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GSFS Haiti-Strategic Communications Planner-P3-Port au Prince, Haiti
Position Title: Strategic Communications Planner
Receiving Agency: GSFS Haiti
P Level: P3
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Duration: 12 months renewable
Language: Fluency in English and French, Haitian Creole is desirable
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 Strategic Communications Planner shall have a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in information operations, operational planning, or integrated effects planning in complex operational environments. Experience with military and/or police operational planning processes, including mission analysis, operational design, course-of-action development, operations and fragmentary order (OPORD/FRAGO) preparation, synchronization, rehearsals, and assessment cycles is required. Experience converting operational security objectives, intelligence assessments, and targeting priorities into defined information objectives and desired effects that can be integrated into military and police plans is desirable. Demonstrated effective written and oral communication skills is required. Experience with operational analysis, audience analysis, behavioural assessment, narrative risk identification and assessing first and second order information effects is desirable. Experience articulating operational information requirements, including timing, sequencing, enablers, dependencies, and indicators of effectiveness is desirable. Experience working in a conflict and politically sensitive environment is desirable. A minimum of five (5) years with a Master’s degree or seven (7) years with a Bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible experience in communications, political science, international relations, foreign affairs, security studies, military studies, law, or a related field.
Languages
Fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required. Fluency in Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is an advantage.
Responsibilities of the Strategic Communications Planner
The Strategic Communications Planner is based in Port-au-Prince reports to the Chief Strategic Communications and Public Information Unit. The Strategic Communications Planner provides planning support and integration function, assisting and enabling the GSF Force Headquarters to integrate information effects into military and police operations in line with the SR’s intent, mandate constraints, and political risk considerations. The Strategic Communications Planner assists the Force Headquarters with planning guidance, analytical support, and quality assurance to ensure that operational security objectives are translated into coherent, disciplined information objectives that support mission effectiveness, civilian protection, and legitimacy.
The Strategic Communications Planner shall be responsible for the following tasks:
Receiving Agency: GSFS Haiti
P Level: P3
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
Duration: 12 months renewable
Language: Fluency in English and French, Haitian Creole is desirable
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 Strategic Communications Planner shall have a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in information operations, operational planning, or integrated effects planning in complex operational environments. Experience with military and/or police operational planning processes, including mission analysis, operational design, course-of-action development, operations and fragmentary order (OPORD/FRAGO) preparation, synchronization, rehearsals, and assessment cycles is required. Experience converting operational security objectives, intelligence assessments, and targeting priorities into defined information objectives and desired effects that can be integrated into military and police plans is desirable. Demonstrated effective written and oral communication skills is required. Experience with operational analysis, audience analysis, behavioural assessment, narrative risk identification and assessing first and second order information effects is desirable. Experience articulating operational information requirements, including timing, sequencing, enablers, dependencies, and indicators of effectiveness is desirable. Experience working in a conflict and politically sensitive environment is desirable. A minimum of five (5) years with a Master’s degree or seven (7) years with a Bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible experience in communications, political science, international relations, foreign affairs, security studies, military studies, law, or a related field.
Languages
Fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required. Fluency in Haitian Creole (Kreyòl Ayisyen) is an advantage.
Responsibilities of the Strategic Communications Planner
The Strategic Communications Planner is based in Port-au-Prince reports to the Chief Strategic Communications and Public Information Unit. The Strategic Communications Planner provides planning support and integration function, assisting and enabling the GSF Force Headquarters to integrate information effects into military and police operations in line with the SR’s intent, mandate constraints, and political risk considerations. The Strategic Communications Planner assists the Force Headquarters with planning guidance, analytical support, and quality assurance to ensure that operational security objectives are translated into coherent, disciplined information objectives that support mission effectiveness, civilian protection, and legitimacy.
The Strategic Communications Planner shall be responsible for the following tasks:
- Produce own work plan for approval by the Chief Strategic Communications and Public Information Unit.
- Provide data and function related information as requested to inform the GSF budget submission and review process.
- In coordination with the GSF Force Headquarters, assist to integrate information considerations into military and police planning processes, including conducting mission analysis, operational design planning, developing courses of action (COA), preparing operations and fragmentary orders (OPORD/FRAGO), participating in synchronization meetings, rehearsals, and assessments.
- Translate the SR’s intent, political guidance, and risk mitigation measures into actionable planning guidance informing Force Headquarters planning and operational orders.
- In coordination with the GSF Force Headquarters assist to convert operational security objectives, intelligence assessments, and targeting priorities into defined information objectives and effects, aligned with operational phasing and sequencing.
- In coordination with the Force Headquarters, assist with planning guidance to ensure that GSF operations incorporate appropriate pre-operation, during-operation, and post-operation information considerations, including operations security (OPSEC), civilian protection, expectation management, and reputational risk considerations.
- Maintain and update the GSF Strategic Communications Synchronization Plan, ensuring coherence between the SR’s guidance, Force Headquarters planning, and subsequent military and police tactical execution.
- Assist Force Headquarters planning and operations oversight by producing rolling 30/60/90-days information effects planning guidance aligned to operational phases, political milestones, humanitarian considerations, and identified risk factors.
- In consultation with the Chief Strategic Communications and Public Information Unit, serve as the primary planning interface between the Office of the SR and GSF Force Headquarters on information effects, ensuring a two-way flow of guidance, operational feedback, and emerging risks.
- Provide Force Headquarters planners with information related planning inputs, including audience considerations, narrative risks, sequencing constraints, and anticipated second order effects relevant to force protection and freedom of maneuver abilities.
- Identify gaps, inconsistencies, or risks where planned or ongoing operations may undermine mission legitimacy, mandate coherence, OPSEC, or civilian confidence, and elevate these issues through the Chief Strategic Communications and Public Information Unit as required.
- Ensure that information effects associated with GSF operations remain consistent with the mandate and do not blur distinctions between security operations, humanitarian action, political processes, or development activities.
- Maintain an audience segmentation and behaviour analysis framework tailored to Haiti’s information environment and provide relevant insights to support operational planning.
- Translate monitoring outputs and feedback into updated planning assumptions and guidance for Force Headquarters as security conditions evolve.
- Contribute to operational assessments and after-action reviews by analyzing the interaction between operations and information effects and identifying lessons for future planning.
- Present routine assessment briefs to the Chief Strategic Communications and Public Information Unit and to wider GSF leadership as required.
- Ensure continuity of planning through the maintenance of structured planning products and handover documentation.
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.