The Office of the Secretary of the Executive Board (OSEB) is seeking support for the documentation team during the period where the two staff Strategic Planning Specialists will each be acting as Officer-in-Charge for the Deputy Secretary of the Executive Board. Given the critical and highly sensitive nature of its work, the Office is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to fulfill the functions of the position, from 1 October 2020 until 9 April 2021 (subject to funding confirmation).

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a Champion.

The Office of the Secretary of the Executive Board (OSEB) is responsible for maintaining an effective relationship between the Executive Board and the UNICEF secretariat. Under the guidance of the President and the Bureau, the Office services all aspects of the work of the Executive Board, including the formal sessions, informal consultations and briefings, Bureau meetings, and field visits by the Bureau and Executive Board members. It also provides editorial and technical services for all documentation related to Executive Board sessions and meetings, decisions, and reports of sessions; and maintains the multilingual Executive Board website and webpages on the United Nations PaperSmart portal.

The Office is seeking support for the documentation team during the period where the two staff Strategic Planning Specialists will each be acting as Officer-in-Charge for the Deputy Secretary of the Executive Board.

Given the critical and highly sensitive nature of its work, the Office is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to fulfill the functions of the position.

Time frame:

1 October 2020 to 9 April 2021 (subject to funding confirmation).

How can you make a difference?

Duties and Responsibilities

Editing and Documentation

  • Plan, schedule and coordinate editorial work and draft, edit and proofread assigned documents, including country programme documents, for the 2021 first regular and annual sessions to the highest professional standards. Ensure proper clearance in accordance with the Office’s established processes.
  • Ensure the editorial quality of various other documents.
  • In consultation with the relevant Documentation Associate, ensure that translations of Executive Board decisions and other documents are accurate and that departmental corrections are submitted to the United Nations in a timely manner.
  • Attend monthly meetings of the Bureau of the Executive Board. Prepare the summary note for the record, to the highest degree of accuracy and within deadline, for review by the Secretary and Deputy Secretary/OIC.
  • Help to coordinate preparation of the official report of the Executive Board session; including preparing a timeline, drafting and editing text, and ensuring timely review by the Secretary/Deputy Secretary and submission to the members of the Executive Board members for their comments.
  • Review presentations and videos for the informal briefings and Executive Board sessions, ensuring factual consistency with relevant session documentation, completing light editing as required, and flagging any potentially sensitive issues for attention/resolution. 

Planning and Coordination

  • Liaise and coordinate with the relevant UNICEF divisions/offices to ensure the timely receipt and preparation of country programme documents and extensions of ongoing country programmes that will be presented to the Board.
  • Coordinate with the relevant division/s to ensure that the information on upcoming new country programmes and country programme extensions is kept current and available to Member States on the website.
  • In liaison with the Deputy Secretary/OIC ensure that the programme of work is kept current on the website.
  • Working with the Deputy Secretary/OIC and other colleagues in the team, help to establish internal deadlines for all documents, and communicate these to and follow up with all relevant UNICEF offices; monitor and chart compliance by offices.
  • In consultation with members of the OSEB team, compile inputs for the yearly update of the Informal Guide to the Executive Board; ensure timely translation (French/Spanish) by colleagues in the Division of Communication and availability for posting on the Executive Board website ahead of the yearly orientation session (in January).
  • Compile inputs from the team for the yearly update of the standard operating procedures for the Office, soliciting input from the team, setting deadlines and finalizing the document.

Strategic Guidance and Support

  • Following the session management plan and session agenda, prepare and update speaking notes for the Executive Board President for the 2021 Election of Officers (January 2021), and for the President and the Secretary for the 2021 first regular session (February 2021).  
  • Liaise with relevant staff in the Office of the Executive Director to ensure full accuracy of the notes for the President. Share the draft speaking notes with the Office of the President for his/her familiarization ahead of the session.
  • Support the Deputy Secretary of the Executive Board/OIC in effective and efficient organization, preparation, management and servicing of all Executive Board sessions and other Board-related meetings and consultations;
  • Provide guidance (on process, timelines, clearances), where necessary, to staff members and non-staff personnel involved in the planning and preparation of the documentation for Executive Board sessions.

Communication

  • Liaise with UNICEF communication staff on coverage of the formal Executive Board sessions, and disseminate information on Executive Board sessions to relevant parties.
  • Ensure timely update of the Executive Board website, including end-of-year updates throughout several pages of the site.
  • Coordinate communication coverage (photo, video, as relevant) of the 2021 Election of Officers. Work with the Secretary and Deputy Secretary/OIC to plan for communication coverage (interview or feature story) of the incoming Board President for 2021.
  • Help to oversee update of the OSEB intranet (ICON) pages, particularly at the start of the year and in advance of the 2021 first regular session.
  • Draft statements, as requested, for various actors, such as the President of the Executive Board.
  • Complete any other tasks that may be required, as assigned by the supervisor.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

  • Advanced university degree, preferably in communications, journalism, international relations, languages or social and economic development areas. A Bachelor’s degree may be considered if combined with two additional years of relevant experience.
  • At least eight years of progressively responsible experience in writing or editing documents/publications related to social and economic development.
  • Proven experience and knowledge of the UN editorial style, terminology, practices and procedures.
  • Familiarity with UNICEF’s mandate and with the work of the Executive Board is ideal.
  • Experience working in an international humanitarian or development organization is preferred.
  • Proven strong communication skills and ability to interact with diverse range of people.
  • Proven political acumen and ability to apply sound judgment in a complex setting.
  • Proven ability to apply innovative thinking and solutions to complex and changing environments.
  • Ability to multi-task where compliance with deadlines is critical.
  • Fluency in English (written and spoken) at the native level if required; a second official United Nations language is an asset.

Supervision

The selected candidate will work under the direct supervision of the respective staff members serving as Officer-in-Charge for the Deputy Secretary of the Executive Board over the contract duration.

Work modalities

The selected candidate will work virtually (offsite, via electronic communication – telephone, email, Skype for Business, WhatsApp etc.) for the majority of the contract period. However, his/her in-person presence at the office (or the United Nations secretariat) may be required for a few days for special events, depending on the nature of the informal briefings and formal sessions in early 2021, as informed by the Return to Office Premises Plan for UNICEF New York headquarters

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework here:

https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/DHR-UCF/SiteAssets/Forms/undefined

Download File Competency Framework Brochure.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.