Communications Officer, Phnom Penh

Communications Officer - (2604405)

Grade: P3
Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): One year

Job Posting

Oct 16, 2026, 6:38:00 AM

Closing Date

Oct 30, 2026, 10:59:00 PM

Primary Location

Cambodia-Phnom Penh

Organization

WP_KHM Cambodia

Schedule

Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device's system settings.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The role of the Communications unit is to use strategic communications as a tool to help achieve the Organization's mission of promoting, providing and protecting health. This involves providing accessible, understandable, relevant, credible, timely and actionable information to ensure key stakeholders in the Western Pacific are aware of and support WHO's work, and they understand key health issues and their role in addressing them. Key audiences include media, policymakers, donors and other partners, and the general public in the Western Pacific Region.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

1. Provide technical support to the Ministry of Health and implementing partners to deliver C4H activities, including capacity building initiatives, social and behavior change interventions and health promotion activities, that support the Royal Government’s health-related outcomes and deliver impact as part of WHO Cambodia’s Country Cooperation Strategy.
2. In coordination with the regional and/or headquarters communication focal points, develop and guide the implementation of communication strategies and plans to advance advocacy for, and awareness of, the programmes and achievements of WHO at country level. Ensure the implementation of the WHO corporate (global and regional) communication strategy.
3. Identify marketable subjects/ success stories and develop communications and advocacy products. Establish office processes for content identification.
4. Ensure optimal outreach and product dissemination to target audiences in suitable media channels and platforms, including social media.
5. Organize media events, campaigns, and media technical briefings, coordinating between media and WHO experts, as required.
6. Prepare communication and advocacy products and statements to be used by partnerships focal points, where available, in encouraging the funding of health sector initiatives.
7. Build and maintain productive networks and contacts with the press/media and key national communication counterparts to ensure positive and optimal coverage of WHO’s work.
8. Manage the development/updating of content and stakeholder linkages for the WHO country office website, as well as sensitive design and delivery of effective social-media engagements.
9. Ensure regular media monitoring, and track audience and target group perceptions of the organization. Identify information deficits and develop strategies to address these deficiencies; manage risk-mitigation communications.
10. Collaborate with national stakeholders, development and other strategic partners and United Nations Information Officers, to produce and disseminate information on national health strategies. Advocate for organizational priorities, foster related initiatives and represent WHO in the United Nations Communication Group.
11. Deliver specialized emergency or multi-hazard risk communications, social mobilization and advocacy plans, during public health crises, emergencies, and outbreaks.
12. Advise country office leadership on strategic external and internal communications and country office staff on communication related matters.
13. Conduct and coordinate communication and media-sensitization-related training for WHO country office staff.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Bachelor's degree (or higher) in communications, journalism, marketing, political or international relations, health communications or similar field.

Desirable: Formal qualification in public health. Courses in communication techniques, graphic design, or social media. Training in risk communication.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of five years' work experience in supporting communications strategy development and implementation, including delivery of communications services and products, with some obtained in an international work environment.

Desirable: Some of the above-listed experience to have been obtained in the health field.

Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of WHO's mandate and goals
• Thorough understanding of public health and international development issues
• Proven skills in the development and implementation of communication/media products and approaches including solid writing ability
• Skills and ability to represent and promote the WHO brand in virtual communities and networks
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to develop messaging and positioning for an international organization
• Ability to elicit and communicate success stories
• Ability to transform technical information for different target audiences.

Desirable: Knowledge of WHO/United Nations programmes and practices. Knowledge of the Western Pacific Region

WHO Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Promoting innovation and organizational learning

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 71,335 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 1563 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
• The Director-General retains the discretion to not make any appointment to this vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description, including shortening the duration of the appointment.
• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
• WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
• WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations (modifications or adjustments to the application or recruitment process) to support their participation in the application and recruitment process. Please send an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int with your full name, the vacancy number you are applying for, and specific details of the accommodation needed in your request.
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment).
• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to a fixed-term position in the International Professional category (Grades P1-D2) are eligible for Geographical Mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
• Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
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• *For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
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