Closing date: Sunday, 12 April 2015
Posting Title: Director, United Nations Information Centre in Nairobi, D1
Job Code Title: DIRECTOR, INFORMATION CENTRE
Department/ Office: Department of Public Information
Duty Station: NAIROBI
Posting Period: 11 February 2015-12 April 2015
Job Opening number: 15-PUB-DPI-40504-R-NAIROBI(G)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
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.
Appointment at the United Nations is subject to mandatory adherence to the United Nations Financial Disclosure programme.
Organizational Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Nairobi, within the Information Centres Service (ICS), Strategic Communications Division (SCD), Department of Public Information (DPI).
The UNICs are the principal source of information about the United Nations system in the countries where they are located. UNICs are responsible for promoting public understanding and support for the aims and activities of the United Nations by disseminating UN information materials to a local audience in local language; engaging local and regional partners; and, overall, bringing the United Nations closer to the people it serves.
The incumbent is accountable to the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Communications and Public Information. He or she is under the general supervision of the Director of SCD and reports directly to the Chief of ICS.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:
- Lead, supervise and carry out the work programme of a large information centre; co-ordinate the communications work carried out by various teams in the centre and by other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system in the work region; undertake or oversee the programmatic and/or administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of a large information centre, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, recruitment of staff and evaluation of staff performance; manage, guide, develop and train staff under his or her supervision; foster teamwork and communication among staff in the information centre and across organizational boundaries.
- Conceptualize, design and execute the overall public information strategy, programme and activities of the Department of Public Information (DPI) in the work region; develop institutional public relations policies; lead and supervise the assessment of the overall effectiveness of the public information strategy and programmes; supervise the development of high profile multi-media communications campaigns; set quality and production standards for information dissemination; approve the preparation, from research to publication, of UN newsletters, periodicals, reports and books; supervise the creation and maintenance of networks of high level communications contacts with members of media, governmental agencies, international organizations, and/or civil society.
- Provide diverse materials (briefings, speeches, questions and answers, etc.), technical and policy advice on highly complex public information and communication issues related to the operation of a large information centre to the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information and other UN senior officials; provide Headquarters with media reports regarding highly complex conditions and public attitudes towards the UN in the work region; ensure that the policies and activities of the UN are conveyed accurately and promptly, within highly complex political, substantive and/or operational situations, to the national authorities.
- Conduct highly sensitive political liaison work in the region of responsibility; lead and supervise activities to promote and coordinate the communications and public information aspect of visits by the Secretary-General, UN senior officials, and/or UN delegations to the work region; serve as lead spokesperson for highly complex public information programmes.
- Ensure that the outputs produced by a large information centre maintain high-quality standards and comply with the relevant mandates of the DPI; that reports are clear, timely, objective and based on comprehensive data; report to intergovernmental bodies on programmatic and/or substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports; present position papers and reports to intergovernmental bodies, as appropriate.
- Manage the promotion of joint public relations ventures between the DPI and UN programmes and organs in the work region; conceptualise a strategy for strengthening the public information capacity of the Organization in the work region as part of the United Nations Communications Group (UNCG); lead communications support to the UNCG and other UN programmes and organs based in the work region; serve as chairperson of the UNCG.
- Supervise the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive issues in the work region; lead international, regional or national meetings, supervising programmatic and/or substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions; represent a large information centre at international, regional or national meetings in addition to representing the centre at interagency meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive-related issues.
- Perform other relevant duties and special functions, as required by Headquarters.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrated knowledge of public information techniques, including strategic communications; proven ability to implement effective media campaigns and to develop products and activities targeting the media; ability to identify communications opportunities and problems and to articulate these to clients. Knowledge of or experience working with the Department of Public Information, UN information centres, or comparable operation at the international level. Ability to advise on communication challenges, assess communication environments, develop communication strategies, and manage implementation of public information campaigns in the work region with various promotional and publicity techniques. Ability to make decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization and to apply rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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.
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.
ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.
Education
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in journalism, communication, public information, international relations or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience, including five years at the international level, in public information, communication, journalism, international relations or related area is required. Experience in strategic communications, public speaking and working with the media is required. Experience with the political, social and economic context of the working region is desirable. Experience working in public information in the United Nations common system or a comparable international organization is desirable. Experience in resource administration, including budget preparation, recruitment and conflict management is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English, both oral and written, is required. Knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable.
Assessment Method
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
United Nations Considerations
Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on ‘The Application Process’ and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on ‘Manuals’ on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
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