PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER/ MEDIA OFFICER

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Media Relations Section of the Strategic Communications Branch in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York. OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. The Strategic Communications Branch (SCB) is OCHA’s communications and public advocacy team supporting headquarters and field operations in public outreach on humanitarian action. The Branch oversees senior leadership public advocacy and media, including the global spokesperson function, messaging and speeches, and social media. This position-specific job opening is being advertised for the position of Public Information Officer/ Media Officer in Media Relations Section of the Strategic Communications Branch (SCB), OCHA, New York. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Media Relations Section.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Public Information Officer/ Media Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Supports media relations for OCHA senior leadership • Supports media relations for the Under-Secretary-General, Assistant Secretary-General and other senior OCHA officials through organizing media interviews, preparing talking points and devising communications plans for high-level missions, among other activities. • Prepares and issues statements, remarks to the press and speeches by the Under-Secretary- General, Assistant Secretary-General and other senior OCHA officials, as well as the Secretary-General, on occasion. • Provides advice and expertise to managers, senior officers and public information officers in the field and at HQ on a range of press and public affairs issues, methods and approaches. • Organizes and prepares materials for proactive and background media briefings and Interviews for OCHA senior officials. • In collaboration with relevant departments, formulates communications plans for travel by senior OCHA officials. Supports the Spokesperson on media work and social media • Prepares humanitarian inputs and if asked lines on sensitive topics, based on news monitoring and in coordination with relevant desks and field offices, including for the daily noon briefing at UN Headquarters. • In coordination with relevant OCHA sections, drafts press releases and organizes their clearance and distribution. • Liaises with relevant offices to formulate media plans around major meetings, senior official travel and other events. • Drafts key messages, web content, social media content and other products in collaboration with OCHA’s visual, social media and digital teams. • Updates media lists to ensure maximum reach of communications products. • Monitors news to identify potential issues that could lead to reputational risk. • Gives on- and off-the-record interviews in English and/or in another language, as required. • Builds relationships with media organizations and proactively pitches stories to promote media coverage of humanitarian issues and major OCHA events. • Acts as focal point on specific issues, monitoring and reporting on developments, responding to inquiries, etc. • Travels to crisis environments for communications support, as needed.

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. knowledge of UN reporting, media operations, distribution, 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. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. 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.

Education

Advanced university degree in communication, journalism, international relations, 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 (5) years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, or other relevant media relations at the national or the international level is required. Experience working in a UN or other comparable international organization communication environment is required. Experience in engaging with the media and writing professionally on humanitarian crises and issues is required. Experience in managing and generating content for social media platforms is desirable. Experience in communications in aid operations in the field is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the official working languages of the United Nations. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-general and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers following established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. An impeccable record of integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 based on 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 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.