Communications Officer

UNOPS, a UN operational arm delivering infrastructure, procurement and project management services worldwide, is recruiting a Communications Officer to support its energy access project in Zambia.

About the Role

UNOPS Zambia has signed an agreement with the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) for the procurement, installation, testing, commissioning, operation and maintenance of solar energy systems for public institutions across Zambia, including schools, hospitals and government facilities, as part of the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) project with the World Bank. Reporting to the Project Manager or Head of Office, the Communications Officer will lead all project communication activities and may support other UNOPS projects in Zambia as needed. The role develops and executes strategic communication plans, manages content and engages stakeholders to advance project and programme objectives.

Key Details

• Duty station: Lusaka
• Contract type: ICA – LICA – Specialist – Retainer, Contract Level LICA 8
• Duration: Open-ended, subject to organisational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance
• Posting start date: 04-Nov-2026
• Posting end date: 18-Nov-2026

Duties

• Support the creation and execution of approved project/programme communication strategies and plans.
• Provide analysed data and insights to inform communication strategy.
• Ensure timely, high-quality delivery of communication activities aligned with project/programme objectives.
• Track implementation and ensure compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations.
• Analyse the local communication context, target audiences and channels to optimise outreach.
• Support delivery of strategic messages across various fora and media.
• Develop editorial content, including talking points, FAQs, press releases, social media and website posts, videos and fact sheets.
• Collect and structure data into accessible communication outputs.
• Manage editorial calendars and coordinate content production across channels.
• Partner with technical experts to produce reports and features.
• Maintain effective communication with donors, clients, partners and other stakeholders.
• Support the organisation of external events and ensure representation meets UNOPS standards.
• Collaborate with subject-matter experts on strategic reporting and visibility initiatives.
• Support the organisation, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on communications topics.
• Participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives and Communities of Practice, contributing lessons learned.
• Conduct research on communication-related topics and contribute to reports, summaries and briefing notes.

Skills

• Communication
• Corporate communications
• Internal and external communications
• Social media communications
• Stakeholder engagement

Education Requirements

Required - Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with 2 years of relevant experience, or - Master's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 0 years of relevant experience.

Desired - A globally or nationally recognised professional certificate in communications, journalism, or digital and social media communications.

Experience Requirements

Required - Relevant experience in communications, public relations, media, journalism or related fields. - Experience using collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite) and web-based management systems.

Desired - Experience working in multicultural environments or UN system organisations in a developing country. - Experience in development or humanitarian contexts. - Experience developing and monitoring content for grassroots-level audiences. - Experience using graphic design, video production and content creation tools.

Language Requirements

• English: fluent (required)

How to Apply

• Apply only through the Apply button on this job posting.
• Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date.