Експерт/ка з комунікацій

Short-term communication and visibility expert for Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development project (UCORD)

NIRAS is looking for a Short-term communication and visibility expert for Swiss-Ukrainian Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development project.

Duration of assignment: 15.01.-15.03.2023, 25 work days

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine.

Expected start date: 15th of January 2023.

Description of the assignment context

The Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development (UCORD) is a Swiss-Ukrainian project implemented by NIRAS Sweden AB with the support of Switzerland.

The overall goal of the project is that citizens, businesses and public authorities contribute to and equally benefit from effective and coherent regional development that fosters improved quality of life, resilience, peace and social cohesion in Ukraine.

The project consists of three components: 1) Support to Regional Development Agencies, 2) Improved public services delivery with a focus on environment, 3) Social cohesion through culture.

This ToR covers the expert’s contribution to the UCORD project launch, visibility and communications strategy development. The expert would be responsible to ensure all activities related to these areas are carried out in a timely manner to a high quality and that any problems are communicated promptly with the Team Leader (TL).

Assignment

The main purpose of the assignment is to develop a Communication and Visibility Plan for the project, as well as to plan and implement the project’s launch event.

The assignment will be of a maximum 25 working days in the period 15 January – 15 March 2023.  The actual dates of the expert’s involvement will be agreed with the Team Leader according to the needs of the project.

Specific tasks

• Development of the overall Communication and Visibility Plan of the project.
• Participatory development of an effective communication and visibility strategy for the launch event in close collaboration with the project team.
• Development of the visual identity/brandbook for the UCORD launch event (logo, banners, etc.)
• Establishment UCORD’s presence on social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, Instargram) and prepare the content to be promoted on the day of the launch.
• Development of key media messages relating to UCORD and its components.
• Prepare a database of press contacts to be utilised for the event and afterwards.
• Invitation of media to the event, organisation of interviews during the launch event.
• Promoting the launch event through, regional and social media in close collaboration with communication departments of MinRegion, MinEcology, MinCulture and other project stakeholders.
• Preparation and design of branded handouts for the participants (folder, notebooks, pens, badges, etc.).
• Preparation and design of an invitation to participants of the event.
• Support during the launch event.
• Ensuring live stream of the event on social media.
• Sign up for a press clipping service to ensure that the project team is alerted to all media coverage of UCORD.
• Monitoring and reporting on the effectiveness of the communication measures.
• Other tasks as agreed with the Team Leader.

Upon a successful completion of this assignment, the contract with short-term experts can be prolonged for at least several months to perform the following tasks:

• Production of necessary communication materials (press-announcements, press-briefings, audio-visual products, bulletins etc.).
• Preparation and facilitation of UCORD’s public events.
• Initiating development of UCORD’s website and social media pages with regular maintaining them and filling with the contextual information about up-to-date UCORD’s activities and announcements.
• Developing and keeping close contacts with mass media.
• Liaising with the press services and communication specialists of partner organisations (governmental, non-governmental and donor organisations).
• Conducting regular media monitoring.
• Preparing UCORD’s publications (analytical papers, books, booklets, brochures, calendars, posters), coordinating work of translators, editors, designers and publishers when necessary.

Qualifications:

• At least 5 years’ experience in public relations, media, communications.
• University degree, minimum Bachelor level or higher, in communication, PR, marketing or other relevant topics.
• Proven record in communications and visibility strategy development, implementation and oversight.
• Experience in preparing at least five communication plans or projects.
• Experience in at least five assignments in preparing communication tools and methods.
• Experience in working with journalists of national media and government officials.
• Experience in writing press-releases.
• Experience in writing and editing, review of materials, content delivery.
• Promotional materials design abilities.
• Excellent communication, reporting and interpersonal skills.
• Self-organisation and good time management.
• Excellent Ukrainian and working level of English.
• Knowledge of decentralisation, regional development and social cohesion sectors would be an asset.

Evaluation of response & selection

Interested applicants should send their proposals to NIRAS no later than January 10th, 2023 9 a.m. Kyiv time.

Applicants must be independent and free from conflicts of interest in the responsibilities defined by the Terms of Reference.

The proposal should contain the following documents:

1. a) A short explanation of the applicant’s suitability for the assignment (maximum one A4-page)
2. b) Up-to-date CV indicating relevant experience and qualifications, indicating at least three contact references.

The proposal should be submitted in English.

The communications expert will be selected based on the expert’s competence and suitability – based on the requirements described above. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted to be followed by an interview with selection panel.

Proposals and questions should be sent by email to: [email protected].