INTERN - PUBLIC INFORMATION

Contract

This is a I-1 contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about I-1 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs (DOALOS/OLA) is recruiting motivated interns for the period October 2021 to January 2022 who wish to gain professional experience in public information within an international organization in order to supplement their knowledge, skills and studies. This internship will provide practical working experience in a multicultural, intergovernmental organization.

Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director in charge of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea and the direct supervision of a Senior Legal Officer, the responsibilities of the internship position may include:

• Drafting public information materials, including press releases, media advisories, web stories, brochures, information notes and fact sheets, and social media assets;

• Researching, compiling, drafting and editing information for use in the preparation and production of public information materials, including social media content, website design and content, and public information campaign proposals;

• Managing meeting agendas and drafting meeting notes;

• Participating in organizing events organized by the Division (e.g. information or training sessions) as necessary; and

• Taking on other special projects and collaborating with other colleagues as assigned.

  Competencies PROFESSIONALISM: Applicants must demonstrate a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter of the United Nations. Applicants must have the ability to work effectively in a team in a multicultural environment, work collaboratively with colleagues and external counterparts, and successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs. Applicants must also demonstrate gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory behavior and attitudes. Applicants must be computer literate in standard software applications.

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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 decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

CREATIVITY: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes 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.

Education The degree programme which applicants are enrolled in or have recently graduated from must be in communications, marketing or public information, or other related discipline that involves substantial public information components such as the development of information campaigns.

Applicants to the United Nations Internship Programme must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:

Either:

(a)Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or

(b)Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent).

Work Experience No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship. Work experience in relevant areas is an asset. Experience in working on communication campaigns, including drafting press releases and making use of social media platforms, familiarity with website design, PowerPoint and Adobe Photoshop, and other graphic design programmes are an advantage.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the internship advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an advantage.

Assessment Due to the large number of applications, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea. Interviews may be held with applicants.

Special Notice TO APPLY:

• Please create and complete a Personal History Profile (PHP) and a cover letter in the United Nations e-Recruitment platform, Inspira, at https://inspira.un.org. In your PHP, please indicate if you are proficient in the English language. PLEASE NOTE THAT INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.

• It is imperative that the cover letter includes the following details: (1) Title of the degree currently being pursued, or recently graduated from, and the specific subjects taken; (2) Expected graduation date from the degree programme or graduation date; (3) Your objectives for undertaking an internship with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, and how it fits within your education/career plan; (4) A description of why you believe you are qualified for this specific internship; (5) A clear indication of the time frame of your availability for the internship during the period between October 2021 and January 2022; and (6) The IT skills and programmes, including web design and social media strategy/analytics, as applicable, in which you are proficient.

• In your online Inspira Personal History Profile (PHP), be sure to include all relevant information concerning your education and work experience, if applicable, with special emphasis on ocean affairs and the law of the sea, as well as IT skills, and three references.

• The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in the Organization. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this internship programme.

Important Note:

• The duration of an internship in the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) is a minimum of two (2) months to a maximum of six (6) months, depending upon the particular needs of the Division.

• Internships in OLA are not paid. Travel costs, travel arrangements (including visas), and living accommodations are the responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution.

• In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants will be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to United Nations premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for the entirety of the internship.

• OLA interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any position in the professional or above categories, within the United Nations Secretariat for a period of six (6) months following the end of their internship. Any employment with the United Nations at that point in time shall be subject to established recruitment and selection procedures.

• Internship positions are full-time. For more information about the United Nations Internship Programme, please visit https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=IP&lang=en-US. For details on DOALOS/OLA’s mandate and functions, see www.un.org/Depts/los.

  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.