Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located at Headquarters in the German Translation Section (GTS), Documentation Division of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) in New York. The incumbent reports to a Reviser in the German Translation Section.

Responsibilities

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

– Leads the development and adoption of modified working methods and procedures in the framework of ongoing modernization processes, including the Global Terminology, Reference and Translation Solutions (gText) project;
– Ensures that modified workflows are designed and implemented according to rigorous and transparent standards that reflect the language-specific operational needs of the unit and are supported by systematic training;
– Ensures effective transition to new workflows while maintaining delivery of existing unit products by sharing information and supporting full participation in workflow reviews;
– Supervises the daily activities of the unit with respect to desktop publishing and archiving of United Nations documents to the Official Document System as well as its outreach activities; establishes priorities, issues special instructions as needed for the production of camera-ready documents for reproduction and storage of final text as well as website content;
– Oversees programming of work unit; distributes assignments, ensuring efficient and effective processing of documentation and an equitable distribution of work;
– Confers and collaborates with other language units in order to maximize resources; this includes identifying statistical charts, diagrams and charts for utilization by other units;
– Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making;
– Oversees and assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures;
– Supervises the staff of the unit by identifying and resolving issues, monitoring staff performance, participating in and overseeing staff training;
– Completes e-Performance evaluations for unit staff as First Reporting Officer;
– Performs administrative work, including the maintenance of daily statistics. Prepares, compiles and submits statistical reports on productivity, capacity-planning, overtime and other reports;
– Trains staff to perform text-processing functions developed under gText or related workflow reviews, such as in the area of pre-processing or pre-translation of texts;
– Oversees the creation, updating and maintenance of unit macros, templates and models;
– Acts as a hiring manager for recruitment;
– Stays available for overtime and on-call assignments, depending on the needs of service;
– Performs other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrates initiative, ability and creativity to effectively attain objectives. Ability to enhance the skills and monitor the performance of staff within the unit, with emphasis on change management in the area of technological innovation. Ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments; 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.

• PLANNING AND 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.

• 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.

• 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

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Supplemental formal training in desktop publishing, communications, or a related field is desirable.

Work Experience

Ten years of experience in desktop publishing, including copy editing, formatting, proofreading and creating typographical layouts, is required.

Experience working in a communication and/or public information capacity in an office of an international organization or a national institution with international ties is desirable.

Experience with graphic design and web publishing tools is desirable.

Experience working with databases and data visualization software is desirable.

Supervisory experience is desirable.

Languages

For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written German, which must be the candidate’s main language, and proficiency in German spelling and grammar is required.

Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

Assessment

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

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.

Special Notice

Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one year and renewal therefore subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.

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.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. 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.

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.

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.

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 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.