Organization: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 20 Aug 2015
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
Notes: This is a temporary Job opening.
Duration of Need: 6 months.
Estimated Start Date: 01 November 2015.
• 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 section 5.7 below and 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/2010/4Rev.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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
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.
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Reporting Unit of the Reporting and Visual Information Section, Communications Services Branch of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The incumbent would report to the Head of the Unit.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Public Information Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
* Ensures implementation of information programs to publicize priority issues and/or major events, to include drafting information strategies, coordinating efforts, monitoring and reporting on progress, taking appropriate follow-up action, and analyzing the outcome.
* Monitors and analyses current humanitarian events, identifies issues and trends, and develops or supports OCHA corporate publications as needed (Annual Report, "OCHA in 2014", etc.) .
*Undertakes activities to promote official guidance on information products including development of an outreach plan, disseminating materials and undertaking appropriate follow-up action and analyzing and reporting on the impact of the products.
*Produces or oversees production of a specific type or types of information communications products (e.g. Situation Reports, Humanitarian Bulletins, 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.
*Provides surge support to field offices or new emergency situations.
* Prepares, on the basis of official UN documentation and other sources, initial drafts of articles or chapters for inclusion in UN newsletters, periodicals, reports and books.
* 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.
* Serves as surge capacity in the field as required.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: * Knowledge of the full range of communications approaches, tools, and methodologies essential to planning and executing effective reporting 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. * Ability to identify public affairs issues, opportunities and risks in an international environment. * Ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships. Knowledge of relevant internal policies and business activities/issues. * 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.
PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: * Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; * Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; * Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; *Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; * Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; * Uses time efficiently.
CLIENT ORIENTATION:*Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients" point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients" needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; * Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients" environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;* Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; * Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master"s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations 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.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, or related area. Reporting experience in the context of humanitarian emergencies is required. Experience in emergency situations (natural disasters, complex emergencies) at the field level is desired, experience in emergency situations at the international level is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency in French is desirable.
Assessment Method
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.
How to apply:
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of inspira account-holder homepage.
Applications are pre-screened by the system according to the published requirements of the job opening on the basis of the information provided in the application. In relation to the requirements of the job opening, applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their qualifications, including their education, work experience, and language skills. Each applicant must bear in mind that submission of incomplete or inaccurate applications may render that applicant ineligible for consideration for the job opening. Initial screening and evaluation of applications will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted. Applications cannot be amended following submission. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
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