Strategic Communications Officer

Org.
Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services (UNOMS), which provides independent, confidential, and neutral conflict resolution services to UN employees in the Global Secretariat.The Strategic Communications Officer reports to the Head of Entity and is responsible for supporting outreach efforts within the UN community to promote awareness and understanding of the role of the Ombudsman's Office and the services it offers, and to facilitate internal communication and information-sharing within the office.


Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Strategic Communications Officer will be responsible for the following duties:1.
Coordinate the communications and outreach efforts of UNOMS:•Develop and plan the outreach and information strategies aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of the role and services of UNOMS within the UN community.•Produce, develop and/or oversee production of information products, such as iSeek articles, brochures, booklets, audio-visual presentations, backgrounders, etc., relating to UNOMS activities and services.
This includes drafting, research, obtaining clearances, liaising with other offices regarding design, printing and other production elements.•Act as focal point and ensures updating and maintenance of the UNOMS website.•Evaluate the effectiveness of outreach efforts, for example through surveys or other feedback, and make recommendations for improvements.•Manages and ensures adherence of the global office to its branding.•Support the regional offices in their local promotional activities.2.
Facilitate communication and information-sharing among staff within the global UNOMS:•Promote the use of collaboration and information sharing tools such as Microsoft Teams, Sharepoint, etc.•Conduct surveys and gather data from a wide variety of sources and analyze and present findings to Senior Managers.3.
Support the efforts of UNOMS to promote conflict prevention skill building activities among UN staff:•Assist in the development of materials in support of the activities of the Office and its conflict competence initiatives, such as skill-building workshops and presentations.


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.
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.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 approachesTechnological awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.


Education

An advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent degree) in communications, journalism, international relations, marketing, public administration or related field is required.
A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.


Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.


Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public relations, journalism or related field is required.Experience working with information technology tools is required.Experience in preparing and delivering internal communications in an international organization is desirable.Experience in drafting and producing a variety of information products is desirable.


Languages

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


Assessment

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


Special Notice

Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year.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.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.For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31st August 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Angola,Belize,Democratic People's Republic of Korea,Dominica,Equatorial Guinea,Grenada,Guinea-Bissau,Kiribati,Lao People's Democratic Republic,Liechtenstein,Marshall Islands,Nauru,Palau,Papua New Guinea,Qatar,Sao Tome and Principe,Timor-Leste,Tuvalu,United Arab Emirates,Vanuatu,Andorra,Antigua and Barbuda,Bahrain,Brunei Darussalam,China,Cuba,Germany,Hungary,Indonesia,Israel,Japan,Kuwait,Libya,Malta,Micronesia (Federated States of),Monaco,Oman,Panama,Paraguay,Republic of Korea,Saint Lucia,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Saudi Arabia,Singapore,Solomon Islands,Somalia,Turkmenistan,United States of America.Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.


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.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 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.