SENIOR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

These positions are located in the Peacekeeping field Missions or in the Political special Missions of the United Nations. Typically, the Senior Public Information Officers will report to the the Head of the Strategic Communications and Public Information Section or to the Mission leadership, according to the Section’s structure. The Senior Public Information Officers are deployed in Mission Headquarters (usually the capital city) or if required, in field offices at sub-national levels (outside the capital).

Within delegated authority, the Senior Public Information Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Conceptualize, design and execute the overall communication strategy, programme and activities for the Mission;
• Develop and implement the Mission crisis communication strategy and activities;
• Serve as lead Chief of Strategic Communications and Public Information and/or Spokesperson for the field Mission, as appropriate;
• Provide technical and policy advice on highly complex public information and communications issues;
• Lead and direct a team of public information officers; plan and allocate work assignments; coach, mentor, and evaluate staff; participate in recruitment and selection of new staff and in the development of training programs;
• Oversee the preparation, from research to production, of UN newsletters, brochures, magazines, reports, radio, multimedia products and promotional items for the Mission’s visibility;
• Oversee the content and strategy of the Mission social media presence and lead digital media campaigns to enhance public outreach and engagement activities using a range of digital media platforms and leveraging emerging technologies and trends;
• Create and maintain networks and partnership with national and international broadcast media, the press, governmental agencies, including national government press offices, international institutions and other groups and organizations in civil society (non-governmental organizations, businesses, community organizations, women's groups, etc.);
• Engage with UN Headquarters communication entities and other UN entities in the country and region and maintain regular interaction with updates on Mission activities;
• Oversee and coordinate the work and outputs of the Section’s Units (e.g.: multimedia; media relations; outreach; radio) and regional offices, if within the Mission’s structure;
• Oversee the budgeting and procurement process to support the Strategic Communications and Public Information Section;
• Maintain liaison and coordination with the Mission’s uniformed and civilian personnel components’ leadership to streamline and address the Mission’s public information and communication priorities;
• Represent and speak on behalf of the organization in important meetings, conferences, events; promote joint public relations ventures and increased communication synergy with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT);
• Contribute to the development of institutional public relations policies;
• Assess the overall effectiveness of the communications strategy and public information programmes and make needed changes in approach and technique;
• Provide diverse materials (briefings, speeches, media analysis, media guidance, talking points) for use by senior officials; develop or oversee the development of high-profile multi-media communications campaigns, of high qualitative standards;
• Manage crisis communications when and if necessary to protect the image and credibility of the Mission;
• Provide advice to Mission’s leadership on communications priorities.

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of different aspects of public information and communication. Ability to address a range of issues in the context of political developments, public attitudes and local conditions. Ability to advise on high profile and sensitive communication challenges. Ability to assess world-wide communication environments, develop communication strategies and manage implementation of public information campaigns with various promotional and publicity techniques. Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style. Ability to present and defend difficult positions to senior officials. 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.

• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

• EMPOWERING OTHERS: Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work; encourages others to set challenging goals; holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility; genuinely values all staff members' input and expertise; shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort; involves others when making decisions that affect them.

•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.

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area. Experience in overseeing Strategic Communication coordination mechanism/s is required. Experience in media communications, digital media, radio, outreach and/or public relations is required. Experience with management of teams is required. Experience as a spokesperson or senior public information officer is desirable. Experience providing services related to Public Information to or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable. Familiarity with UN budgeting and UN procurement process are desirable.

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

Evaluation of qualified candidates is likely to include a written assessment exercise, a video assessment exercise, which may be followed by competency-based interview.

The United Nations Department of Field Support maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in peacekeeping operations, special political missions, and other field operations. The purpose of this job opening is to populate an existing mixed male/female roster of pre-cleared candidates for positions as Senior Public Information Officer P-5, in UN peace operations. Women are particularly encouraged to apply in support of achievement of the United Nations System-Wide Gender Parity Strategy launched in September 2017. https://iseek-newyork.un.org/system/files/1700102b_gender_strategy_report_13_sept_2017.pdf
Please note that this roster is for a specific profile of candidates required by UN peace operations. These positions are located in conflict and post-conflict locations which are typically classified as non-family and/or hardship duty stations. As such, candidates who are eventually selected for positions cannot bring family members with them. That said, the United Nations offers a competitive salary package and specific benefits and entitlements to help staff deployed to non-family duty stations balance work and life commitments. To learn more about the UN salary scale and benefits and entitlements in hardship locations, please visit http://unjumet.net/ohrm_main/index.php. An updated list of UN peace operations and additional information on working in the field can be found at http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/about/dfs/ and http://www.un.org/undpa/en/in-the-field/overview.

All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently will be invited to apply for field mission vacancies open only to roster members. Roster membership does not guarantee selection.

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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

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 Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The 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 according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. 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 reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.