Communications Officer, Addis Ababa 237 views0 applications

Posting Title: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, P4

Job Code Title: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Department/Office: Economic Commission for Africa

Duty Station: ADDIS ABABA

Posting Period: 05 December 2018 – 18 January 2019

Job Opening Number: 18-Public Information-ECA-108113-R-Addis Ababa (G)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organizational Setting and Reporting

Established by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) in 1958 as one of the UN’s five regional commissions, Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) mandate is to promote the economic and social development of its Member States, foster intra-regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa’s development. Made up of 54 Member States, and playing a dual role as a regional arm of the UN and as a key component of the African institutional landscape, ECA is well positioned to make unique contributions to address the Continent’s development challenges. The strategic objective of ECA is framed around delivering ideas and actions for an empowered, inclusive and transformed Africa in the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063 of the African Union through its three core functions, namely, its function as a think tank, its convening function and its operational function.

This position is located in the Communications and Media Relations Section in the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Communications Officer reports to the Chief of Communications and Media Relations Section.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Communications Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Design and implement communication strategy for Divisions in harmony with ECA communication strategy; develop and implement strategies to enhance the impact of ECA’s output and visibility.
• Take the lead in strategy, planning, development and implementation of large, complex communications campaigns (e.g. global promotion initiatives, public information programmes, broad-reaching subject specific issues, etc.) and work to develop ways to implement campaigns system-wide and to incorporate the campaign message and themes into all relevant events and products.
• Provide advice and expertise to managers, senior officers and other public information and communication staff on a range of public affairs issues, methods, and approaches; anticipates and resolves communications/public relations issues/problems.
• Develop strategic partnerships with key constituencies to elicit support for and maximize impact of promotional objectives.
• In accordance with ECA communication strategy, advise Divisions on presentational issues, including written style, language, formats, and archival maintenance for institutional knowledge base.
• Develop different product forms (the web, on CD¬, social network platforms, outdoor advertising and promotion, etc. for broadcast and print media, etc) for dissemination of ECA’s outputs to different target audiences.
• Conceptualize all publications and programmed outputs and co-ordinate output planning, sequencing and prioritization. This work will include coordinating publishing, launching, marketing and dissemination of outputs, including conventional and recurring conferences and forums. Following dissemination, solicit client feedback for quality control purposes to ensure systematic, client-focused future planning.
• Guide task teams regularly to establish public relations or news value and packaging of relevant material for internal and external communication.
• Prepares or oversees preparation of a diverse range of information communications products in support of major campaign initiatives.
• Evaluate results and impact of communications activities; reports on developments, trends and attitudes regarding the UN.
• Build information networks; plans and oversees maintenance of publicly accessible information materials on ECA; plans and develops outreach activities.
• Produce communication and public information materials for print/electronic/voice/visual media.
• Carry out other related tasks as may be directed.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Senior public information officers, operations staff and other specialists and senior managers throughout the UN, and senior officials of organs and agencies of the UN system. Translators, designers, printers. Bureau Chiefs, editors, journalists for major news media. Senior officials of international, regional and national organizations, senior officials in government bodies and agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses, academia and other areas of civil society. Results Expected: Provides sound advice and services in dealing with substantive matters concerning public information operations. Develops and implements a creative approach to major communications campaigns and ensures effective design and delivery of information products in accordance with overall objectives and policies. Serves as an effective spokesperson, and forms strong partnerships with relevant parties involved to engender support for and advance the institution’s public information agenda.

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. Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources. Ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and cultivate productive relationships. 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 & 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 or Doctorate) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in the specified fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field is required. Relevant experience in an international organization is desirable. Experience with information and communication technologies (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) and their use with a view to communicating and reaching out to clients is desirable. Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first-level university degree recognized by the United Nations.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. Fluency 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.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance 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 31 October 2018, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. 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.An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.

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.Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on ‘Manuals’ hyper-link on the upper right side 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.