Mission / Stretch assignment – Chief of Advocacy & Communication (P5), Kyiv, Ukraine

Well into its fifth year, the war in Ukraine continues to devastate children and families’ lives. More than 3,600 children have been killed or injured and the services that they rely on have been decimated. The use of explosive weapons impacting civilian areas and infrastructure has been particularly damaging, with education, health, water, energy and heating services severely impacted.
More than one third of children and young people are still displaced inside, or out of the country, and intense hostilities continue to result in the evacuation of families from frontline areas. The war has severely impacted the rights and wellbeing of every child, with the most vulnerable children particularly affected, including those living with disabilities, children in institutions, internally displaced persons and those still living close to frontline areas.
UNICEF’s response includes a large-scale humanitarian operation across frontline areas, as well as in areas affected by longer range attacks across the country. At the same time, the Government at national, regional and local levels pushes forward recovery efforts, aligned with Ukraine’s drive towards EU accession. UNICEF supports this work across sectors, influencing and translating national level reforms into action on the ground to improve services for children, young people and families in their communities.
Given the above context and acute and ever evolving nature of the war, the Ukraine Country Office requires an adept and agile Chief of Advocacy and Communication to lead the team during a transitional process in the section. Strategic advocacy and related communication are essential to better protect children’s lives and ensure that young people are central to recovery efforts, while positioning UNICEF as a lead actor across the humanitarian and recovery agendas.

The Chief of Advocacy and Communication ad interim will lead a team of 9 in Kyiv and work closely with Field Offices, including Communication Officers in Dnipro, Kharkiv, Lviv and Odesa. This role requires balancing reactive advocacy and communication work, given the still acute impact of the war, alongside large-scale recovery programming to drive forward development for children and young people and for the country’s future.

The Chief a.i. will enable the work of the section, including maximizing its digital presence across 13 platforms with more than 2.8 million followers. International and local media engagement will leverage key moments and opportunities to continue to articulate the impact of the war on children, while positioning UNICEF at the heart of the humanitarian and recovery response. Child rights stakeholders will be influenced and supported to respond and speak out for the most vulnerable children, while communication will continue to recognize the critical support of donors and core partners who enable UNICEF’s programming across the country.

The P5 Chief of Advocacy and Communication a.i. is accountable for leading the advocacy and communication work of the Country Office, under the supervision of the Representative. This includes:
• daily management and leadership of the section to deliver positive outcomes for children and young people and ensure staff wellbeing
• effective use of public channels, including digital and social media, and private engagements to influence and engage child rights champions
• strategic outreach with traditional media and key partners to build awareness of and support for UNICEF’s mission, priorities and programmes at the national, regional and local levels
• regular work with children and young people to empower them as storytellers and agents of change
• engaging with sections across the Ukraine Country Office, UN sister agencies and UNICEF regional and HQ levels
• responding to major communication risks and challenges when relevant.

As a member of the Management Team, the staff member will work alongside colleagues to oversee the overall performance of the office, create a positive workplace environment, and ensure the wellbeing of staff.

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

An advanced university degree in international relations, communications, international development, or another relevant technical field

• Experience in managing and leading an Advocacy and Communication team in a complex and sensitive environment.
• Experience working across humanitarian and development contexts.
• Advanced knowledge of advocacy approaches and tactics to protect and influence change for children
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of media engagement and social/digital media platforms and content, tailored to reach respective users.
• Excellent English writing and oral skills.
• Experience in building and maintaining a network of external stakeholders
• Strong communicator with emphasis on being able to present complex ideas in succinct and engaging ways through statements, videos, campaign narratives and creative tactics.

This is a temporary development opportunity and there will be no changes to the staff member’s status (position number, level, etc.).

The staff member’s salary will continue to be paid by the releasing office during the stretch assignment.

The selected candidate would not be eligible to a Special Post Allowance (SPA).

If interested, please discuss this assignment with your supervisor and obtain your supervisor’s agreement for your application to be submitted. The agreement of your supervisor endorsed by the Head of Office is a prerequisite for any such stretch assignment.

Upon receipt of the supervisor and Head of Office’s agreement, please submit your application by 29 July 2026

The e-mail should include the following:
· Cover letter indicating your interest and suitability and approval letter/email from the office
· Most updated e-recruitment profile
· Two latest PERs

Candidates considered potentially well matched for the stretch assignment may be contacted for an informal interview. Supervisors may also be contacted for references.

Advertised: 20 Jul 2026 FLE Daylight Time
Applications close: 29 Jul 2026 FLE Daylight Time

Back to search results Apply now Refer a friend