Position Title: Chief of Strategic Communications in the Office of the Special Representative
Receiving Agency: Gang Suppression Force Secretariat Haiti
P Level: P5
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Duration: 18 months (Until Sep, 2027)
Language: French and English fluency required. Familiarity with Haitian Creole an asset. 

Background

On 30 September 2025, the United Nations Security Council authorized, in resolution 2793 (UNSCR 2793), Member States to transition the deployed Multinational Security Support (MSS) in Haiti to the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), in close cooperation and coordination with the Government of Haiti, for an initial period of twelve months. The GSF mandate includes multiple tasks, including to conduct intelligence-led targeted, counter-gang operations to neutralize, isolate, and deter gangs that continue to threaten the civilian population, abuse human rights and undermine Haitian institutions.

The United Nations Secretary-General is authorized to establish a UN Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH) to provide comprehensive logistical and operational support to the GSF and to the Haitian National police (HNP) and the Haitian armed forces on any joint operations with the GSF. UNSOH will also provide technical support, through voluntary funding contributions, to the Organization of American States (OAS) SECURE-Haiti project and will provide standard United Nations mission support services to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).

The Standing Group of Partners (SGP) has the role of providing, in consultation with the Government of Haiti, high-level strategic direction, oversight, and relevant political decision-making for the GSF as appropriate. The SGP is overall responsible for (a) securing voluntary financial contributions for GSF personnel costs reimbursements; (b) facilitating force (military and police) generation; and (c) providing high level strategic representation and coordination for the GSF.

The SGP shall appoint a Special Representative (SR) who, as in-country head of the GSF, will report to the SGP and provide strategic oversight, representation and coordination for the GSF. The SGP appointed GSF Force Commander shall report to the SR and is responsible for operational command and day-to-day operational decision-making for the uniformed components of the GSF.

The SR is supported by an Office of the SR (the civilian component of the GSF)

Career Experience

The Chief Strategic Communications shall have: a minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in information operations, strategic communications, or integrated effects planning in complex operational environments is required. Experience integrating information considerations into operational planning at multiple levels, including strategic intent, operational design, and tactical execution; and experience monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of planned information effects, is required. Experience participating in, and influencing, mission-level planning processes, including campaign design, contingency planning, crisis response planning, and the integration of cross-cutting effects into operational decision-making is an advantage. Experience working in Haiti is an advantage. An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communications, political science, international relations, foreign affairs, law or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience and relevant academic/professional qualifications, such as accreditations from military or government command and staff colleges, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Languages

Fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required. Fluency in Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is an advantage.

Responsibilities of the Chief Strategic Communications

The Chief Strategic Communications is a mission-critical command enabler within the GSF leadership architecture, based in Port-au-Prince, and shall be responsible to the SR, through the CoS, for ensuring that information effects are deliberately integrated into mission command, operational planning and execution. The Chief Strategic Communications ensures that intelligence-led GSF operations incorporate analysis of the information environment, population perceptions, adversary narratives, and anticipated civilian responses, working in close coordination with GSF wide intelligence, planning, and operations elements. The Chief Strategic Communications shall contribute toward protecting the coherence, legitimacy, and credibility of the GSF’s mandate by shaping, synchronizing, and safeguarding the information environment in which operations occur; and enable the GSF to translate intelligence assessments into anticipatory information effects, risk mitigation measures, and narrative shaping actions, and to feed population-level indicators and information risks back into operational planning and decision-making.


The Chief Strategic Communications shall during GSF start-up and thereafter be responsible for the following tasks:

• Produce the Strategic Communications and Public Information Unit work plan for approval by the CoS.
• At the direction of the CoS, overseeing the recruitment of Unit staff members.
• Provide data and function related information as requested to inform the GSF budget submission and review process.
• Supervise Unit members and oversee their specific functions, including the Content Officer, the Strategic Communications Planner, the Spokesperson / Public Information Officer (PIO), and the Engagement Coordinator.
• Ensuring that GSF communications and information effects reinforce understanding of the mission mandate and do not blur distinctions between security operations, humanitarian action, political processes, or development activities; and ensure that mission communications remain aligned with the GSF mandate, respect institutional responsibilities, and avoid mission creep, reputational risk, or unintended political signaling.
• Act as the principal adviser to the SR on all matters related to information integrity, and as the mission level lead for all GSF strategic communications, information-integrity, and information-effects planning; and obtain SR approval, through the CoS, for all Information Integrity focused procedures and activities.
• Ensure the role and structure of the Unit is understood by mission leadership across the GSF and by GSF partners, including the OAS and United Nations system.
• As a matter of priority, recruit a P3 Engagement and Liaison Coordinator with Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) language skills.
• Act as the GSF focal point for coordinating information effects with humanitarian movements, protection actions, political engagements, and public security initiatives.
• Working with the Disarmament, Demobilization & Reintegration / Community Violence Reduction (DDR/CVR) Liaison Officer develop and implement a public communication strategy on the GSF role in DDR/CVR and weapons and ammunition management (WAM) including the information for gang members potentially ready to defect and join DDR/CVR activities.
• Oversee the GSF information-integrity function, ensuring continuous monitoring, assessment, and countering of harmful mis/disinformation (misinformation, disinformation, malinformation and hate speech - MDMH). Design a rapid-response mechanism to prevent narrative vacuums, panic, or adversary exploitation. Oversee rumor tracking, verification, and risk assessments from community networks, partner inputs, and digital monitoring.
• In consultation with the Senior Legal Adviser, the Women and Child Protection Advisers and the Human Rights Adviser develop responses to harmful mis/disinformation that impact International Human Rights Law.
• In consultation with the Force Commander or the designated Force Headquarters focal point, the Chief Joint Intelligence Analysis Unit, the Chief Political Affairs Unit, the Chief Joint Mission Planning Unit and other GSF entities as appropriate, develop a GSF Strategic Communications Synchronization plan. Subsequently oversee its implementation across the GSF ensuring it is the authoritative tool for coordinating information effects across all GSF components.
• Working with the Force Headquarters, ensure that all GSF information effects (operational, tactical, and strategic) are synchronized, sequenced, and aligned with the SR’s vision and the GSF’s political and security objectives. Ensuring that operations and plans integrate approved information effects considerations and sequencing, and tactical messaging and engagement are executed within pre-approved narratives, themes, and guidance.
• In consultation with the Force Headquarters, bring any operational constraints or requirements that may necessitate deviation from the GSF Strategic Communications Synchronization plan to the attention of the SR, through the CoS for decision. Providing advice on possible responses or corrective actions.
• Participate in periodic or event response (crisis-driven) synchronization meetings with the Force Headquarters, the military and police components, the Joint Operations Center (JOC), the Joint Intelligence Analysis Unit, the Humanitarian Adviser, Human Rights Adviser, Political Affairs Unit and with BINUH and other entities as appropriate.
• Develop, oversee and periodically review and refine the GSF Strategic Communications Synchronization framework, including objectives, effects, audiences, narratives, lines of effort, and measures of effectiveness. Ensuring it accounts for the Haitian information environment, comprising radio-driven ecosystems, WhatsApp networks, diaspora influence, and gang-controlled areas.
• Working with Force Headquarters and the CoS, ensure the plan is operationalized by establishing reporting requirements, checklists, and compliance expectations across the civilian and uniformed components.
• Translate the SR’s vision and intent into actionable guidance for all GSF components, including tactical messaging templates for military and police units.
• Working with the Force Commander, review and approve information effects ahead of GSF operations, including shaping actions, amplification plans, and post-operation messaging.
• Working with the Force Commander and the JOC, monitor tactical information actions taken by the military and police components, ensuring operational or strategic effects are supported.
• Oversee the GSF Communications Output by approving high-impact content prior to release and directing the Content Officer during crisis communication and emerging events.
• Ensure the PIO/Spokesperson’s public-facing outputs are consistent with the strategic plan and avoid inadvertently empowering armed groups.
• Ensure the Engagement Coordinator’s community feedback is captured and informs into strategic planning.
• Act as the primary GSF interface on information integrity and communications coordination with the UN system, the OAS, SGP members, GSF troop and police contributing countries, the government of Haiti, civil society, media platforms, academic entities.
• Guided by the SR, contribute to the government of Haiti and partner’s messaging efforts to present a unified voice.
• Working with UNSOH, obtain the use of database and IT infrastructure to support the conduct of collection, analysis, monitoring and synchronization and the production of Unit products.
• Ensure standing procedures are in place for Unit activities, including the handling of classified or sensitive materials and facilitating the flow of information products within the GSF.
• Support to the Chief JOC and Security Adviser to conduct a crisis management exercise or simulation soon after GSF start-up and before achievement of Initial Operational Capability (IOC), that will bring together all the GSF leadership, designated GSF members and GSF partners to participate in a “dry run” for a crisis.
• Contribute to the GSF mission planning process.
• Contribute as appropriate to the JOC integrated daily and/or weekly ‘GSF SitRep’ for approval by the SR, through the CoS.
• In collaboration with the Chief JOC, provide briefings on current GSF operations to senior GSF staff members and visiting high level officials from SGP members, GSF troop and police contributing countries delegations, the OAS and the United Nations system.
• Ensure handover notes are produced by Unit staff members to ensure institutional knowledge is passed from outgoing to incoming staff.

The Chief Strategic Communications may be requested by the CoS to perform other duties, as required.



CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.