EDITORIAL AND DESKTOP PUBLISHING ASSISTANT, ENGLISH

Contract

This is a G-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-5 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located at Headquarters in the English Translation and Editorial Service, Documentation Division, of the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM). The Documentation Division facilitates the deliberation and decision-making processes of intergovernmental and relevant expert bodies and United Nations conferences by providing efficient and effective conference servicing support while ensuring effective multilingual communication and the equal treatment of all official languages. The incumbent reports to the Senior Editorial and Desktop Publishing Assistant in the English Text Processing Team.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Editorial and Desktop Publishing Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: • Produces camera-ready documents for reproduction by typing, transcribing, incorporating corrections and formatting documents, as well as creating tables, graphics and organizational charts, in desktop publishing layout, in accordance with existing guidelines, in addition to preparing publication in relevant software as needed for reproduction in hard copy and electronic dissemination. • Performs proofreading functions to ensure that processing changes have been accurately incorporated, in consultation with the responsible person, as necessary, by checking successive versions of edited and translated documents against previous versions, as appropriate, including by checking the final version against the submitted original manuscript, in accordance with existing guidelines. • Ensures, in accordance with existing guidelines, that: (a) All manuscript elements, including text, headings, items in lists, tabular and graphical elements, footnotes, attachments, front and back matter and spine, and page numbers, have been properly included and cross-linked, as appropriate; (b) Numerical data have been correctly transcribed; (c) Obvious errors, discrepancies or incongruities as to content, format and typography have been corrected. • Compiles and scopes complex and large documents against the original text, according to required format. • Participates, as a member of a team, in the production of parliamentary and miscellaneous documentation, supplements and sales publications, by preparing desktop publishing layout of the final product, in the relevant language, for reproduction in hard copy and electronic dissemination. • Compiles submitted corrections and edits documents in relevant language, according to required format. • Stores final text on the United Nations Official Document System (ODS). • Facilitates access to parliamentary and miscellaneous documentation through PDA web-based tools. • Aligns bi-texts in order to support the production of high-quality translation memories for computer-assisted translation (CAT), machine translation (MT) and related workflow improvements. • Performs other modified text-processing functions developed under related workflow reviews and new workflow process as needed. • Under the guidance of the Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor, creates, updates and maintains macros, templates and models as needed. • Trains and guides temporary and new staff, in the processing of basic and more complex documents. • Assists and replaces the Assistant Supervisor, when needed. Takes charge of a shift as required. • Provide eCorrespondence services, as required. • Rotates on day and noon shifts, after-hours and weekend work shifts, as needed. • Stays available for overtime and on-call assignments, depending on the needs of service. • Provides text processing services to other departments, when required. • Performs other related work as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of editorial practices and desktop publishing, including typographic standards. Knowledge of United Nations structure and rules of procedure of various organs, including documents production system or that of a similar international organization. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects 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 final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. 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.

Education

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum five years of experience in desktop publishing, including copy editing, formatting, proofreading and creating typographical layouts is required. Experience with documentation processes of the United Nations or a similar international organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the posts advertised, fluency in English which must be the candidate’s main language, is required.

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 15 January 2025. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Applicants for positions subject to local recruitment are required to be authorized to work in the country regardless of where they live at the time of applying for the job opening. Selected candidates/staff members will be responsible for any costs related to their travel and relocation in the context of onboarding to report for duty. Passing the English Verbal Reasoning Test (EVRT) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration for the Editorial and Desktop Publishing Assistant positions in the United Nations Headquarters. Applicants who have not passed the EVRT at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. 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. This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.