Org. Setting and Reporting

ECA’s mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 SDGs and Agenda 2063. The mission is guided by ECA’s five strategic directions which are: advancing ECA’s position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent’s problems and take local solutions to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and Job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa’s position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues. This position is in the Publications, Conference and Knowledge Management Division (PCKMD), Publications and Conference Management Section (PCMS) at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Addis Ababa. Under the overall guidance of the Director of Publications, Conference and Knowledge Management Division and the direct supervision of the Chief of Publications and Conference Management Section (PCMS), the incumbent will be in charge of the production services (documents planning and monitoring services, desktop publishing services and printing and publishing services).

Responsibilities

Publishing: Coordinates the publishing role, overseeing electronic, print publishing, and multimedia development to ensure efficient and state-of-the-art distribution and dissemination of information while adhering to the organization’s goals and publishing standards by: – Developing Policies and Procedures: Create and update policies and procedures to maintain high standards and incorporate the latest advancements in the field. – Crafting User Guidelines: Prepare user guidelines for digital publishing. – Maintaining Continuity and Standards: Ensure a consistent style across serial publications, aligning with United Nations publishing standards. – Performing Quality Control: Conduct thorough quality checks on all publishing products before release. – Managing Digital Assets: Implement efficient systems for managing and archiving digital files to ensure easy access and preservation. – Promoting Digital Publishing: Lead the transition to digital-first publishing, assess and introduce new digital tools and solutions. – Enhancing Delivery and Accessibility: Optimize the delivery of publishing products and implement assistive technologies for increased accessibility. – Researching: Engage in extensive research to stay at the forefront of electronic publishing. Production: Ensures the organization adheres to ISO-14001-2015 certification standards and oversees the quality and timeliness of production processes to foster strong partnerships, produce high quality outputs, and enhance the production section’s financial viability through cost recovery by: – Ensuring Compliance: Monitor the application of ISO-14001-2015 standards and coordinate audits to maintain certification. – Establishing Partnerships: Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance the quality, reach, and volume of production. – Developing Quality Standards: Set benchmarks for inputs, processes, and outputs to ensure consistent quality and efficiency in production. – Advising on Purchases: Prepare work statements for equipment acquisition and conduct technical evaluations to inform management decisions. – Scheduling Maintenance: Develop maintenance schedules for production equipment to optimize longevity and performance. – Meeting Deadlines: Ensure the timely delivery of documents and publications by effective coordination within and outside the section. – Monitoring Production: Oversee production aspects, from productivity measures to vendor compliance and resource management. Administrative: Provides effective managerial support, ensures the optimal use of human and technical resources of the Unit, and plans, executes, and supervises three sub-units within its Unit to achieve improved service delivery and client satisfaction by: -Leading and Coordinating: Direct sub-units to ensure resource availability and effective execution of duties. -Supporting PCMS Activities: Assist the Chief of PCMS in coordinating programs to enhance service delivery and facility usage. -Providing Advice: Offer strategic counsel to the Chief of PCMS on all unit-related activities. -Offering Technical Advice: Provide technical advice to stakeholders on various publishing and multimedia avenues. -Guiding Staff: Educate staff on publishing standards and various production processes to maintain a skilled workforce. -Resource Planning: Engage in resource forecasting for production services and contribute to budget preparation. -Managing Performance: Serve as a reporting officer for performance evaluations within the unit. Undertaking Additional Duties: – 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. – Perform various related tasks as necessary to support the overarching goals of the organization.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. 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. 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. 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. 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. Managerial Competencies: 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 publishing, print technology, graphic design, communications, media or multimedia studies etc. is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.

Job – Specific Qualification

Digital Publishing Professional (CDPP) is desirable. Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) for demonstrated proficiency in Adobe suite applications critical to publishing tasks is desirable. ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (EMS) for expertise in sustainable practices is desirable. Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt or Black Belt) focusing on process improvement and quality control in production is desirable. Certification in Accessibility to ensure content inclusivity is desirable.

Work Experience

At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in publishing production management, multimedia, or website production is required? Please describe your roles and responsibilities, giving specific examples. Experience managing digital asset management systems and archiving digital files for large organizations is desirable? Please describe the systems you have managed and the challenges you encountered. Experience in implementing and managing electronic and print distribution channels to enhance content accessibility and reach is desirable? Please provide specific examples of your work in this area. Experience with environmental management and sustainability practices within the publishing industry, particularly in aligning production processes with ISO 14001:2015 standards is desirable? Please explain how you implemented these practices. Demonstrated experience leading and coordinating multi-language publications in a global organization is desirable? Please describe how you ensured consistency and quality across various cultural contexts. Practical experience developing and overseeing the implementation of training programs for publishing and production staff to enhance skills in digital publishing and multimedia production is desirable? Please give examples of the training programs you have developed or led. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in either language is required. Knowledge of at least one other official UN language is desirable.

Assessment

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

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. 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. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. 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. Applicants who have reached the mandatory age of separation are not eligible to apply for job openings. Pursuant to section 6.9 of ST/AI/2010/3/Rev. 1, interns, consultants, individual contractors and gratis personnel may not apply for or be appointed to any vacancy in the Professional or higher categories within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 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, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

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. 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.