Information Officer

Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located within the team that manages the Creative Community Outreach Initiative, the Messenger of Peace Programme (MOP), and the Football for the Goals initiative in the NGO Relations, Advocacy and Special Events Section, Outreach Division, Department of Global Communications. The UN Creative Community Outreach Initiative (CCOI) collaborates with film and television productions, content creators, and engages with those in the entertainment world, including in music and sports, to cast light on pressing global issues and raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other issues on the United Nations (UN) agenda. The United Nations Messengers of Peace are distinguished individuals, carefully selected from the fields of art, literature, science, entertainment, sports or other fields of public life, who help focus worldwide attention on the work of the UN. The Messengers of Peace, through their public appearances and social media presence, as well as their contacts with the global media and humanitarian work, help expand understanding of how the ideals and objectives of the UN demand everyone’s attention. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Section. ResponsibilitiesUnder the supervision of the Chief of the NGO Relations and Advocacy Section, the incumbent will be responsible for the following functions: • Takes the lead in strategy, planning, development and implementation of large, complex communications campaigns, initiatives and collaborations with TV, film, music and sports entities, including the UN initiative Football for the Goals (e.g. global promotion initiatives, public information programmes, broad-reaching subject specific issues, etc.); producing content, messaging and digital assets, organizing events, coordinating outreach and distribution; where appropriate, works with departments, funds and agencies to develop ways to implement campaigns initiatives system-wide and to incorporate the campaign message and themes into all relevant events and products. Identifies sources and seeks funding and other assistance for major campaigns and initiatives. • Provides advice and expertise to managers, senior officers and other public information staff on a range of public affairs issues, methods, and approaches; anticipates and resolves communications/public relations issues/problems. • Develops strategic partnerships with key constituencies in the creative community to elicit support for and maximize impact of promotional objectives; initiates and sustains professional relationships with key constituencies, including creative community partners, the UN Messengers of Peace and their teams, and entities from the global sports community. Liaises with relevant counterparts within the UN-system. • In consultation with the substantive offices concerned, identify and propose information opportunities and activities for the United Nations Messengers of Peace (MOPs) and in some cases, UN Goodwill Ambassadors, taking into account the situation/topic and target audience, identify new influencers and grow the influencer portfolio and help coordinate policy on influencer engagement with Goodwill Ambassador focal points across the UN system. Monitor and evaluate influencer engagement around key moments and activations, including those of the UN Secretary-General. • Prepares or oversees preparation of a diverse range of information communications products in support of major campaign and UN communication initiatives. • Drafts complex material for UN newsletters, reports, and remarks for meetings and events, and edits drafts and remarks prepared by junior officers. • Evaluates results and impact of communications activities and initiatives of the section leads on monitoring and creating reports on developments, trends and attitudes regarding the UN. • Represents the institution in meetings and conferences; fulfills speaking engagements and makes presentations to groups on UN activities and advocate issues of concern; organizes, briefings, interviews; organizes seminars, lectures, conferences, public events on major issues and events concerning the organization. • Builds information networks; plans and oversees maintenance of publicly accessible information materials on the section’s communication initiatives; plans and develops outreach activities with the creative community. • Assists is the day-to-day operation of the unit to include participating in coordination of substantive and administrative activities of the unit, interpreting and disseminating policy, providing procedural advice, improving impact monitoring and reporting systems, handling operational and administrative queries, preparing budget submissions, establishing and/or coordinating training programmes and monitoring and evaluating results and impact. • Coordinate and direct a team of public information staff and/or mentor and supervise the work of junior officers on specific projects. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Competencies• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of different aspects of public information and communication. Ability to address a range of issues in the context of political developments, public attitudes and local conditions. Ability to conceptualize, design and implement major information campaigns and initiatives. Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources. Ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships, notably with the creative community across TV, film, music and sports. 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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. • 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • 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 approaches. EducationAdvanced 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 qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area is required. Extensive experience developing and implementing partnerships with both the global TV (non-news) and Film industry and the global world of sports is required. Experience securing influencers with a global profile in both the entertainment industry and in the world of sports for advocacy is required. Experience generating communications impact reports and insight reports is required. Experience organizing large-scale global public-facing events is desirable. LanguagesFluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview(s). Special NoticeThe 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. 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 in accordance with established rules and procedures. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30th November 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. 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.