External Relations Officer

Deadline for Applications September 20, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based) A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based) Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type UNOPS IICA2

Target Start Date 2026-10-01

Terms of Reference Title: External Relations Officer Duty station: Bangkok, Thailand Section/Unit: Office of the Representative ICA Level: IICA2 Corresponding level: P3 Duration: As soon as possible – 31 December 2026 Supervisor: Senior Development Officer

1. General Background

Thailand is entering a significant new phase in its response to protracted refugee situations. The Royal Thai Government is progressively shifting from a predominantly camp-based, assistance-oriented approach towards policies that enable refugees to become more self-reliant, participate in the economy and access national systems and services. This direction recognises that greater inclusion can strengthen protection and dignity for refugees while also benefiting host communities and Thailand’s social and economic development.

A landmark step was the Cabinet resolution of 26 August 2025 granting long-staying refugees from Myanmar in temporary shelters along the Thai-Myanmar border access to legal employment. This has created new opportunities for refugees to earn an income, support their families, develop skills and contribute to sectors of the Thai economy facing labour needs. The subsequent issuance of official identity cards to Myanmar Displaced Persons has further supported legal recognition and access to essential services, including banking and telecommunications.

These developments represent an important transition from long-term reliance on humanitarian assistance towards refugee inclusion and sustainable self-reliance. UNHCR supports the Royal Thai Government in implementing this policy direction in a protection-sensitive and inclusive manner, working with refugees, host communities, employers, civil society, UN agencies, development actors and donors to identify practical solutions, address implementation challenges and expand access to rights and opportunities.

Strategic communications and high-quality reporting are essential to sustaining this transition. Clear, evidence-based content is needed to explain policy changes, demonstrate results, amplify refugee perspectives, and document how self-reliance and inclusion benefit refugees, host communities and the national economy. Effective external relations are therefore essential to build public understanding and support, while timely donor reporting is critical to maintaining confidence, accountability, and continued investment in the transition.

Within this context, the External Relations Officer will support the production and coordination of compelling, accurate, evidence-based, and protection-sensitive communications products and donor reports. The incumbent will work across the operation to capture progress, lessons, and human-centred stories that demonstrate the impact of Thai’s policy reforms and advances towards refugee inclusion and self-reliance. Through advocacy-oriented examples, the role will highlight how refugees are building greater independence, participating more fully in society, and contributing positively to Thailand’s economy, while ensuring that donor visibility, reporting obligations, and UNHCR standards are consistently met.

1. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

2. Develop a content and reporting plan for the duration of the assignment aligned with the Royal Thai Government’s policy shift, UNHCR priorities, donor agreements, and key milestones on refugee self-reliance and inclusion.

3. Identify, research and produce compelling, advocacy-aligned, human-interest stories showing how access to legal work, documentation, skills, services, and national systems enables refugees to support their families and contribute to host communities and Thailand’s economy.

4. Ensure refugee perspectives, agency, and achievements are reflected respectfully in all content, applying informed consent, data-protection and do-no-harm principles.

5. Produce audience-appropriate content packages, including web stories, social media content, photo and video briefs, fact sheets, key messages, talking points, presentations, and external updates.

6. Work with civil society to design and launch multimedia campaigns showcasing the contribution of refugees to Thai society to raise public awareness and support for inclusion.

7. Gather and verify qualitative and quantitative evidence from different UNHCR offices and units, partners, employers and refugees to demonstrate progress, results, implementation challenges, and lessons learned.

8. Draft, coordinate, and edit timely, accurate donor reports, proposals and updates, ensuring compliance with agreed results frameworks, deadlines, visibility requirements, and donor-specific formats.

9. Maintain a structured repository of approved stories, quotations, photographs, data and evidence, consent records, and supporting evidence for communications and donor reporting.

10. Coordinate with colleagues to ensure consistent, evidence-based messaging on refugee self-reliance and inclusion across the operation.

11. Adapt content for government, donor, development, private-sector, media and public audiences, highlighting shared benefits while accurately reflecting protection considerations and remaining barriers to inclusion.

12. Draft press releases, press lines, and ‘if-asked’ guidance notes, working closely with colleagues across the operation, region, and at Headquarters.

13. Monitor the use, reach, and effectiveness of published content and donor products, document feedback and lessons, and recommend improvements to strengthen future storytelling, visibility, and reporting.

14. Monitoring and Progress Controls N/A

15. Qualifications and Experience

• 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

• Degree in Political Science, social Science, International Relations, Journalism or other related fields.

• Excellent writing and communications skills

• Computer literacy: advanced knowledge and experience in the use of other software packages will be an added advantage

• Knowledge of using multi-media materials to reach different audiences

• Strong inter-personal and team skills

Essential

• Experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment. Excellent knowledge of local institution, politics and culture.

Desirable

• Good knowledge of UNHCR operations both at Headquarters and in the field. Fund-raising and programming/programme management experience. Experience of working with social media.

• Experience developing and implementing information campaign. Strong social media presence. Experience working on advocacy campaigns. Experience with measurement and evaluation, especially providing analysis of media coverage, social media engagement, web traffic, etc. Experience reporting, writing, editing for magazines, newspapers, websites or donors.

Language Requirements

For International Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English

Standard Job Description

External Relations Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships Direct supervision is normally exercised by a Senior External Relations Officer of Representative who provides guidance on the applicable procedures. Advice may also be provided by relevant functional units at HQ. The incumbent may supervise some support staff. External contacts are predominantly with Partners, media, government embassies and other international organizations on matters of importance to the Organization.

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

• Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations.

• Assist in the planning of a consultative process with UNHCR colleagues (Programme, Protection, etc.) with external actors and partners, so as to develop and implement protection and assistance strategy, with clearly articulated objectives, timelines and outputs.

• Assist the implementation of a communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR s operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, the media, academia and forcibly displaced and stateless persons).

• Assist in the articulation of all issues pertaining to the needs of the forcibly displaced and stateless persons and the strategies in place to respond to their needs.

• Inform the UNHCR Country Team on the UNHCR priorities so as to ensure that they are given adequate weight in the publications and documentation of the UN Country Team.

• Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide accurate information by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and missions. Prepare reports as appropriate.

• In accordance with the operational context and in close cooperation with headquarters, propose new and non-traditional funding sources, as appropriate, including private sector and humanitarian pooled/basket funds (e.g. Central Emergency Response Fund, Human Security Fund).

• Through a consultative process with headquarters, disseminate information on UNHCR's global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for forcibly displaced and stateless persons in the country operation.

• Participate on behalf of the Representative and other supervisors in inter-agency cooperation and communication strategies, initiatives and tools.

• Support senior management in representing UNHCR in the UN Country Team and other UN coordination fora.

• Support, and participate in, local UN integrated missions, Inter-Agency Standing Committee, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Cluster communication strategies and initiatives.

• Assist in the management of information flows within the country operations by identifying priority matters, securing, analyzing and disseminating documentation and information to support country operations and corporate communication processes and priorities.

• Consolidate information on UNHCR's country operations and identify appropriate messages for campaigns and appeals.

• Assist in the coordination of the drafting of, situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles.

• Assist in the development of targeted communications strategies and media packages for situations and/or activities that require focused attention.

• Propose events and initiatives (e.g. commercial, cultural, political and sports) to promote the work of UNHCR and take action as appropriate.

• Support the management of media relations by, inter alia, responding to direct queries, publishing press releases and organizing regular briefings and visits to country operations.

• On behalf of the Representative, approve fundraising messages.

• On behalf of the Representative, approve any relevant expenditure for the implementation of fundraising activities.

• Propose which donors to approach and which operations or activities to prioritize for special fundraising appeals.

• Implement all aspects of a communications strategy.

• Approve budgets and expenditures for communications activities.

• Clear external relations/communication products and tools as appropriate.

• Represent UNHCR on behalf of senior management in fund-raising and communication priorities in inter-agency initiatives and fora.

• 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 Education & Professional Work Experience Years of Experience / Degree Level For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education Political Sciences, Social Sciences, International Relations, Journalism, or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses Not specified

Relevant Job Experience Essential Experience in humanitarian operations in a field environment. Excellent knowledge of local institution, politics and culture.

Desirable Good knowledge of UNHCR operations both at Headquarters and in the Field. Fund-raising and programming/programme management experience. Experience of working with social media.

Functional Skills IT-Web Content Management IT-Computer Literacy CO-Drafting and Documentation ER-Inter-Agency External Relations (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.

Required Languages

Desired Languages

Additional Qualifications

Skills CO-Drafting and Documentation, ER-Inter-Agency External Relations, IT-Computer Literacy, IT-Web Content Management Education Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Journalism, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science Certifications

Work Experience

Other information This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote No