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Senior Global Website Editor (Arabic)

Amman

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Amman
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Communication and Public Information
    • Translations and Languages
    • Scientist and Researcher
  • 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 Website Editor (Arabic)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
This is a position of considerable responsibility in the Bureau¿s communications machinery, reporting to the MENA Senior Communications Advisor/Spokesperson, working closely with the Global Website Editor (English), and liaising closely with colleagues handling press, TV, photos, and social media and electronic publishing. The incumbent is expected to provide editorial and writing advice and feedback to the regional PI network, and to commission and edit articles, including from external writers. She/He is expected to work with colleagues, internal and external, at all levels of seniority.

The Arabic website remains the main source of information in Arabic in the MENA region and beyond. It complements the other two global websites being hosted in Geneva, namely the English and French website. UNHCR¿s Arabic website has also been serving as a central digital donation tool, teaming up with PSP hubs in Dubai, Beirut and Copenhagen.

The position will function under the supervision of the MENA Senior Communications Advisor/Spokesperson and in coordination with the Electronic Publishing Unit, the Content Production Section in Geneva, the Global Website Editor (English) and relevant content providers in and outside of UNHCR.

UNHCR¿s digital footprint in the Arabic language has witnessed considerable growth since the creation of the website in 2012. Producing compelling and relevant content in Arabic would resonate positively with Arabic-speaking audiences and would effectively promote UNHCR¿s strategic and advocacy objectives.

A growing demand for Arabic content has led the Arabic website to become among UNHCR¿s most effective communication platforms in terms of number of audience and reach. There is increased interest in the work of UNHCR in the MENA region given the growing partnerships with a wide range of donors and Arabic speaking supporters and influencers against increasing funding requirements. 

There is, however, a need to broaden audience base given the strong potential to strengthen UNHCR¿s brand in the region and build loyalty and greater engagement in UNHCR work and to reach out to the 300 million Arabic speakers in the MENA Region.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- Significantly broadened audience base for all forms of external Arabic content.
- The Global Arabic website will remain a central primary source of information in the Arabic language for all key stakeholders to UNHCR including persons of concern.
- Official Arabic content will be of the highest quality.
- All official UNHCR documentation will be available in the Arabic language.

Responsibility
- Plan overall coverage and content for UNHCR¿s Arabic-language Global website, and ensure its timely implementation;
- Develop news and features packages, working in close coordination with UNHCR¿s TV, Photos, and Social Media channels;
- Ensure high journalistic and editorial standards of content, including content consistency and accuracy, across the site;
- Commission, write, re-write, and edit articles;
- Undertake reporting and interviewing assignments as required in cooperation with the MENA Senior Communications Advisor/Spokesperson;
- Ensure that text articles are supported by video, photos, maps, and graphics content in addition to digital fundraising tools as required;
- Play an active role in ongoing development and updates of the website;
- Liaise with other Units of UNHCR on content issues;
- Ensure the timely release of news items through the website to broaden audience base and reach;
- Liaise closely with the editors of UNHCR¿s English-language global website, and oversee translation and placement of articles that first appear on the English website;
- Work with PI officers to produce regular updates, information bulletins, and other spot news;
- Provide support to UNHCR¿s various campaigns including WRD, #WithRefugees, Statelessness, Nansen Award, etc. and ensure constant and effective reach to Arabic-speaking audiences.
- Oversee the Arabic reproduction of key UNHCR external and internal documents, reports, handbooks, studies, online trainings, etc.
- Assist with other editing and writing assignments as requested.

Authority
- Provide direct support to the MENA Senior Communications Advisor/Spokesperson with the aim of enhancing original content production from the field in Arabic.
- Serve as the Arabic-language Secretariat within the Bureau.
- Provide support to the MENA Director as required.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in Political Sciences, Economics, Law, International Relations, Journalism or a related field. 
- At least 8 years of progressively relevant working experience in mainstream international journalism and editing, working with networks of writers and commissioning of articles;
- Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint essential).
- Knowledge on the status refugees/Internal Displaced Persons, their needs, their rights/obligations through first-hand experience operational situations.
- Excellent drafting skills including diplomatic and media communication.
- Strong background in working with the Content Management System
- Previous experience in managing and admistering a global website.
- Capacity to work effecitvely under minimal supervision.
- Excellent knowledge and understanding of the Arabic audience needs and mentality.
- Strong understanding of the delicacy of the MENA context to avoid any reputational crises.
- Flexibility in working under pressure and beyond the call of duty.
- Exceptional linguistic capabilities in Arabic and English.
- Excellent knowledge of Arabic and English and excellent writing and editing skills in both languages.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Excellent knowledge of the UN and UNHCR as well as respective internal structures.
- Experience having worked in field locations. 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
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X002L3 - Innovation and Creativity Level 3
X006L3 - Policy Development & Research 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. 

The MENA region is characterized by a complex, politically and culturally operational environment and consequential mass displacement. In light of this, ensuring adequate, sufficient and consistent high-quality Arabic language content across the region, and globally, remains a central priority and one that requires a dedicated expert resource.
The Senior Global Website Editor will report to the Senior Communications Advisor/Spokesperson and with regular coordination with the Electronic Publishing Unit, the Content Production Section, the Global Website Editor (English) and relevant content providers in and outside of UNHCR. The position is an essential function within the MENA Bureau and the organization as a whole.
UNHCR¿s digital footprint in the Arabic language has witnessed considerable growth since the creation of the website in 2012. This has helped raise the profile of the organization in the MENA region and beyond, highlighting UNHCR¿s operations worldwide. Producing compelling and relevant content in Arabic would resonate positively with Arabic-speaking audiences and would further effectively promote UNHCR¿s strategic and advocacy objectives. This expert function will serve as an interface for all official Arabic editing, translation of key documents and content creation for both internal and external purposes. The function requires someone with deep understanding of the current political atmosphere and the delicacy of the MENA context to avoid any reputational crises.
Similarly, the position would serve as a quality-control facility in the Arabic language within the Bureau for all official written communication in the Arabic language, also providing direct support to other entities within UNHCR to produce equivalent Arabic-language content while also ensuring a consistent tone of voice across UNHCR¿s multiple Arabic platforms.The incumbent would support in managing all Arabic content-related requests for high-level official meetings including the Executive Committee, Standing Committee, the Annual Consultation with NGOs and others.
Exceptional linguistic capabilities in Arabic and English are required for this function as well as excellent writing and editing skills, in particular in Arabic.  Similarly, the incumbant will have an excellent knowledge and understanding of the Arabic audience needs and mentality.
The candidate would have at least six years of relevant professional experience, ideally having managed and administered a global website previously with solid knowledge in using the Content Management System.
Given the nature of the function, the incumbent must be able to work effecitvely under minimal supervision and under tight deadlines. In performing the above functions, the incumbent will demonstrate flexibility, professional competence and mastery of subject matter and remain calm in stressful and fast pace situations.

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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