SPOKESPERSON

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 183,045 USD and 229,397 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 within the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. Under the guidance of the Head of Mission and in close collaboration with the Chief of Public Information, the incumbent will be based in Kinshasa and responsible for: Giving on record and background press briefings as well as interviews to national and international media; conceptualizing, developing, updating and executing a media strategy and work plan; advising the Head of Mission and senior leadership on media strategy and approach; developing and implementing a system of daily media monitoring and bulletins to meet the needs of the Head of Mission and senior leadership; drafting and issuing press statements and press releases; establishing and maintaining a cooperative relationship with local and international journalists; arranging interviews and/or background briefings with senior mission officials and facilitating the daily work of journalists covering the mission; facilitating media visits to the mission area; responding in a timely fashion to disinformation that could impact negatively on the public perception of the Mission and/or the mission’s leadership; producing and sharing key messaging.

Responsibilities

• Media relations including: Giving on-record and background press briefings and interviews to national and international media; conceptualizing, developing, updating and executing a media strategy and work plan, including utilizing digital and multimedia platforms as part of the strategy; advising the Head of Mission and senior leadership on the media strategy and approach; developing and implementing a system of daily media monitoring and bulletins to meet the needs of the Head of Mission and senior leadership; drafting and issuing press statements and press releases as necessary; establishing and maintaining a cooperative relationship with local and international journalists; arranging interviews and/or background briefings with senior mission officials and facilitating the daily work of journalists covering the mission; facilitating media visits to the mission area; responding in a timely fashion to disinformation that could impact negatively on the public perception of the Mission and/or the mission’s leadership; conceptualize and implement timely communication strategies in reaction to crisis situations. • Coordinate activities and share guidance with relevant departments and units at UNHQ and regional offices. • Maintain close contact by sharing information and coordinating messaging with the leadership and all components of the Mission, Agencies, Funds and Programmes, the United Nations (UN) Country Team and the UN Country Group, and to keep abreast of all substantive and strategic issues. • Produce and share key messaging, press activities and guidance with other sections of the Public Information Unit as part of daily functions as well as to fulfill strategic objectives and implement the relevant parts of the Mission’s overall communications plan. • Ensure that, in addition to traditional media sources, messages are distributed utilizing digital and social media including such platforms as websites, Facebook, Twitter and emerging interactive platforms. • As directed, provide support to other work streams of Public Information Unit, notably internal communications and external campaigns, including review and clearing of internal communications platforms such as iSeek and POINT stories for the Mission. • Represent the mission in public forums, conferences and events and fulfill speaking requirements. • Liaise with counterparts in the Government and diplomatic community, local authorities, civil society, media associations and other key constituencies to ensure key messages are conveyed and support communications campaigns. Management, including: participating in recruitment, supervision and evaluation of staff as appropriate. Design, submit and allocate budget as appropriate; identify extra-budgetary funding and resources in support of communications activities and forge external partnerships; Managing a team of media relations staff to respond to the specific conditions of the mission, including coordinating functions such as media accreditation, news monitoring and analysis of media trends and responding to media and public inquiries. • Develop and implement a capacity-building plan for media relations staff, especially national staff, where appropriate. Advise and support mission leadership in media skills development, as appropriate. • Perform other duties, as assigned.

Competencies

Competencies – link to competency framework: Un_competency_development_guide.pdf Professionalism Political acumen. Knowledge of different aspects of public information and communication. Knowledge of programme planning and related management practices as well as familiarity with UN administrative procedures, rules and regulations, specifically human resources, budgetary and procurement matters. Ability to address a range of issues in the context of political developments, public attitudes and local conditions. Ability to advise on high profile and sensitive communication challenges. Ability to lead crisis communications in a complex operating environment. Ability to assess world-wide communication environments, develop communication strategies and manage implementation of public information campaigns with various promotional and publicity techniques. Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style. Ability to present and defend difficult positions to senior officials. Ability to hold press conferences & handle media review & interviews professionally. 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. 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. Judgement/Decision-making Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary. Leadership Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Teamwork Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. • Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. • Places team agenda before personal agenda. • Builds consensus for task purpose and direction with team members. • Supports and acts in accordance with final group decisions, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. • Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in communications, journalism, international relations, broadcasting, social sciences or other related fields. A first level university degree combined with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public information, or media, including management, in large multicultural institutions, sensitive and complex settings is required. Experience working as a journalist is required. Prior experience as Spokesperson in the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable. Providing services in the field of strategic communications, public information, or media to or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English and French, (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This job opening is to identify the most qualified candidate for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). The entire assessment process takes an average of six months; all applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. 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. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.