PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON)

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 in the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG). The incumbent reports to the Spokesperson.

The Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General provides information to the media on the activities of the UN system as a whole through daily briefings, direct responses to media enquiries, press conferences, background briefings and interviews with the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and other senior officials. The Office provides advice on media relations to the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and senior Secretariat officials. The Office also keeps the Secretary-General regularly informed of major breaking news stories around the world.

The EOSG, under the guidance of the Secretary-General (SG), work as a team pursuing in a cohesive and coherent manner, the SG’s vision, priorities and policies for his second mandate in office. It seeks alignment of the United Nations family with the SG’s vision, priorities and policies. It is guided by the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity and of achieving gender and regional balance among staff.

All EOSG unit will support the EOSG senior officials, as appropriate, depending on the tasks at hand, regardless of which senior official they formally report to, and will work together through a matrix team approach, as necessary, to ensure EOSG leads by example on integration and cross-pillar work.

Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the Spokesperson and Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Serves as an Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. In the temporary absence of the Spokesperson and Deputy (1) briefs the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General each morning on breaking news (2) conducts the daily noon briefing;
• Maintains in-depth expertise in assigned substantive topic areas (i. regions of the world; ii. thematic issues relating to the UN's programme of works and; iii. the work of UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions), stays current with news developments for those areas and drafts notes on newsworthy developments to be read each day at the noon press briefing;
• Travels with the Secretary-General as his spokesperson;
• Answers to enquiries around the clock from the press on topics which fall within area of responsibility (see above); gives on and off the record interviews to journalists on topics within area of responsibility;
• Prepares media guidance on specific area of responsibility in Q&A format for the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General in preparation for encounters with the press;
• Prepares summary/highlights of the daily press briefing and post on-line within daily deadline;
• Accompanies the Secretary-General when he leaves his office to give remarks at UN meetings and outside events in case of possible media encounters en route;

• Moderates press conferences when required.

  Competencies Professionalism: Must have a refined news sense and the ability to draw on a wide breadth of knowledge concerning current affairs and the role and policies of the United Nations. Has the ability to work under constant pressure and within tight daily deadlines. Ability to write fast, accurate, journalistic prose. Maturity, discipline and political judgement are required to speak on behalf of the Secretary-General on matters of policy and substance in live interviews; an ability to analyse and articulate complex UN polices in layman's terms to the media. Ability to build a relationship of trust with the media, as well as anticipate and satisfy the media needs of the Secretary-General and his senior staff. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communications: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to other, 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.

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.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in international studies, journalism or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two (2) 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 journalism or other relevant media relations at the national or the international level is required.

Hands-on journalistic experience in a news environment with a wire service, newspaper or similar media outlet is required.

Experience in briefing senior officers is required.

Experience in a UN communications environment is desirable.

Experience in dealing with politically sensitive issues is desirable.

Experience in public speaking is desirable.

Experience working in an international organization or a national government is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required and fluency in French is highly desirable.

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 for 365 days.

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.

Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

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.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disability. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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.