SALES AND MARKETING ASSISTANT

Contract

This is a G-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-6 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Sales and Marketing Section, Outreach Division, Department of Global Communications. The Sales and Marketing Section (United Nations Publications) works to promote United Nations' knowledge, communication, and outreach objectives by publishing, selling, distributing, and licensing print and electronic publications, periodicals and databases that disseminate United Nations' knowledge, studies, and data. It publishes titles aimed at a broad public, as well as provides electronic products and services for individual customers and institutions. The Section designs and implements the overall marketing strategy for United Nations Publications; promotes the United Nations brand; drives demand for UN publications; fosters strategic relationships with co-publishers, book and e-book sellers, and providers of technology services to the publishing industry; participates in industry conferences and exhibits at major book fairs worldwide.

The incumbent reports to the Publishing Officer.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Sales and Marketing Assistant may be responsible for the following duties:

Promotion/Marketing

• Researches, compiles, and verifies background material for promotional material; drafts promotional copy for use in different marketing channels, including email campaigns, social media, and other promotional channels. Proofreads copy written by junior staff.
• Conceptualizes and creates graphic material for varied print and electronic media projects such as brochures, catalogues, flyers, posters, and online newsletters. Prepares cost estimates for each project and drafts specifications.
• Coordinates inclusion of new material and metadata on online publication platforms; edits content into format and style consistent with that of the platforms; uploads new promotional material to appropriate directories using the document management and storage system; analyzes web statistics and prepares charts and graphs.
• Coordinates multiple marketing and promotional programmes to promote the sales of UN publications/products as set out in the Annual Marketing Plan (e.g., advertising, websites, direct mail, exhibits, book reviews, and market research); prepares schedules and cost estimates and creates sales and online usage reporting liaises with external vendors, Marketing and graphic design staff, and other UN staff as required; monitors and evaluates responses to promotional programmes.
• Coordinates the acquisitions administration for UN publications; monitors contractual agreements; verifies invoices for payment processing, participation in recruitment process for contract staff, etc.
• Supervises quality of data entry of bibliographical, sales and metadata into in-house databases; provides periodic reports. Coordinates quality control checks of the Section’s two online platforms and communicates findings to Operations and Technology team on a timely basis.
• Manages and supervises marketing staff responsible for carrying out different promotional programmes.
• Coordinates the Section’s activities with other UN Departments, Agencies and Programmes involved in the sales of publications.
• Coordinates the inventory of UN publications/products including incoming and outgoing shipments, liaises with distribution and dispatch offices and annual inventory
• Performs other duties as required.

Sales/Order Fulfillment

• Manages and supervises the day-to-day operations and staff of a unit responsible for functions related to the order fulfillment and customer service.
• Reviews, plans, prioritizes, and assigns work; develops internal operating procedures and guidelines; supervises, coaches and trains subordinate staff.
• Monitors operations and recommends changes to improve revenue production, payment of accounts, client services, generation of metadata, workflows, and features and functionality of online platforms, etc., and initiates new procedures as required.

• Manages sales to agents and distributors; evaluates new customer account requests; analyzes their needs and credit worthiness.

  Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge of principles and practices pertaining to the promotion, sale, and distribution of publications. Ability to draft and input bibliographic information and metadata with meticulous attention to detail, as well as review and correct that of staff members, to ensure effective marketing of publications. 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.

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.

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.

Education High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Work Experience Seven years of experience in book sales and/or marketing, publishing, information management, customer service, advertising, promotional activities, or related areas is required.

Experience in a wide range of editorial tasks including writing, editing, and proofreading in English is required.

Experience managing publication metadata is required.

Experience working with publishing platforms is desirable.

Experience in assisting in the creation and development of new publishing products (print or digital) is desirable.

Experience providing customer service with a wide range of clients globally on a regular basis 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 - Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year.

• 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 may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

• This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

  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.