EDITOR, ENGLISH

Established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1958 as one of the UN's five regional commissions, ECA's mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development. Made up of 54 member States, and playing a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape, ECA is well positioned to make unique contributions to address the Continent’s development challenges. The strategic objective of ECA is framed around delivering ideas and actions for an empowered, inclusive and transformed Africa in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union through its three core functions, namely, its function as a think tank, its convening function and its operational function. For more information, please visit UNECA website: https://www.uneca.org.

This post is located in the Publications, Conference and Knowledge Management Division (PCKMD), Publications and Conference Management Section (PCMS) at the Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa. The incumbent works under the overall guidance of the Chief of the Publications and Conference Management Section, and is directly supervised by the Chief of English Translation and Editing Unit (ETEU).

Within delegated authority, the English Editor will be responsible for the following duties:

•Edits texts of a specialized or technical nature in order to ensure accuracy, clarity, cohesion and conformity with United Nations standards, policy and practice.

•Consults with author departments and carries out research to clarify ambiguities and rectify substantive errors.

•Checks the language version to be edited against the language of the original draft, redrafts incorrect or unclear passages and translates and inserts any passages that have been omitted.

•Provides authors or others submitting documentation with information on specific aspects of editorial policy and practice and assists them in the preparation of manuscripts.

•Performs other related duties as required.

Results expected

The incumbent will produce documents to a standard that minimizes revision at the final stage and will ensure that projects and assignments are completed on schedule.

Professionalism:
Comprehensive knowledge of editorial policies, practices and research techniques of the United Nations or any other similar international organization; ability to demonstrate excellent writing and analytical skills, with sensitivity to nuance and target audience; ability to spot errors and inconsistencies in a text and to devise creative solutions to multiple textual challenges, while respecting the needs of authors; ability to work under pressure and maintain adequate speed and volume of output; ability to show a high level of versatility, judgment and discretion, together with solid negotiating skills; 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; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning and organizing
Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments, adjusts priorities as required; allocates the amount of time and resources necessary for completing the work, foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Teamwork
Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing the ideas and expertise of other staff and clients; supports and acts in accordance with consensus decisions even when such decisions may not entirely reflect her/his own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

A first level degree from a university or institution of equivalent status. Candidates for this position must have passed the United Nations Competitive Examination for English Editors or English Translators and Prècis-writers.

A minimum of two years of experience in editing within the United Nations is required.
Knowledge of a broad range of subjects dealt with by the Economic Commission for Africa (social, economic,financial, administrative, scientific and technical) with a recognized specialization in a particular substantive, technical or administrative area is desirable.

A perfect command of English, which must be the candidate’s main language, an excellent knowledge of French, and knowledge of another official language of the United Nations, as tested by the relevant United Nations Competitive Examination for Editors or Translators and Prècis-writers, are required.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move(s) requirements, or geographical to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral or geographical move(s) in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 November 2019, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

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.