Senior Public Information Assistant

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 post is located in the Programme Management Unit, Economic Analysis and Policy Division (EAPD), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The EAPD/DESA is mandated to provide research and policy analysis on global macroeconomic trends and long term development issues to the General Assembly and Economic and Social Council, in order to support Member States in their efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The incumbent will report to the Economic Affairs Officer, Programme Management Unit, in the Office of the Director. More information is available on the following website http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/index.shtml.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Senior Public Information Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Acts as the focal point for all publications by DPAD, including parliamentary documentation, flagship publications, policy briefs and notes, working papers, and other reports with minimal supervision.
• Coordinates with Unit Chiefs in DPAD, DESA Editorial Board and the OUSG, and collaborates substantively on publication activities with DGACM and DPI to ensure an effective and efficient process of producing the publications and parliamentary documents as scheduled, with high quality.
• Develops and maintains relationships with other UN agencies and media, to promote wide dissemination of the publications produced by the Division.
• Maintains constant contact with key offices (e.g. Office of the Under-Secretary-General, DESA, UNICs, Permanent Missions, etc.); reviews relevant documents, reports, press releases, etc. to gather information and keeps abreast of the timing and substance of the launches of DPAD flagship publications.
• Prepares briefs on assigned topics; responds, both orally and in writing, to a broad range of routine questions and information requests on DPAD publications, including coordinating and maintaining DPAD social media outlets;
• Copy-edits English-language versions of the publications contained in the Division's publications programme that are not formally edited in DGACM , (e.g Policy Notes of the Committee for Development Policy, Monthly Briefings on the World Economic Situation and Prospects, DESA Working Papers, policy notes for the publications on the website).
• Ensures that documents produced in DPAD for public audiences adhere to established editorial standards and conforms with the UN policy and practices.
• Informs the international news media and other key constituents of significant developments, events, press conferences, etc. within the context of DPAD's work programme; ensures the availability of copies of key documents and information products; assists key officials, delegates and other UN offices in arranging press conferences, briefings, etc.; handles logistics with essential services.
• Coordinates and oversees marketing activities and coordinating the production of a wide range of promotional products for mass and social media. Organizes and executes special events, coordinating with diverse partners to highlight and publicize key events to promote DPAD's work. Assists DPAD Units in arranging press conferences, briefings, etc. and handles logistics with essential services (UNTV, UN Radio, BCSS, OICT, etc). Compiles the Division's contributions to the monthly DESA News and DESA Alert. Submits parliamentary documentation; answering queries from delegations and the public, including on the Internet. Identifies and retrieves documents from the United Nations Official Documents System (ODS). Searches and retrieves information from the internet, as required.
• Guides and/or coordinates the work of junior support staff.

• 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.

  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.

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; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Work Experience A minimum of 10 years of experience in public communication, including social media outreach or related area is required.

Experience implementing official publications and document policies and procedures in an international organization, is required.

Experience in assisting publication processes and editing (copy-editing, proofreading, research, drafting, design and layout of publications) is required.

Experience writing for the web is highly desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written 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 - This position is temporarily available starting as soon as possible until 31 December 2022, with a possibility of extension. 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.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to "internal candidates," who have beenrecruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staffselection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• 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.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

• 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.

  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.