Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Public Information Unit of the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO). The Public Information Officer reports to the Special Coordinator.

Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Special Coordinator and within the limits of delegated authority, the Public Information Officer NO-D, is responsible for the following duties; 1.Prepares or oversees the development of communications products and content across multiple platforms ensuring accurate and consistent messaging, branding, and alignment with the Communications Strategy. • Oversees the preparation of a diverse range of communication products in support of unit priorities and coordinates with Funds, Programs and Agencies to develop ways to implement campaigns system-wide and incorporate campaign messages and themes into all relevant events and products. • Leads the drafting of statements, press releases, op-eds, key messages questions and answers, UN newsletters, and digital content. S/he also supports the Mission’s units in drafting talking points and reports. S/he edits materials prepared by junior officers. 2. Conceptualizes, manages, implements and evaluates communications strategies and activities. • Responsible for uploading and executing a strategy for media relations, publications, web and digital media including social media with the objective of promoting awareness, understanding, support and respect for the Mission's work and support for UN Special Political mandate and priorities. • Reports to mission leadership and the UNHQ on communication activities, developments, trends and attitudes regarding the United Nations. Coordinates and shares public information activities and guidance with other units of the Public Information and Strategic Communications Section and leadership when appropriate. • Provides advice and expertise to managers, senior officers and other public information staff on a range of public affairs issues, methods, and approaches. • Identifies and seeks new opportunities for advancing the mission, anticipates and resolves communications/public relations issues/ problems. • Oversees statistical analysis of media monitoring, social media and web usage and adapts editorial and outreach priorities accordingly. 3. Engages with media to strengthen partnerships. • Serves as the Spokesperson for the mission, keeping the media informed of the activities of the Office, including by a) providing press briefings and interviews to national, regional and international media; drafting and issuing press statements and press releases as necessary; drafts “if asked” lines for UNHQ’s daily noon briefings b) proactively expanding and maintaining cooperative relations with local and international journalists. • Ensures that, in addition to traditional media sources, the Public Information and Strategic Communications Unit utilizes digital media, as appropriate, to disseminate information and engages in communications, including such platforms as the websites, Twitter and other and existing and emerging platforms. • Arranges interviews and background briefings for media representatives with senior mission officials and, facilitates the daily work of journalists covering the mission. • Sets up a regular system of media guidance and monitoring and develops contact lists of journalists and media outlets covering all media- print, TV, radio, social media, web, photo, etc. Uses a successful process of communicating and maintains regular contacts and close collaboration with the media. • Responds in a timely fashion to disinformation that could impact negatively the public perception of the Mission and/or Mission leadership, etc. 4. Develops partnerships and represents the Special Coordinator in meetings/ conferences, speaking engagements. • Develops outreach initiatives to raise visibility of the Mission by organizing and participating in seminars, lectures, conferences, public events on major issues and events concerning the organization. • In consultation with the supervisor, develops strategic partnerships with key constituencies to elicit support and maximize impact of public information objectives; • Serves as principal liaison to media organizations, governmental bodies, national groups, private sector organizations, educational organizations, international organizations, etc. 5. Builds communication capacity and team management • Manages the day-to-day operation of the Unit including participation and coordination of substantive and administrative activities of the Unit, interprets and disseminates policy, provides procedural advice, improves reporting systems, handles operational and administrative queries, prepares budget submissions, establishes and coordinates training programs, monitoring and evaluating results. • Provides clear directions that are translated from organizational strategy. Encourages staff in the Section to pursue development opportunities and creates genuine learning opportunities for staff. • In close coordination with the Special Coordinator, manages and supervises public information Consultants to achieve the outputs and quality assurance on all activities; establishing work plans, required resources, priorities, timelines and performance benchmarks. Monitors progress and takes timely action and/or decisions to ensure objectives are met; • Participates in recruitment, supervision and evaluation of staff as appropriate. • Performs other duties as required.

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. • 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. • 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. • Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master 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 Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in Public Information, Journalism, International Relations, Public Administration or related area is required. Previous experience working in Public Information for a UN entity related to political affairs is required.

Languages

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is temporarily available until 31 January 2027. 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. 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. Candidates for the National Professional Officer category shall be of the nationality of the country where this position is located. The 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. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 December 2025, are strongly encouraged to apply:Andorra, Angola,Belize, Brunei Darussalam,China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea,Grenada, Guinea-Bissau,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, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu,San Marino,Russian Federation. 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 on the basis of 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. 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.