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Director of Strategic Communications

New York City

  • Organization: Executive Office of the Secretary-General
  • Location: New York City
  • Grade: Senior Executive level - D-2, Director - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Communication and Public Information
    • Public Information and Conference ManagementPublic Information
  • Closing Date: Closed

Special Notice

In keeping with the Secretary-General's emphasis on mobility, candidates who have served with Offices Away from Headquarters, Regional Economic Commissions, Field Operations or Agencies, Funds and Programmes are encouraged to apply.

Secretariat staff members selected for a position in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) will retain their current contractual status and they will not retain their right of return to their current post. Those with current appointments limited to a specific Department, Office or Mission and will be given similar appointments limited to service in the EOSG. Likewise, external candidates who are selected will be given appointments limited to service in the EOSG. Staff members are reminded of the provisions contained in ST/SGB/2016/8 ("Placement of staff members serving in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General"), and if covered within the scope of that bulletin, may be placed laterally to any vacant position in any organizational unit or duty station.

Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Org. Setting and Reporting

The overall objective of the Strategic Communications Unit in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General is to position the Secretary-General with key global audiences to ensure the highest possible impact for his public and media engagement. The Unit develops messaging, drafts speeches and other communications materials and designs plans for strategic dissemination. Reporting to the Chef de Cabinet, the Director serves as the principal strategic communications adviser to the Secretary-General.

Responsibilities

Under the overall direction of the Chef de Cabinet, the Director is responsible for the following:

-Leading the development and implementation of audience-driven communications strategies designed to influence public opinion and behaviour;
-Driving and advising on the conception and design of the Secretary-General’s public events and travel plans, including identifying objectives, key audiences, messaging and communications vehicles;
-Conveying internally messaging and guidance around the Secretary-General’s policies, priorities and activities;
-Leading on messaging and response in crisis communications;
-Managing the Strategic Communications Unit, which provides high-quality speeches, talking points, social media input and multimedia production for the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General and other senior staff members within the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, to tight deadlines;
-Ensuring key messages on important and sensitive issues are communicated across the UN System to ensure coherence and unity;
-Working with the Secretary-General’s Spokesperson’s Office, the Department of Public Information, UN Information Centres around the world, and the communications offices of all UN Departments, funds and programmes to ensure the strategic nature of content generated around the Secretary-General’s public activities;
-Speaking on behalf of the Secretary-General on the public and media stage where appropriate;
-Performing other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Deep knowledge of the international media environment including current trends in digital and social media. Profound knowledge of global affairs and the work of the United Nations. Firm commitment to the values and guiding principles of the United Nations and familiarity with the United Nations system, including peacekeeping, human rights, humanitarian and development settings and challenges. Strong and persuasive writing and public speaking skills. 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. 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.

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.

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; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in communication, journalism, public information, political sciences, international relations, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in the above specializations, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

Over fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public information, or journalism is required. Management and leadership experience in strategic communications and media for high profile organizations or individuals is required. Experience in engagement on social media platforms is required. Editorial experience in shaping narratives and building compelling multimedia content for targeted audiences is required. Journalistic experience at the international level or work in a multilateral organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

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, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The screening and 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, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: 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 a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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