Chief of Sect (Appls & Rpts)

Chief of Section (Appeals and Reports)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Chief of Section (Appeals and Reports) plays an important role in leading and developing the Office's resource mobilization communications for donors and other key stakeholders through its flagship publications, the annual Global Appeal and Global Report, as well as through the Global Focus web portal. This involves working in close collaboration with the Strategic Communications and Digital Engagement sections. The incumbent. performs the functions of chief managing editor in the Donor Relations and Resource Mobilization Service (DRRM) with responsibility for designing and coordinating the content, structure and process for the timely production of UNHCR's main publications for donors and other key partners, the annual Global Appeal and Global Report; overseeing the design, quality control of content and process for reporting through the Global Focus web portal; and providing editorial leadership, guidance and quality control for the production of Supplementary and Special Appeals.

This role includes: identifying appropriate content in relation to UNHCR's overall communications strategies; soliciting and obtaining draft texts and financial data; clearing content (including statistics, financial information, texts, photos, maps etc.) for consistent messaging and political sensitivities; revising and editing contributions; and training and coaching staff in drafting and editing skills.  In this context, the incumbent must work closely with regional bureaux and other units at HQ, in particular the Secretariat and other DER sections, DPSM, and DFAM, as well as with offices in the field, to achieve quality content and style, smooth production processes and timely publication of donor appeals and reports. S/he also negotiates and concludes contracts with external parties, determines the design and layout for each publication and sets publishing standards and printing deadlines.

The incumbent supervises a team of four staff (two Donor Relations Officers, one Associate Donor Relations Officer and one general service staff (GS-6) in the Appeals and Reports Section of DRRM),  as well as the work of external editorial consultants, French translators, layout designers and printers during the production of the publications.

The incumbent represents DER, as required, in internal and external forums relevant to donor and other key stakeholder communications, on subjects related to standards for assessment, monitoring, new planning tools, result-based management reporting etc.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- UNHCR's external communications for donors and other key stakeholders are consistent with the organization's communications strategy (digital engagement and print publications).
- UNHCR's flagship publications, the annual Global Appeal and Global Report, are produced in both print and digital formats to  high professional editorial standards (in English and in French), with content  that satisfies the needs of donors and other major stakeholders, as well as providing information that is accessible to a wider public readership.
- Supplementary Appeals and other documents produced by DRRM are of high quality.
- The Global Focus web portal continues to evolve to provide donors with up-to-date, detailed information on operational planning and developments throughout the year.
- The quality of communications prepared for UNHCR's donors and other key stakeholders is continuously reviewed, reporting formats are redesigned and adjusted as required, and staff are capacitated to edit to a high standard (in English and/or French).
- The annual donor pledging conference is effectively organized together with Secretariat, as well as the briefing for new staff at Permanent Missions in Geneva.

Responsibility

- Lead and coordinate the design, content selection, editing and  production of high quality publications that satisfy the evolving information needs of donors and other key stakeholders and are aligned with UNHCR's strategic communications and digital engagement, through the following:
- Design and select appropriate content, in consultation with Executive Office, PDES Secretariat, Strategic Communications and Digital Engagement Sections, and other units as relevant.
- Oversee the management of the production guidelines and scheduling of the main donor publications - for all concerned parties.
- Lead and provide guidance on the drafting/revision/editing of the content and style of  the global appeals and reports, as well as other donor communications.
- Establish conditions of service for external editors and translators that are consistent with current standards and rates for such professional services.
- Coordinate the selection and terms of reference, and oversee the performance and delivery of products and services by the designer and printer for the main publications.
- Establish terms of reference, coordinate the selection and oversee the performance and delivery of  products and services by external editors and translators for appeals and reports as required.
- Oversee the consolidation of budgets, statistics and financial records as well as the selection of photos and maps for all publications.
- Ensure the timeliness and high quality of layout, drafting, editing, translation, printing and distribution of all donor appeals and reports.
- Ensure quality inputs, timely clearance of texts (including by substantive units, Secretariat, and external editors and translators) budgets, maps, photos, statistics etc. within set deadlines.
- Supervise the work of the Appeals and Reports section team and guide the regional focal points in DRRM and others directly involved in preparing inputs for the global appeals and reports and Global Focus web portal.
- Conduct training to improve the quality of donor appeals and reports.
- Coordinate and organize, in conjunction with Secretariat, the briefing of new staff at permanent missions in Geneva;
- In conjunction with Secretariat, coordinate and organize, the annual donor pledging conference in Geneva.
- Give input on policy issues relating to the Service.
- Represent DER in reporting and other relevant fora
- Other tasks as requested by the Head of Service.

Authority

- Manage the timely production of UNHCR's main resource mobilization publications (Global Appeal and Global Report), and oversee quality control of the design, content, presentation and linguistic standards in English and in French.
- Manage development of the Global Focus web portal, and oversee quality control of design, content, presentation and linguistic standards.
- Coordinate with other services to ensure the overall quality and standardization of donor appeals and reports.
- Represent DER, as requested, in internal and external forums relevant to reporting.
- Negotiate and conclude contracts, determine the design and layout for each publication and set editorial and publishing standards and printing deadlines for UNHCR's main donor publications.
- Organize, in conjunction with Secretariat, the annual donor pledging conference and briefing sessions for new staff at Permanent Missions in Geneva.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Advanced University Degree, preferably in journalism, languages, law, social sciences, humanities or economics.
- Minimum 15 years of previous professional job experience of which 10 years should be relevant to the specific functions of an editor, with a minimum 5 years' experience in managing the processing of reports/publications and  coaching staff.
- High level drafting and professional-level editorial skills in English, and excellent command of French
- Excellent diplomatic and organizational skills
- Meticulous attention to detail, pragmatic approach to work and a positive attitude.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Good understanding of the workings of UNHCR, its governance structure and key stakeholders.
- Familiarity with reporting, editing and publications within the United Nations system or the international humanitarian aid arena.