Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. Under the guidance of the Head of Mission and in close collaboration with the Chief of Public Information, the incumbent will be based in Kinshasa and responsible for: Giving on record and background press briefings as well as interviews to national and international media; conceptualizing, developing, updating and executing a media strategy and work plan; advising the Head of Mission and senior leadership on media strategy and approach; developing and implementing a system of daily media monitoring and bulletins to meet the needs of the Head of Mission and senior leadership; drafting and issuing press statements and press releases; establishing and maintaining a cooperative relationship with local and international journalists; arranging interviews and/or background briefings with senior mission officials and facilitating the daily work of journalists covering the mission; facilitating media visits to the mission area; responding in a timely fashion to disinformation that could impact negatively on the public perception of the Mission and/or the mission’s leadership; producing and sharing key messaging.

Responsibilities

• Media relations including: Giving on-record and background press briefings and interviews to national and international media; conceptualizing, developing, updating and executing a media strategy and work plan, including utilizing digital and multimedia platforms as part of the strategy; advising the Head of Mission and senior leadership on the media strategy and approach; developing and implementing a system of daily media monitoring and bulletins to meet the needs of the Head of Mission and senior leadership; drafting and issuing press statements and press releases as necessary; establishing and maintaining a cooperative relationship with local and international journalists; arranging interviews and/or background briefings with senior mission officials and facilitating the daily work of journalists covering the mission; facilitating media visits to the mission area; responding in a timely fashion to disinformation that could impact negatively on the public perception of the Mission and/or the mission’s leadership; conceptualize and implement timely communication strategies in reaction to crisis situations.

• Coordinate activities and share guidance with relevant departments and units at UNHQ and regional offices.

• Maintain close contact by sharing information and coordinating messaging with the leadership and all components of the Mission, Agencies, Funds and Programmes, the United Nations (UN) Country Team and the UN Country Group, and to keep abreast of all substantive and strategic issues.

• Produce and share key messaging, press activities and guidance with other sections of the Public Information Unit as part of daily functions as well as to fulfill strategic objectives and implement the relevant parts of the Mission’s overall communications plan.

• Ensure that, in addition to traditional media sources, messages are distributed utilizing digital and social media including such platforms as websites, Facebook, Twitter and emerging interactive platforms.

• As directed, provide support to other work streams of Public Information Unit, notably internal communications and external campaigns, including review and clearing of internal communications platforms such as iSeek and POINT stories for the Mission.

• Represent the mission in public forums, conferences and events and fulfill speaking requirements.

• Liaise with counterparts in the Government and diplomatic community, local authorities, civil society, media associations and other key constituencies to ensure key messages are conveyed and support communications campaigns.

• Management, including: participating in recruitment, supervision and evaluation of staff as appropriate. Design, submit and allocate budget as appropriate; identify extra-budgetary funding and resources in support of communications activities and forge external partnerships; Managing a team of media relations staff to respond to the specific conditions of the mission, including coordinating functions such as media accreditation, news monitoring and analysis of media trends and responding to media and public inquiries.

• Develop and implement a capacity-building plan for media relations staff, especially national staff, where appropriate. Advise and support mission leadership in media skills development, as appropriate.

• Perform other duties, as assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Political acumen. 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 advise on high profile and sensitive communication challenges. Ability to lead crisis communications in a complex operating environment. Ability to assess world-wide communication environments, develop communication strategies and manage implementation of public information campaigns with various promotional and publicity techniques. Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style. Ability to present and defend difficult positions to senior officials. Ability to hold press conferences & handle media review & interviews professionally. 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.

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 the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

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 improvement; 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.

Judgement/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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in communications, journalism, international relations, broadcasting, social sciences or related fields is required. A first-level university degree with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public information, or media, including management, in large multicultural institutions, sensitive and complex settings is required.

Knowledge of programme planning and related management practices as well as familiarity with UN administrative procedures, rules and regulations, specifically human resources, budgetary and procurement matters are required.

Prior experience as Spokesperson in the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable.

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

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in both English and French (both oral and written) is required.

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 31 December 2023. 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.

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.