Field Public Information Officer-LDC Band H

Org. Setting and Reporting

The incumbent reports to the Field Office Director and receives technical guidance and advice on the Agency’s public information policy from the Chief, Strategic Communications Division/Arabic Spokesperson.

Responsibilities

In accordance with Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent:
•Develops, implements and evaluates Field's Communication Plan/Strategy ensuring its coherence with the overall Agency's communication strategy; advises the Field Office Director, Spokesperson and Chief of Strategic Communications Division/Arabic Spokesperson on public relations and information opportunities and needs in the Field with a view to developing and executing appropriate PI interventions to increase/promote awareness, image and visibility of the Agency across the Field and beyond;
•Acts as the (Arabic) spokesperson for the Field Office Director and other senior staff in the Field; maintains regular contact with local and international media representatives; keeps the press informed of the Agency’s activities to promote better understanding and coverage of the Agency’s work, and to encourage the media to use UNRWA as a source of information on refugees;
•Supervises the activities of the Public Information Office, including monitoring the daily press and production of the daily/weekly press reviews and monthly situation reports, overseeing translations of press summaries and other documents, responding to requests for information, head donor visibility efforts in the Field including briefing donors and VIPs, organizing exhibitions and drafting press releases warranted by donors;
•Coordinates the compilation of Field information and the drafting of texts in English and Arabic for use in Agency-wide information materials including for the Agency’s English and Arabic website and UNRWA official social media accounts;
•In coordination with relevant Agency stakeholders, develops and implements Field-specific internal communication plan, including working actively on the Arabic staff portal (Field and Agency-wide) and content management;
•Establishes and maintains relations with inter-governmental organizations, research centers, NGOs and groups using or disseminating Agency information materials; establishes and maintains relations with refugee and camp representatives;
•Produces Field public information materials including press releases, texts for publications and articles, and reports from the Agency’s Area of Operation to be used by the media and by governmental and non-governmental organizations;
•Accompanies the Commissioner-General and other senior staff on visits of Agency installations during field visits; acts as interpreter when required;
•Performs such other duties as may be required.

Competencies

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others in a team environment and with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures and nationalities;
• Ability to translate and interpret accurately from and into Arabic and English;
• Strong communication skills;
• Ability to use a variety of computer software including MS Office, Page Maker, Corel Draw and internet;
• High degree of organizational and political awareness in the Middle East;
• Ability to draft and edit written materials and to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style in Arabic and English;
• Ability to exercise a high degree of professional discretion.

Education

• An advanced university degree in journalism, communications, public relations or other related discipline

Work Experience

• Required at least eight years’ experience in the application of the knowledge acquired in (A) above in a large national or international organization. Experience should include writing for publications in Arabic and English and knowledge of and contact with the international media.

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English

Special Notice

Contract Status: Limited Duration Contract for One year

Benefits: LDC: Band “H”. Monthly Salary JD 2,304.90 fils depending on qualifications & experience. Other benefits include medical insurance and annual leave and dependency allowance (if applicable).

Department: Office of the Field Director
Duty Station: Jordan Field Office-Amman

Desirable Qualification
• Knowledge of Agency operations;
• Knowledge of contemporary issues of the Middle East;
• Working knowledge of any other language;
• Possession of a valid driving license.
.
Additional Information
• The incumbent may be required to travel frequently throughout the Agency's area of operations;
• The job is performed frequently beyond regular working hours.

EQUIVALENCY
When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Field Director may exceptionally substitute part of the unmet requirements with a combination of relevant academic qualifications, additional professional training and progressive relevant work experience.
NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.


General Information:
• This vacancy notice is open to internal and external candidates. Only candidates residing in Jordan, and within commuting distance of the duty station with authorization to work in the duty station at the time of application are eligible to apply. The Agency will not assume responsibility or accountability to support or facilitate the issuance of work permit in Jordan, and without a valid work permit, the appointment may be rescinded.

• Since the Vacancy is an Area Staff post, the Agency will not provide coverage for relocation costs.

• Preference will be given to registered Palestine refugees and candidates assisting the Agency to meet its commitment to gender parity. UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

• UNRWA encourages applications from qualified and experienced women.

• A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same post or a similar post.

• Only applications that have been fully completed in UNRWA’s online e-recruitment system inspira will be considered and no late applications will be accepted. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience under the experience tabs as per the requirements in the Job Opening. All acquired university degrees must also be stated, if applicable. Applicants applying to positions for Grades 12 to 20 must submit a cover letter/motivational statement in order to be considered. Additionally, providing incorrect or misleading information on an application will result in the immediate disqualification of a candidate.

• For UNRWA internal staff, they are required to specify and include their current UNRWA grade level. To do so applicants should select under “Category” RLG, scroll down to see all categories, then select their local grade.

• Advertisements published only in English will only accept applications in English, and Arabic submissions will not be considered.

• The Agency may disqualify applicants whose name appears on the UN Sanctions List or a UN database of staff separated for reason of misconduct or of staff who separated whilst misconduct processes were pending.

• UNRWA shares investigation and misconduct information with other UN Agencies, and past and prospective employers, about staff members who have been separated for misconduct, or who have separated whilst an investigation and/or disciplinary process for misconduct is underway; and such persons may be prohibited from employment with the United Nations.

• The Agency will immediately disqualify applicants who are ineligible for any reason in accordance with the Agency regulatory framework.

• UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live.

• Applications from UNRWA staff member who had been demoted with deferred eligibility for promotion will not be considered.

• Applications from Staff members who were recipients under the Early Voluntary Retirement or Exceptional Voluntary Separation Schemes will not be considered.

• Applications from Internal candidate serving for less than one year in your current post will not be considered.

• The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description or to change the contract Modality.

United Nations Considerations

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her.

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups.

At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

UNRWA Considerations
UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA 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. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List.
UNRWA is a non-smoking work 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.