Chief of Section, Knowledge Management, Communication and Advocacy

Contract

This is a P-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 206,105 USD and 258,297 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 120 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses, and reports on progress in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework, and catalyses action and raises global awareness to reduce disaster risk by working with States Members of the United Nations and a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, and the science and technology community.

The position is located in the UNDRR headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent will report to the Director of UNDRR.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Chief of the Knowledge Management, Communication and Advocacy Section will be responsible for the following duties:

- Responsible for the planning and execution of the activities of the Section. Leads a team; plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors and evaluates staff; Undertakes programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Section, including preparation of workplans and budgets, recruitment and promoting capacity development of staff, evaluation of staff performance (ePAS) through regular dialogue and feedback, and monitoring and reporting on budget/programme performance in the context of results-based management. Manages procurements, including conducting needs assessments and managing benchmarks, preparing bid documents and arranging contracts; supervises, coordinates and negotiates the services required. - Conceptualizes, designs and executes overall UNDRR strategies in communications and marketing, including comprehensive social media outreach, knowledge management and a digital strategy. Ensures strategic management and integration between the different strategies. Coordinates closely with the regional offices and other branches and sections in UNDRR to plan and deliver on the corporate strategies. Assesses the overall effectiveness of the corporate strategies and makes changes in approach and technique as needed. - Conceptualizes, develops strategy for and oversees the design and implementation of major online systems initiatives, including the PreventionWeb, a disaster risk reduction (DRR) information platform; manages/oversees multiple, concurrent and often disparate tasks for projects that often involve innovative applications and dissimilar systems, as well as databases and highly complex system integration and linkages. - In collaboration with other agencies and partners of UNDRR, establishes DRR common data infrastructure by developing common standards, procedures and practices for data collection and exchange. Provides authoritative policy advice to senior managers on systems development in a changing business environment and on the implications of various alternatives, on business applications and other related issues; identifies and plans for future needs; develops and disseminates best practices. - Oversees the preparation, from research to publication, of press releases, editorials, newsletters, periodicals, reports and publications, including the preparation of the UNDRR annual report in close coordination with the External Relations Section. Oversees the provision of materials (briefings, speeches, questions and answers) for use by senior officials, develops or oversees the development of high-profile multimedia communications campaigns; sets quality and production standards for information dissemination. - Maintains close contact with all parts of the Organization to ensure accurate and up-to-date information on UNDRR activities and priorities; oversees the creation and update of a timeline of upcoming events and activities related to UNDRR and DRR; provides information on UNDRR and DRR to other United Nations entities, as required. - Oversee the implementation of all ICT initiatives related to the implementation of the programme. Oversees the implementation of and compliance with the United Nations ICT strategy, together with RPMS, in accordance with the distinct roles of each section. - Actively contributes to the communications community of practice and to the reinforcement of the capacities of External Relations Officers across duty stations. - Carries out other related duties as required.

Competencies Professionalism: Ability to think strategically about corporate communications, marketing and branding. Ability to advise on high-profile and sensitive communication challenges. Ability to assess worldwide communication environments, develop communication and digital strategies and manage large-scale advocacy campaigns. Ability to provides sound advice on knowledge management and information systems in a diverse universe of information needs and functions. Intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with the Organization's broader strategic, policy and operational objectives. Ability to advise senior management on information systems development and related matters of significant importance to the Organization. Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity for relating knowledge management and information systems to the business process. Ability to analyse and evaluate critical systems issues; makes recommendations for improving processes and approaches. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Demonstrates leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; encourages and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box"; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which he/she has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Managing performance: Delegates appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; tracks progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Judgement/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communications, information management, international relations, public or business administration or related field is required. A first-level university degree together with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in communications, marketing, public information, information management or a related field, including a minimum of three (3) years in international organizations or businesses, is required.

Experience in developing global corporate strategies for communications, branding, advocacy and/or knowledge management is required.

Experience in conceptualizing and implementing global social media strategies for large-scale communications and advocacy campaigns and other communications objectives is required.

Experience in communication on disaster risk reduction, climate change or sustainable development is desirable.

Experience in supervising teams working in different sites is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required and knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official language of the United Nations is desirable.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment, which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice The initial appointment is for one year and extension of the contract is subject to extension of the mandate and availability of funds.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must meet the lateral move requirements to apply for this position. In this regard, staff members are asked to indicate all allowable lateral moves in their personal history profile (PHP) and cover note.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Applicants with disabilities may receive reasonable accommodations to facilitate their participation in the recruitment process, if requested and indicated in their application.

In line with the overall United Nations policy, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction encourages a positive workplace culture that embraces inclusivity and leverages diversity within its workforce. Measures are applied to enable all staff members to contribute equally and fully to the work and development of the Organization, including flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies and standards of conduct.

United Nations Considerations 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.