United Nations
Job title:
PUBLIC INFORMATION ASSISTANT
Company
United Nations
Job description
This position is located in the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. The incumbent reports to the Spokesperson. The Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General provides information to the media on the activities of the UN system as a whole through daily briefings, direct responses to media enquiries, press conferences, background briefings and interviews with the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and other senior officials. The Office provides advice on media relations to the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and senior Secretariat officials. The Office also keeps the Secretary-General regularly informed of major breaking news stories around the world.ResponsibilitiesUnder the direct supervision of the Spokesperson and Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: – Organizes press conferences (maintains a schedule and ensures adherence to relevant guidance for the press room; coordinates any logistical arrangements); – Drafts a daily note to be read at the noon briefing announcing any press conferences scheduled during the following 24 hours; – Maintains statistics on press conferences & briefings held each year and assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making; – Acts as focal point in the Spokesperson’s office for interviews with the Secretary-General (collects the necessary information from the journalists and participates in meetings between the Spokesperson and the EOSG Communications Director to formulate recommendations for the Secretary-General’s approval); – Makes logistical arrangements for those interviews which are granted and follows up afterwards regarding final product; – Maintains a database of all interview requests (keeps abreast of the status of each and keeps in continuous contact with those under consideration); – Provides information to the media, by email, phone and in person, on any issue related to the work of the Organization; – Transcribes press encounters with the Secretary-General, and posts on web page daily schedules and statements of the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General. – During the opening weeks of the General Assembly, the incumbent is responsible for setting-up and managing press conferences by Heads of State and other senior government officials which might be running concurrently in the press room and other UN meeting rooms; – Performs other duties as assigned.CompetenciesProfessionalism: Must have a refined news sense and the ability to draw on a wide breadth of knowledge concerning current affairs and the role and policies of the United Nations. Has the ability to work under constant pressure and within tight daily deadlines. Ability to write fast, accurate, journalistic prose. Maturity, discipline and political judgement are required to speak on behalf of the Secretary-General on matters of policy and substance in live interviews; an ability to analyze and articulate complex UN polices in layman’s terms to the media. Ability to build a relationship of trust with the media, as well as anticipate and satisfy the media needs of the Secretary-General and his senior staff. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning & 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.EducationHigh school diploma or an equivalent.Job – Specific QualificationNot available.Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years of relevant experience in public communication, international broadcasting, public information or similar setting is required. Experience in logistical support in the area of public information such as setting up press conferences and coordinating meetings with journalists is desirable. Experience in setting up and managing statistical databases is desirable. Experience in researching a broad scope of information sources, printed and electronic and compiling and presenting information for use in the preparation and production of communications products/services for external audiences is desirable.LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Fluency in one of the other UN official language is highly desirable.AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.Special NoticeThis position is temporarily available for 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. 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. At the United Nations, 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. 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.United Nations ConsiderationsAccording 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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 FeeTHE 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.
Expected salary
Location
New York City, NY
Job date
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 23:53:21 GMT
To help us track our recruitment effort, please indicate in your email/cover letter where (un-jobs.net) you saw this job posting.