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Senior Global Digital Editor/Writer (New York)

New York City

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: New York City
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Communication and Public Information
    • Translations and Languages
  • Closing Date: Closed

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior Global Digital Editor/Writer (NY)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Senior Global Digital Editor/Writer in New York reports to the Chief of Content Production in Geneva, providing world-class writing and editing capacity, as well as expertise in packaging and promoting multimedia content, in order to strengthen the organization¿s global communications work. She/he will work closely with the Head of the Global Desk (New York) and other DER colleagues in New York as well as with the Content Production Section in Geneva and elsewhere. As part of an "integrated" communications desk, she/he is also expected to support and collaborate closely with experts in digital engagement, goodwill ambassador programmes, social media and media relations. The Senior Global Digital Editor/Writer is expected to maintain strong working and coordination links with country and regional offices throughout the Americas, including the Regional Office Washington, the Canada Office, and UNHCR's communications entities in Latin America.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- The Global Desk (New York) commissions, edits and publishes timely, accurate and compelling multimedia stories that amplify key messages and reach priority audiences.
- The Global Desk (New York) collaborates effectively with key offices in Geneva, Washington, Ottawa, and Latin America, providing up-to-date tracking of all stories in production harmonizing plans for distribution with the global editorial calendar.
- UNHCR builds effective content partnerships with digital and media organizations, through distribution of UNHCR content, co-production of content or other means.

Responsibility
- Collaborate with writers, public information officers, regional editors, website editors, photo and video editors, social media editors, designers and developers to plan and produce compelling stories and multimedia packages for UNHCR¿s global English-language web and social media platforms and for distribution to news organizations.
- Ensure that written content published to UNHCR¿s global English platforms and released for external distribution meets high editorial standards, paying attention to accuracy, credibility, timeliness and readability.
- Ensure that all web stories published are optimized for search.
- Ensure that all web stories published are optimized for social sharing, with suitable headlines and images;
- Ensure that all web stories are ¿of the web¿ ¿ and link to other relevant pieces of content.
- Coordinate content workflows for timely and optimal distribution of content, liaising with the Senior Global Website Editor (English) and the Photo, Video and Social Media units.
- Commission, write, re-write, and edit articles.
- Write op-eds as required.
- Undertake reporting and interviewing assignments as required.
- Work with Social Media Unit to repurpose and share content as effectively as possible.
- Play an active role in ongoing development and updates of the website, paying attention to user experience, user journeys, and share ability.
- Liaise with other units of UNHCR on content issues.
- Liaise closely with the editors of UNHCR¿s global Spanish-language website, and oversee translation and placement of articles that first appear on the Spanish website.
- Work with PI Officers to produce regular updates, information bulletins, and other spot news.
- Assist with other editing and writing assignments as requested.

Authority
- Decide whether or not to publish content to unhcr.org and other UNHCR global English websites ¿ according to news judgment, audience interests and needs, and political sensitivities.
- Commission articles from staff and consultants.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) in Journalism, Communications, International Relations or related field.
- Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience, of which 4 years should be at the international level, in journalism and/or communications, including reporting, editing (commissioning and line editing), and publishing digital content..
- Proven editorial judgement and strong management skills, including experience commissioning stories and working with stringers and reporters in remote locations.
- Sophisticated understanding of how news organizations are using web and social media technologies to maximize the reach of content they publish and to deepen engagement with readers/viewers.
- Established relationships with editors at leading news and media organizations.
- Experience publishing content through a content management system.
- Excellent knowledge of English language including exceptional writing and editing skills in English ¿ not only attentiveness to grammar, syntax, style and narrative structure, but also a proven aptitude for writing and editing for the digital age.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Working proficiency in Spanish, French or Arabic.
- Familiarity with the UN, particularly UNHCR and the humanitarian field.
- Experience covering conflicts and/or international affairs and/or working in sensitive political or human rights contexts.
- Experience in conducting or facilitating communications training.
- Understanding of search optimization, social sharing, and web analytics.
- Strong social media presence.
- Experience in video/TV production ¿ or working closely with video producers.
- Experience acquiring, analyzing and visualizing complex data ¿ or working with data journalists.
- Experience working with designers and developers, ideally to build web apps (such as timelines, interactive maps, and data visualizations) in a news environment.
- Proficiency with HTML, CSS and/or Adobe Photoshop. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3
X002L3 - Innovation and Creativity Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3

Before applying to this position, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific FAQs information leaflets which can be found  on the Intranet under Staff Resources > Duty of Care. The information leaflets are specifically designed to answer some of the key questions potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. 

¿ Extensive experience in journalism and editing in an international environment, working with networks of writers and commissioning articles.
¿ Exceptional writing and editing skills ¿ not only attentiveness to grammar, syntax, style and narrative structure, but also a proven aptitude for writing and editing for the digital age.
¿ Sophisticated understanding of how news organizations are using web and social media technologies to maximize the reach of content they publish and to deepen engagement with readers/viewers ¿ including through the use of photos, video, infographics, data visualization, quizzes and other interactive features.
¿ Substantial experience working in sensitive and fast-moving news, communications, advocacy and/or fundraising contexts.
¿ Established relationships with news and social media editors at leading news and media organizations in New York who can be called on to help share or co-produce content.
¿ Knowledge of how web analytics, search optimization and social sharing and can be used to inform strategy, shape content and heighten impact.
¿ Experience publishing content through a content management system.
¿ Proven skills in communication, networking, strategic thinking, advocacy, negotiation, and ability to relate to different audiences.
¿ Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute ideas as well as transfer knowledge and skills.
¿ Strong diplomatic skills, highly developed political skills and judgment, understanding of UNHCR¿s external relationships, solid grasp of the news business, and ability to discern when the organization¿s credibility is at stake.
¿ English mother tongue or equivalent level of fluency required. Spanish, French or Arabic desirable. ¿ UNHCR¿s Global Desk in New York serves as an extension of the communications team at headquarters in Geneva.
¿ Among other things, the Global Desk needs world-class capacity for the commissioning, writing and editing of web content, op-eds and other material as well as the ability to publish to the global English website after business hours in Geneva.
¿ Additionally, the Global Desk conducts outreach to New York-based partners, including news organizations, tech companies and UN and NGO partners.
¿ UNHCR's access to humanitarian emergencies in many parts of the world gives us a valuable opportunity to use social media to provide content to media partners, helping to keep these issues on the news agenda and raising UNHCR's public profile. Duty station is New York, New York, with some travel -- as required -- to meet with colleagues, editors and influencers, and to the field to train key UNHCR communicators to report and write effectively. Not applicable. Not applicable.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2017 Compendium is Monday 6 November 2017 (midnight Geneva time).

This vacancy is now closed.
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