Snr English Editor

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 English Editor

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

Reporting to the Chief of Secretariat, the Senior English Editor performs a critical governance-support function, with responsibility for ensuring quality and timely production of documentation for UNHCR's Executive and Standing Committees as well as organizational support for meetings of the Executive Committee and its Standing Committee.  The Senior English Editor works within a close-functioning team, with guidance from the Chief of Secretariat but with substantial discretion and independence in the quality production of documentation and organization of certain events and meetings. The incumbent liaises closely with the Executive Office, UNHCR Bureaux and Division colleagues on all aspects of ExCom proceedings and documentation and has frequent interaction with delegations of Permanent Missions in Geneva. In this regard, diplomatic skills, political awareness and discretion are essential to all aspects of the job. 

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- Documents for consideration by the Executive Committee and its Standing Committee are of the highest quality and are provided in compliance with deadlines and editorial standards of the Committee and UN document management services.
- Correspondence and other official documents of the Executive Office are of the highest quality, timely-reviewed and processed and in compliance with relevant protocol and editorial standards.

Responsibility

- Review, edit and draft documentation for the Executive Committee and its Standing Committee, ensuring that documentation is analytical and well-written, in accord with requirements and expectations of the Committee and editorial standards.
- Substantively support the preparation and conduct of meetings of the Executive Committee and its Standing Committee, both formal and informal, as well as major meetings of the Office, such as the High Commissioner's Dialogue on Protection Challenges and the Global Representatives Meeting.
- Ensure that official correspondence of the Office with Governments and other parties meets editorial standards for content, style, presentation and protocol.
- Oversee the drafting of the High Commissioner's Annual Report to the UN General Assembly; supervise compilation, editing and submission of reports to the General Assembly pursuant to relevant GA resolutions; solicit, edit and ensure timely, quality contributions by UNHCR to the reports of other UN entities; coordinate Secretariat editing of the Global Appeal and Global Report.
- Directly supervise and coach the External Relations Officer with regard to work on the above; liaise closely with two G6 Conference Service Associates in relation to all documentation and conferencing servicing and meeting planning matters.
- Provide other support to the Head of Service and Chief of Secretariat as needed, and serve as Officer-in-Charge during the latter's absence.

Authority

- Advise and provide guidelines on editorial style, forms of address and other protocol matters.
- Advise and coach UNHCR staff throughout the Office on effective written communication and English expression.
- Represent the Secretariat in internal and external meetings and other interaction/coordination with UN bodies, governments and non-governmental organizations.
- Interact with diplomatic staff of the ExCom Bureau members to ensure appropriate servicing.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in English language/literature or in a writing-intensive, analytical discipline (e.g. law, literature, history, political science) plus minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience in function(s) requiring extensive analytical drafting and a minimum of 3 of those years in a direct editorial capacity.
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Minimum 5 years of experience working in an international capacity and environment.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNHCR's governance structure.
- Excellent drafting and editing skills in English; ability to ensure high quality revision, quality control and production of a large quantity of documentation for UNHCR's governing body.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Experience with UNHCR and/or other operational humanitarian agencies would be highly desirable.
- Working knowledge of written and spoken French would be a significant asset.
- Experience in government relations/diplomacy and protocol would be extremely useful. 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
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage them – before deciding to apply- to read the country specific security and welfare country profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care.

 

Staff after having applied to High Risk Duty Stations will have access to country specific information webinars with Field Safety Section (FSS) and Staff Welfare Section (SWS) colleagues and provided with a tool to test their psychological preparedness for serving in High Risk Duty Stations. Applicants who applied for a position in a High Risk country will receive, after the deadline for applications has expired, a joint invitation from the Staff Welfare Section (SWS) and the Field Safety Section (FSS) to participate in these webinars. During the Webinars, latest updates on security and well-being will be provided, and FSS and SWS will address questions raised by participants. Applicants are highly encouraged to benefit, when applicable, from all measures as they provide most up-to-date security and well-being information helpful to assess staff’s readiness to serve in a High Risk Duty Station. A Staff Welfare Officer will also be available, if and when required, to discuss with interested applicants the results of the psychological preparedness tool as well as readiness for assignment in High Risk Duty Stations.

 

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2018 Compendium is Thursday 18 October  2018 (midnight Geneva time).