Senior Public Information Assistant

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UN DPO - Department of Peace Operations

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Wednesday 29 Sep 2021 at 23:59 UTC

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Contract

This is a G-7 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-7 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Strategic Communications Section, Office of the Director for Coordination and Shared Services in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO). The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Strategic Communications Section.

The Strategic Communications Section of the Department of Peace provides Strategic Communications advice to DPO leadership and oversees media relations, public affairs, digital media/outreach, corporate messaging and support to strategic communications/public information components in field missions.

The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) serves as a center of excellence for peace operations, responsible for preventing, responding to and managing conflict and sustaining peace in countries where peace operations under its purview are deployed, and provides support to other entities on peace and security issues.

The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department's mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority and depending on location, the Public Information Assistant may be responsible for the following duties:

  • Prepares and/or oversees the development of digital communications campaigns, products and content across multiple platforms ensuring accurate and consistent messaging and branding and alignment with the Departmental communications strategies.
  • Manages the team responsible for the production of multimedia content and management of digital campaigns, assigning tasks and assuring timely delivery across the team and coordinates with departments, offices, funds and agencies to develop ways to implement digital media campaigns system-wide and to incorporate the campaign message and themes into all relevant events and products.
  • Monitors and analyzes current events, social media responses, public opinion and press, identifies issues and trends, and advises management on appropriate action/responses.
  • Ensures implementation of campaigns and initiatives to publicize priority issues and/or major events, to include drafting information strategies, coordinating efforts, monitoring and reporting on progress, taking appropriate follow-up action, and analyzing the outcome.
  • Contributes to the development and production of digital communications products/services with minimal supervision.
  • Collaborates substantively on publication activities designed to promote knowledge and understanding of and to build support for UN system and activities, to include delivery of discrete components of the unit’s work programme.
  • Develops and maintains relationships with revelant communities including digital media and other official entitites (e.g. NGOs, local community and government leaders, educational institutions, other UN agencies, etc.).
  • Oversees the creation, maintenance and content provision for UN peacekeeping digital platforms including leadership channels.
  • Serves as a first-line focal point and/or media liaison to facilitate the flow of information and messages on all aspects of UN activities, policies and operations institution-wide in assigned area(s) and on matters relating to the Under-Secretary-General to key internal and external audiences.
  • Maintains constant contact with key offices (e.g. Offices of the Secretary-General and Under-Secretaries-Generals, Permanent Missions, UN agencies, funds and programmes, NGOs etc.); reviews relevant documents, reports, press releases, etc. to gather information and keeps abreast of the timing and substance of key meetings, events, speeches, activities, etc.; maintains files on key issues and topics.
  • Prepares briefs on assigned topics for senior officers; responds, both orally and in writing, to a broad range of routine questions and information requests on UN activities; as appropriate forwards questions/requests to relevant parties for reply; drafts letters and official memoranda on a range of subjects.
  • Researches, compiles and presents information from a variety of sources; including reviewing current events worldwide and identifying items of interest to the Under-Secretary-General or senior UN officials.
  • Organizes and coordinates all aspects of events relating to exhibits.
  • Oversees and implements analytical products measuring effectiveness of digital campaigns and initiatives.
  • Coordinates and oversees the entire audio/visual marketing campaign under the supervision of the Deputy Chief.
  • Serves as photo supervisor by establishing and maintaining an efficient production of photographic images in both digital and print formats.
  • Provides substantive support to the production of film/video or radio programmes by conducting original research for feature items and other material; making recommendations on programme content, structure/style, interviews, narration texts and elements to be edited, etc.; assisting in the writing of narrations, short articles, summary excerpts, etc., conducting interviews, acting as location producer, participating in post production editing, overseeing the production of language translations/adaptations and ensuring cost effectiveness, etc.
  • Guides and/or supervises digital team.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

    Competencies PROFESSIONALISM

  • Knowledge of current events and issues in the various areas of the Department.
  • Knowledge of internal policies, processes and procedures related to the communication, production and dissemination of public information.
  • Ability to interact with the media and other constituents.
  • 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.

PLANNING AND 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. 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 (ASAT) 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.

Work Experience A minimum of seven years of experience in public communication, international broadcasting or related area is required.

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. Fluency in French is highly 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 available for a period of six months only. 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 only and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

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 may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

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.

Other Skills and Requirements Experience in working in and on social media platforms with global audiences in a professional communications context is required. Experience producing content such as live, audio and video multimedia products for social media platforms is desirable. Experience serving as a thematic communications focal point is an advantage.

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.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: careers.un.org