Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located in the French Text-Processing Unit, French Translation Service, Documentation Division of the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM), New York. The incumbents report to the Supervisor of the French Text-Processing Unit.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Editorial and Desktop Publishing Assistant will be responsible for the following duties.

– Produces camera-ready documents for reproduction by typing, transcribing, editing and formatting documents, as well as creating tables, graphics and organizational charts, in desktop publishing layout, in accordance with existing guidelines.

– Performs proofreading functions to ensure that processing changes have been accurately incorporated, in consultation with the responsible authority, as necessary, by checking successive versions of edited and translated documents against previous versions, as appropriate, including by checking the final version against the submitted original manuscript, in accordance with existing guidelines.
– Ensures, in accordance with existing guidelines, that:

(a) All manuscript elements, including text, headings, items in lists, tabular and graphical elements, footnotes, attachments, front and back matter and spine, and page numbers, have been properly included and cross-linked, as appropriate;
(b) Numerical data have been correctly transcribed;
(c) Obvious errors, discrepancies or incongruities as to content, format and typography have been corrected.

– Participates, as a member of a team, in the production of parliamentary and miscellaneous documentation, supplements and sales publications, by preparing desktop publishing layout of the final product, in French, for reproduction in hard copy and electronic dissemination.
– Compiles submitted corrections and edits documents in relevant language, according to required format.
– Aligns bi-texts in order to support the production of high-quality translation memories for computer-assisted translation (CAT), machine translation (MT) and related workflow improvements.
– Performs other modified text-processing functions developed under the Global Terminology, Reference and Translation Solutions (gText) project or related workflow reviews, such as in the area of preprocessing or pre-translation of texts.
– Rotates on daytime, after-hours and weekend work shifts, as needed.
– Stays available for overtime and on-call assignments, depending on the needs of service.
– Performs other related work as required.

Competencies

– Professionalism: Knowledge of editorial practices and desktop publishing, including typographic standards. Proficiency in French and in United Nations terminology. Knowledge of United Nations structure and rules of procedure of various organs, including documents production system, or that of a similar international organization. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.

– Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

-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

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of three years of experience in the areas of desktop publishing, text processing, formatting, proofreading, info-graphics design or editing is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in French which must be the candidate’s main language is required. Knowledge of English is also required.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Selected candidates/staff members will be responsible for any costs related to their travel and relocation in the context of onboarding to report for duty. If the selected candidate/staff member does not already have the right to work in the duty station, appointment is contingent on issuance of a visa from the local authorities.

Passing the Verbal Reasoning Test (VRT) in the main language of the position is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration for the Editorial and Desktop Publishing Assistant positions in the United Nations Headquarters. Applicants who have not passed the VRT at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application.

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.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.