurants, and a dynamic nightlife. While cultural activities are limited, Panama offers proximity to natural attractions. Beaches and ocean hobbies are available on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts that are reachable within an hour, and hiking opportunities are available close to the city and in other parts of the country.

 

Overall, Panama provides a safe and stable living environment with good amenities and connectivity, although staff should consider the relatively high cost of living when relocating.
 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance