CHIEF OF UNIT, PUBLIC INFORMATION

Contract

This is a P-4 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 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 171,387 USD and 220,969 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 primarily in the Multimedia Resources Unit (MRU) of the Audiovisual Services Section (AVSS), of the Coverage and Media Services Branch (CMSB), in the News and Media Division (NMD), of the Department of Global Communications (DGC). The Unit provides audiovisual library and archival services and distribute multimedia contents to internal and external professional clients. It also provides design, development, and technical support for multimedia websites and specialized applications. Incumbents report to the Chief of Section.

Responsibilities Chief of Unit, Public Information is responsible for the following duties:

1. Administers Programme and builds communication capacity: - Manages the administration of the public information team, including financial management of the Income section generated by the Unit. - Oversees the day-to-day operation of the Unit, including participating in the coordination of substantive and administrative activities of the Unit, project management, interpreting and disseminating policy and providing procedural advice, improving reporting systems, and handling operational and administrative queries; oversees and manages the procurement of public information equipment and kits. - Supervises and manages public information staff and consultants to achieve the outputs and quality assurance of all activities, establishing work plans, required resources, priorities, timelines and performance benchmarks. - Coordinates and leads recruitment and evaluation of all staff and consultants under his/her supervision; encourages staff to pursue development opportunities and creates learning opportunities for them.

2. Oversees the preservation of audio-visual materials and distribution of multimedia content to internal and external clients: - Ensures up-to-date research and specifications for information management technology and innovative applications relevant to audio-visual records management and archives. - Ensures the preservation of information assets with continuing value by appraising records according to their informational and historical significance, develops and implements appropriate retention schedules. - Advises internal and external users regarding the use of the Unit's holdings.

3. Contributes to the formulation of overall policies of the work of the Unit: - Conceptualize procedures, objectives, and guidelines affecting the development and maintenance of the Organization's audio-visual records and archives and related digital assets management systems. - Conducts policy-oriented research on the applicability of information technology to audio-visual records and archives using data from internal and external sources to develop policies, guidelines, and procedures in keeping with technological developments.

4. Manages Media and outreach: - Develops client outreach strategy and programme and coordinates its implementation. Interacts with external partners to mobilize support to preserve and digitize the archives. - Represents the Unit, as required, in departmental offices, working groups, task forces and others, advocating audio-visual record-keeping and/or archives perspectives and standards.

Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge of audiovisual information management, archival, record keeping, and record disposition. Knowledge of electronic data maintenance, including appraisal, conservation, and migration management; audiovisual records preservation and description. Knowledge of news and media production and distribution life cycle and multimedia, multi-language audiovisual records and archival formats, standards, and best practices for access and long-term preservation. Political awareness and knowledge of current international affairs. Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Demonstrates discretion in applying expertise to complex and/or sensitive issues. Ability to handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships. Shows pride in work and 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 complex 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.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others—places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with a final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for the team's accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Managing Performance: Delegates the 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 the task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in archival/information science, information systems, communication, journalism, social science or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in modern audiovisual archives management, record keeping, library, information management systems, multimedia assets management or related area is required.

A minimum of two years of team management experience is required.

Experience working with the United Nations or a comparable international organization is desirable.

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

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

Special Notice - This position is temporarily available until 31 Mar 2023 with possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• The appointment or assignment and renewal thereofare subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.

• 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.

• For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 September 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

  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.