By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

Digital Communications Officer (Public Information Officer) [Temporary]

New York City

  • Organization: UNDPPA-DPO - United Nations Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations
  • Location: New York City
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Communication and Public Information
    • Information Technology and Computer Science
    • Design (digital, product, graphics or visual design)
  • Closing Date: Closed

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the Director for Coordination and Shared Services in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO). The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Strategic Communications Section. The Strategic Communications Sections for the Department of Peace Operations is a dedicated and specialized capacity that provides media relations, departmental publicity, external relations, corporate messaging/internal communications and provides technical advice and operational support to public information components in field missions.

The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) serves as a center of excellence for peace operations, responsible for preventing, responding to and managing conflict and sustaining peace in countries where peace operations under its purview are deployed, and provides support to other entities on peace and security issues.

The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department's mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Public Information Officer will be responsible for:

1) Prepares and/or oversees the development of digital communications campaigns and content across multiple platforms ensuring accurate and consistent messaging and branding and alignment with the Department's communications strategy.
a) Manages a small team responsible for the production of digital content and
management of digital campaigns, assigning tasks and assuring timely delivery across the
team.
b) Oversees the preparation of a diverse range of digital communication products in support of UN Peacekeeping priorities and coordinates with departments, offices, funds and agencies to develop ways to implement digital media campaigns system-wide and to incorporate the campaign message and themes into all relevant events and products.
c) Oversees, edits, publishes and shares daily content (text, images, GIFs, video or HTML) that supports and engages audiences in a meaningful way; maintaining an editorial calendar for timely content, ensuring quality control and a coherent user experience.

2. Manages and administers all UN Peacekeeping digital communications platforms.
a) Oversees UN Peacekeeping's digital/social media platforms, including content, responses and impact.
b) Monitors, analyses and evaluates implementation and impact of UN Peacekeeping's social media presence and adapts editorial and outreach priorities accordingly.
c) Oversees and optimizes UN Peacekeeping's webpages to increase representation, reach and impact.
d) Responds to comments in a timely and appropriate fashion, and escalates any potential issues to senior management as necessary.

3. Conceptualizes, manages, implements and evaluates digital communications strategies and
activities.
a) Based on DPO's communication strategy, the incumbent will be responsible for updating
and executing digital media strategies for social media, through competitive research,
platform determination, benchmarking, messaging and audience identification with the
objective of promoting awareness, understanding and support for UN Peacekeeping's work
and priorities.
b) Reports to the Department's leadership on communications activities, developments, trends and attitudes regarding UN Peacekeeping and advises management on appropriate social media responses; and coordinates and shares public information activities and guidance with other sections of the Strategic Communications Section and leadership when appropriate.
c) Provides advice and expertise to managers, senior officers and other public information
staff on a range of digital public affairs issues, policies, guidelines, methods, and approaches.
d) Identifies and seeks new opportunities for advancing UN Peacekeeping, anticipates and
resolves digital communications/public relations issues/problems.

4. Engages with digital and social media stakeholders and develops partnerships.
a) Builds an online community through social media platforms; manages social media
communication with supporters and interested parties on a daily basis, building relationships
with existing supporters and influencers to build the UN Peacekeeping brand.
b) Monitors a range of external platforms and social media, including to counter misinformation, and maintains UN Peacekeeping presence in public dialogue where appropriate.
c) Keeps abreast of changing developments, emerging trends and innovations, and
technologies in the digital and social media field and makes recommendations for new
opportunities to expand UN Peacekeeping's social media presence.
d) Sets up regular system of digital media and engagement guidance and monitoring, and
develops a successful process of communicating and maintaining regular contact and close
collaboration with key social media advocates and stakeholders.
f) In consultation with supervisor, develops strategic partnerships with key constituencies to
elicit support for and maximize impact of digital and social media strategies' objectives.

5. Builds communication capacity and team management.
a) Participates in substantive and administrative activities of the unit, interprets and
disseminates digital media policy, providing procedural advice, improving reporting systems, handling operational and administrative queries, preparing budget submissions, establishing and/or coordinating social media training programmes and monitoring and evaluating results.
b) In close coordination with the Chief, manages and supervises public information staff with particular focus on the digital team, as well as consultants and interns, to achieve the social media outputs and quality assurance of all related activities; establishing work plans, required resources, priorities, timelines and performance benchmarks; recommending training requirements and mentoring when required. Monitors progress and takes timely action and/or decisions to ensure objectives and deadlines are met.
c) Participates in recruitment, supervision and evaluation of staff as appropriate.
d) Guides field missions on digital communications, including through training, capacity building and support during crisis.

Other related duties that may be assigned.

Competencies

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 conceptualize, design and implement major information campaigns.
• Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources.
• Ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships.
• Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style.
• 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.

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 the audience.
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

CREATIVITY
• Actively seeks to improve programmes or services.
• Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs.
• Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas.
• Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box".
• Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things.
• Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Education

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 first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field, including four years of in-depth experience using social media networks and implementing digital media strategies in a business context is required.
Experience engaging with digital and social media stakeholders and developing partnerships is desirable.
Management experience, overseeing a team of communications professionals is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English (oral and written) is required. Fluency in French (oral and written) is highly desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This temporary position is available through 30 June 2022. Appointment or assignment against this position is subject to availability of post and funding. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the UN Secretariat, the selection will be recorded as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary job opening may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to "internal candidates," who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

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

• 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.

• At the United Nations, all employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

• Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

• Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

• For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.

• The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English

• Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

United Nations Considerations

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.

No Fee

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.

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: