Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) within the Public Information and Strategic Communication Division with duty station, Kinshasa. The Chief of Service, Public Information and Strategic Communication reports directly to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Service, Public Information and Strategic Communications Division (SCPID), will be responsible for the following duties: Lead the substantive work program of the SCPID of the Mission • As a member of the Mission Leadership Team, serve as principle strategic communications adviser to the Mission and to the SRSG and report to him/her on issues related to communication activities and programs and media strategy and policy. • Formulate, implement and manage the Mission's integrated public information and communication strategy, covering the Mission's internal and external strategic communications activities; develop, integrate and manage all SCPID units, encompassing all media including multimedia (including radio, television, web and social media, photo, print and media relations); lead on effective tracking and response to mis and disinformation aimed at the harming the credibility of the Mission, oversee effective public outreach to key audiences; develop external communications partnerships; ensure a proactive and integrated approach to Mission communications; highlight the positive work of the Mission through character-led, data- driven stories which promote a positive but realistic image; • Lead the Mission's digital media strategy, including strategies to respond to mis and disinformation; oversee all digital channels; promote a multidisciplinary, story-telling approach to communications work; • Ensure a strategic communication approach by directing the work of all SCPID components with other Mission components, UN agencies, funds and programmes and external partners; oversee monitoring and evaluation of all communications strategies; • Mitigate reputational risk by identifying strategic issues, opportunities and risks and promote an engagement-driven and proactive general approach to communications; ensure on-record and background briefing of local, regional and international journalists from traditional and new media outlets; • Supervise the Chief of Radio Okapi, the radio's transition strategy post MONUSCO, and donor relations. Resources and Administrative Management • Ensure oversight and administration of SCPID, including planning and managing the budget, preparing annual cost estimates and monitoring and adjusting budget allocations and expenditures as required; apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines and prepare reports or rationales on key administrative decisions; • Supervise recruitment for the Division, including the recruitment of staff, services and consultants to ensure delivery of objectives, while seeking a diverse blend of skills and experience that match the strategic direction of the Organization; manage, guide, develop and train staff; foster teamwork and communication among staff and across the Mission; • Supervise procurement of public information equipment, supplies and services; ensure fair and open competition processes to gain best possible price while meeting quality, quantity and time requirements and adhering to relevant UN rules and procedures; • Lead the planning of the Mission's public information and communications activities, including the allocation of financial and human resources; regularly assess and review programs and activities to ensure alignment with public information strategy; monitor and adjust planning and activities as necessary to meet the desired goals; • Drive the strategic development, execution and measurement of the Mission's public information and communications activities by identifying opportunities and mitigating risks by defining and enforcing clear direction and policy for the Mission; build the Mission's brand by devising a growth and engagement strategy; stay up to date on new developments in digital and social media platforms and promote a technology-friendly environment that is innovation-focused encouraging public information team and Mission as a whole to make use of relevant platforms, social media and mobile and digital technology. Media Relations, Partnerships, and Advocacy • Build new partnerships with media outlets, the host country, Government, civil society, UN agencies, funds and programmes, and INGOs and NGOs as well as the diplomatic community in order to generate support for Mission objectives; • Develop strategic partnerships with international, national and local peers to raise visibility and understanding of the Mission's work; • Represent the Mission in diverse public fora; organize and participate in events including symposiums and seminars to advocate for the Organization's priorities and issues; • Supervise the organization of media and press events including field visits, conferences and high-level official visits; • Ensure regular interaction with partners and grow network of media contacts to influence and improve relationships and build on long-term strategic partnerships with media organizations. Advise Mission leadership and other Mission personnel on strategic communication matters • Draft Mission's public information and strategic communication plan and policy documents; provide advice and inputs for Mission leadership interactions with key stakeholders and ensure regular and timely sharing of information; • Oversee Mission interaction with local, regional and international media; guide the Mission's crisis communication activities; • Represent and serve on Mission Leadership Team. • Provide inputs to interagency communication campaigns and ensure all public information products and outputs meet high-quality standards and are in accordance with UN policy objectives, rules and regulations; provide UN Headquarters communication entities with regular updates on Mission activities and in crisis situations. Lead the development of institutional public relations and communication policies • Ensure representation in internal and external communication bodies, committees and meetings including the UNCG and ensure that the Mission communications strategy and public information campaigns are harmonized with overall goals and objectives of the UN and the Departments of Peace Operations and Operational Support; • Liaise with counterparts in the Government and diplomatic community, local authorities, civil society, media associations and other key constituencies to ensure support for communications campaigns and Mission objectives; • Develop and maintain strong relationships with key policy makers and partners, including senior-level officials of host government and representatives of civil society organizations, think-tanks and the academic community, private corporations and the media to promote the work of the Mission.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the digital media environment and communications, with a focus on innovation using digital media, social media, emerging media technologies and optimization of content. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Knowledge of web optimization and analytics. Ability to manage change with large digital media teams. Ability to apply UN 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. TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office; Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; Shows willingness to learn new technology. 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. JUDGEMENT AND DECISION/MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary. 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in one or more of the following: strategic communications, communications, public relations, international relations, broadcasting, new media or other relevant disciplines such as social sciences, political sciences, business administration or management. 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

At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public information, or media, including management, in large multicultural institutions is required. At least five years of experience with implementing crisis communications techniques and strategies is required. Demonstrated experience in managing digital and social media techniques and tools is required. Experience working in responding to mis and disinformation with a range of social media tools is desirable. Experience in partnerships, donor relations and securing funding for proposals is desirable. Experience in programme planning and related management practices, as well as familiarity with UN administrative procedures, rules and regulations, specifically human resources, budgetary and procurement matters is desirable. Experience providing services in the field of strategic communications, public information, or media to or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable.

Languages

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is temporarily available until 30 June 2026. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. 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. Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. 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.