Public Information Officer (P3)

Estimated Start Date: 01/08/2015

Duration of need: 5 months

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships: This position is located in Global Information Services Section (GISS), Information Services Branch (ISB), Corporate Programmes Division (CPD), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The incumbent reports to the Chief Editor.

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

• Ensures implementation of outreach strategy for engagement with humanitarian audiences/clients, including drafting information strategies, guidelines, workflows and tools, coordinating efforts, monitoring and reporting on progress, taking appropriate follow-up action, and analyzing the outcome.

• Monitors and analyzes current events, public opinion and press, identifies issues and trends and applies knowledge to enhance communication activities.

• Undertakes activities to promote audience engagement on priority issues and/or major events, to include development of an outreach strategy and action plan, initiating pro-active outreach efforts, proposing and arranging marketing events, disseminating materials and undertaking appropriate follow-up action and analyzing and reporting on impact. .

• Produces or oversees production of a specific types of information communications products (e.g. blog posts, email and social media campaigns, brochures, audio-visual materials, etc.), to include proposing topics, undertaking research, determining appropriate medium and target audience, preparing production plans, writing drafts, obtaining clearances and finalizing texts, editing copy, and coordinating design approval, printing procedures and distribution.

• Initiates and sustains professional relationships with key constituencies.

• Acts as focal point on specific issues, monitoring and reporting on developments, responding to inquiries, etc.

• Participates in selecting the information transmitted to key constituencies.

• Provides guidance to, and may supervise, more junior staff.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

Senior Public Information Officers and other specialists, and managers throughout the UN and in other UN organizations and missions.

Product managers, technology partners, outsourced personnel, humanitarian community

Results Expected:

Plans, manages and evaluates public communications campaigns that promote public understanding of humanitarian information, events and views on specific topics/issues in accordance with prevailing policy and practices. Originates communications products that most effectively convey desired information/message to targeted audience(s). Builds and facilitates strategic contacts and partnerships to ensure effective public communications.

COMPETENCIES:

• Professionalism: Knowledge of the full range of communications approaches, tools, and methodologies essential to planning and executing effective campaign strategies and programmes, e.g. campaign management, media operations, marketing and promotion, audience outreach, message targeting. Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources. Comprehensive knowledge of, and exposure to, a wide range of humanitarian experiences, emergency relief and related human rights issues. Very good knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian affairs. Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style. Ability to deliver oral presentations to various audiences. 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.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• 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.

For Managerial Positions:

QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area. Experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation or development, human rights is desirable. Experience in information management, communications or other related area is desirable.

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 two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Notes:

· A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further “stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013…” Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.

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

· While this temporary assignment 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.

· The expression “Internal candidates”, shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.

· 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 .

HOW TO APPLY:

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

· Cover Letter

· Personal History Profile (visit https://inspira.un.org to generate a PHP)

· Proof of required academic credentials (for external applicants)

· Employment verification letter from most recent employer (for external applicants)

· Last two completed Performance Appraisal or two Reference Letters for external applicants

ALL SUBMISSIONS TO BE SENT TO:

Contact Name: Melissa Valencia - Email Address: p3ny@reliefweb.int