Spokesperson

Vacancy Announcement

Spokesperson, D-1

Amman, Jordan

Deadline for Applications

11 August 2018

(28 July 2018 for internal applicants)

Duration

2 years, with the possibility of further extension

Vacancy Announcement Number

18-HQ-AM-35

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified women.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed professionals wishing to make a change.

UNRWA’s strategic objectives

The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live. In line with this mission, the Agency works towards five strategic outcomes: (a) Palestine refugee rights under international law are protected and promoted; (b) Palestine refugee health is protected and disease burden is reduced; (c) school-age children complete quality, equitable and inclusive basic education; (d) Palestine refugee capabilities are strengthened for increased livelihood opportunities; and (e) Palestine refugees are able to meet their basic human needs of food, shelter and environmental health. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions.

Do you want to make a lasting difference? 

If you are passionate about making a lasting difference for Palestinian refugees, as Spokesperson you will provide media relations advice and strategic communications support to the Commissioner-General (CG), the Deputy Commissioner General (DCG) and senior staff. You will be involved in establishing a cohesive, well-coordinated media relations framework Agency-wide. You will be required to maintain on a daily basis close functional networks with the public information offices at Headquarters and in the Fields, as well as HQ Departments and Representative Offices and utilizing to the Agency’s benefit a variety of information media. You will also have responsibilities for relations with UN Agencies and the NGO and donor communities on advocacy issues.

The main responsibilities include:

•        Serving as Spokesperson for the Commissioner-General and principal liaison between the Agency’s Field Offices and HQ Public Information Offices and local and international strategic media organizations, engaging in a broad range of media relations activities such as arranging and conducting interviews, briefing journalists, conducting field visits for journalist, assisting Fields and HQ departments with strategic communications, reporting opportunities and participating in international conferences and public speaking;  

•        Developing, overseeing and evaluating the implementation of communication strategies to align with Executive Office decisions maintaining messaging documents, such as talking points, frequently asked questions and “if asked” public media lines in coordination with Field and HQ offices; ensuring that media contacts Agency-wide are consistently “on-message”; ensuring cohesive functional relationships with the Public Information Offices at Headquarters and in the Fields;

•        Assisting the Commissioner-General in articulating and presenting the Agency’s work in terms of public and private advocacy and articulating the Agency positions to the local and international public, both directly and through the media and to donor and other audiences; working with Field Offices and HQ Departments to devise and implement strategic communications plans; 

•        Preparing press releases and background notices for use by the media and supporting and working with the Communications Division in doing this and other work such as advocacy campaigns;

•        Establishing and maintaining close contact, as required, with Spokespersons of the Secretary General, other United Nations Headquarters offices in New York, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, other international organizations present in the Agency’s area, relevant embassies and State entities, and relevant non-governmental organizations in order to amplify the Agency’s message;

•        Monitoring the media for the purpose of providing analysis and assessing coverage of news relevant to the Agency; identifying trends and providing advice to the Commissioner-General in this regard, and correcting misinformation.

Conditions of service 

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $97,805 net tax free, with post adjustment of 46.1% (subject to change without notice). All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

•  Dependency allowances

•  Rental subsidy

•  Education grant for children

•  Home leave travel

•  6 weeks (30 working days) annual leave

•  Pension fund entitlements under the

    UN Joint Staff Pension Fund

•  International health insurance; optional

    life insurance

•  Disability protection

Additional information

The incumbent of this post may be required to travel frequently in the Agency's area of operations and elsewhere.

To qualify for this position, you will need:

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in communications, journalism, public relations or other related fields of study; a first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work

Experience

•        A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in journalism, communications or public relations, including experience at the international level, and demonstrated ability in pro-active media relations;

•        Prior substantial experience at senior levels in a UN peacekeeping mission, humanitarian agency, or similar entity;

Language(s)

Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.

Desirable qualifications:

Training or experience in management and international relations.

You will also need to demonstrate the following competencies:

•        Communication: Highly developed communication (spoken, written, public speaking and presentational) skills, including the ability to diplomatically articulate and present sensitive issues/positions; extensive media contacts and ability to maintain high level media contacts;

•        Political awareness: Sound understanding of regional/international political trends; the ability to analyze these trends and to use the analysis to optimize the Agency’s media relations;

•        Institutional awareness: Sound understanding of the UN and Agency policy and practice, within the larger context of humanitarian agencies in general and of the Agency’s mandate and role in particular;

•        Professionalism: Seasoned negotiating skills; sound leadership skills; discretion and sound judgment, ability to resolve complex and/or sensitive issues. Discretion and sound judgment in applying expertise to complex and/or sensitive issues, which are typically broad in scope;

•        Planning and organizing: Ability to work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent activities; ability to plan and organize own work plan;

•        Management: Demonstrated supervisory and management skills;

•        Teamwork: Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with people in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;

•        Motivation: Ability to work long irregular hours and to tight deadlines.

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews:

          https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

How to apply

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted. The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.

General information

UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality at all times. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.

The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

Date of issue: 15 July 2018/ CX