Public Information Assistant

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 in the Programme Management and Capacity Development Unit (PMCDU) in the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). DPIDG focuses on supporting countries in improving effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels for internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Public Information Assistant reports to the Senior Governance and Public Administration Officer. More information on DPIDG is available at https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/about/desa-divisions/public-administration.html

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Public Information Assistant is responsible for the following duties:

- Provides general office support; responds to complex information requests and inquiries; processes, drafts and finalizes correspondence and other communications; sets up and maintains files/records, organizes meetings, monitors deadlines, etc.

- Coordinates administrative services, including preparing, monitoring and processing various requisitions, service contracts and payment vouchers, coordinating special assignments, etc.

- Provides specialized assistance to officers in the production and delivery of information communications products and services, including organization of reference material for reports on the United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN).

- Updates the UNPAN web site, including by uploading documents; generates a variety of standard and non-standard statistical and other reports from various databases.

- Serves as photographic assistant for the Division by producing digital images, and serving as photographer for both virtual and in-person meetings;

- Using relevant computer software, creates designs in appropriate format for promotional and other material, e.g. brochures, presentational materials, announcements, communication campaigns, including social media content for the Divison’s social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube etc.; ensures that photos, graphics, etc. are appropriate and conform to UN standards for print materials.

- Assists in the production and editing of video/film clips, website projects; selects and catalogues sound and visual materials for inclusion in communication material, and obtains requisite clearances and copyrights; places finalized materials on Trello board and ensures that photos, graphics and other material are appropriate and confirm to UN standards.

- Supports capacity development online training course development, particularly with the design, layout and formatting of content and assists with technical support to webinars/meetings.

- Manages the Division’s reference library; this includes, stock taking new publications and archiving/distributing old publications to interested institutions.

- Identifies and prepares new material for inclusion in appropriate web pages by: researching various information sources for relevant material and cross-checking information with author offices as required; retrieving and downloading pertinent documentation and other information in requisite programming languages for Web format or inserting into database after determining appropriate categorization; preparing new pages, incorporating graphics as needed, using appropriate authoring tools and necessary programming languages; preparing and updating index of documents; posting documents on the UN web and/or development servers and ensuring the appropriate directory location; checking and testing for multiple browser support, etc.

- Provides guidance/training to junior staff, interns, volunteers and contractors.

- Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies •PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of internal policies, processes and procedures related to communication, production and dissemination of public information. Ability to research information from a variety of sources. 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.

•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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

•TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation 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.

Work Experience A minimum of five years of experience in public communication, international broadcasting or related area is required. Experience working with content management systems is desirable. Experience working in an international organization is desirable. Experience preparing communication material for virtual events such as webinars and conferences is desirable. Experience supporting the development of online training courses and visualization tools is desirable. Experience using Canva or other related software is desirable.

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

Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test in English at the United Nations Headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia; or the United Nations Accounting or Statistical Assistant Examination at the United Nations Headquarters may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

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.

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.