CHIEF OF SERVICE, PUBLIC INFORMATION

Contract

This is a D-1 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 15 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 128,707 USD and 162,415 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 This position is located in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). The Chief of Service, Public Information is based in Mogadishu and reports directly to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG).

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Chief of Service, Public Information Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Lead the substantive work programme of the public information component of the Mission

• As a member of the core senior management team, serve as principle strategic communications adviser to the Mission and to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and report to him/her on issues related to communication activities and programs and media strategy and policy.
• Formulate, implement and manage the Mission’s integrated public information and communication strategy, covering the Mission's internal and external strategic communications activities. Develop, integrate and manage sizable programs encompassing all media (including radio, television, web and social media, photo, print and media relations); understand, local, regional and global political trends, public attitudes and various communications environments; undertake effective media outreach including through the development of partnerships and provisions of appropriate services and materials; and defend difficult positions to the media and others.
• Lead the Mission’s digital media strategy; keep abreast of new developments in digital and social media platforms
• Ensure a strategic communication approach by directing work in the different areas within the public information component by coordinating with various Mission components, UN agencies, funds and programmes and partners; evaluate its effectiveness and make adjustments accordingly; and determine the use of appropriate communication technologies for production and dissemination.
• Identify strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicate links between the Organization’s strategy and the Division’s goals; generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction.

Resources and Administrative Management

• Oversight and administration of the public information unit, including planning and managing the budget, preparing annual cost estimates and monitoring and adjusting budget allocations and expenditures as required. Apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines and prepare reports or rationales on key administrative decisions.
• Supervise recruitment for the unit, including the recruitment of staff, services and consultants to ensure delivery of objectives, while seeking a diverse blend of skills and experience that match the strategic direction of the Organization. Manage, guide, develop and train staff; foster teamwork and communication among staff and across the Mission;
• Supervise procurement of public information equipment, supplies and services; ensure fair and open competition processes to gain best possible price while meeting quality, quantity and time requirements while adhering to relevant UN rules and procedures.
• Lead the planning of the Mission’s public information and communications activities, including the allocation of financial and human resources; regularly assess and review programs and activities to ensure alignment with public information strategy; monitor and adjust planning and activities as necessary to meet the desired goals.
• Drive the strategic development, execution and measurement of the Mission’s public information and communications activities by exploiting opportunities (including broad and narrow cast aspects of social media) and mitigating risks by defining and enforcing clear direction and policy for the Mission; build Mission’s brand by devising a growth and engagement strategy; stay up to date on new developments in digital and social media platforms and promote a technology-friendly environment that is innovation-focused encouraging public information team and Mission as a whole to make use of relevant platforms, social media and mobile and digital technology.

Media Relations, Partnerships, and Advocacy

• Identify, initiate and build new partnerships with media outlets, the host country, Government, civil society, funds, agencies and programmes, INGOs and NGOs as well as the diplomatic community in order to generate support for Mission objectives.
• Develop strategic partnerships with international, national and local peers to raise visibility and understanding of the Mission’s work.
• Represent the Mission in diverse public fora. Organize and participate in events including symposiums and seminars to advocate for the organization’s priorities and issues.
• Supervise the organization of media and press events including field visits, conferences and high-level official visits.
• Ensure regular interaction with partners and grow network of media contacts to influence and improve relationships and build on long-term strategic partnerships with media organizations. Advise Mission leadership and other Mission personnel on strategic communication matters
• Draft Mission’s public information and strategic communication plan and policy documents; provide advice and inputs for Mission leadership interactions with key stakeholders and ensure regular and timely sharing of information.
• Lead and oversee Mission interaction with local, regional and international media; guide the Mission’s crisis communication activities.
• Represent and serve on Mission Senior Management Team.
• Provide inputs to interagency communication campaigns and ensure all public information products and outputs meet high-quality standards and are in accordance with UN policy objectives, rules and regulations; provide UN Headquarters communication entities with regular updates on Mission activities and in crisis situations. Lead the development of institutional public relations and communication policies
• Representation in internal and external communication bodies, committees and meetings including the UNCG and ensure that the Mission communications strategy and public information campaigns are harmonized with overall goals and objectives of the UN and the Departments of Peace Operations and Operational Support.
• Liaise with counterparts in the Government and diplomatic community, local authorities, civil society, media associations and other key constituencies to ensure support for communications campaigns and Mission objectives.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key policy makers and partners, including senior-level officials of host government and representatives of civil society organizations, think-tanks and the academic community, private corporations and the media to promote the work of the Mission.

  Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to conceive and implement communications strategies based on an assessment of different communications environments and the changing strategic and operational goals of the Mission. Commitment to implement the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UNSOM’s public information activities. 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. 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.

TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office; Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; Shows willingness to learn new technology.

CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

JUDGEMENT AND 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 the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

• VISION: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

  Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in one or more of the following: strategic communications, communications, public relations, international relations, broadcasting, new media or other relevant disciplines such as social sciences, political sciences, business administration or management. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

  Work Experience At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public information, or media, including management, in large multicultural institutions is required. Knowledge of programme planning and related management practices, as well as familiarity with UN administrative procedures, rules and regulations, specifically human resources, budgetary and procurement matters is required. Experience with crisis communications techniques and strategies is required. Strong understanding of digital and social media techniques and tools is required. Experience providing services in the field of strategic communications, public information, or media to or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable. Experience working in the Horn of Africa is desirable.

  Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.

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

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

  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.