Job Vacancies Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), September 2011

Job Vacancies Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Position: Senior PI Officer (USA)
Location: United States of America ( The ), Washington
Closing Date: Thursday, 20 October 2011

    Job Vacancies Eligible Applicants
UNHCR staff members who meet the eligibility criteria in accordance with the Policy and Procedures on Assignments may apply for this position.  In addition, for positions at the P-2 and P-3 levels, candidates who have been accepted on the UNHCR International Professional Roster may express their interest by submitting an application.
Procedures and Eligibility
Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the IOM-FOM issued for this Compendium / Fast Track exercise, as well as the Policy and Procedures on Assignments (IOM/FOM/33/2010 refers).
Duties and Qualifications
Senior Public Information Officer (USA)

Job Vacancies ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT:
The Senior Public Information Officer is a key adviser on communications to the senior management team in North America and a leading voice among UNHCR¿s global network of media relations /public information professionals. Critical to this particular post are high levels of creativity, energy, and professionalism for proactively dealing with UNHCR¿s external messaging and advocacy needs as they relate to the organization¿s main target audiences in the North American region and beyond. For this, the incumbent is expected to have strong spokesperson/advocacy skills, an outgoing and pro-media orientation, experience in field operations, sound political judgment, knowledge of UNHCR and its institutional culture, plus excellent international and US media contacts. Strong writing and editing skills are essential, as is experience in working in visual and text based media. This is a post for a dedicated professional and determined self-starter.

Job Vacancies FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT:
Accountability (key results that will be achieved)
- Improved media and public understanding and interest in the plight of refugees, their contributions to society and their right to seek asylum, as well as awareness of UNHCR¿s work and concerns.
- Strengthened PI coordination with headquarters, and with field public information officers.
- Effective campaigns and advocacy aligned with UNHCR’s strategic goals in the North American region
- Increased media interest in UNHCR and its work.
- Accurate and reliable information dissemination about UNHCR and its work

Job Vacancies Responsibility (process and functions undertaken to achieve results)
- Actively fostering contact with local, national, and international reporters within the region and responding promptly and professionally to their needs for news, information, background, and logistical support;
- Ensuring regular contact with editors/news-planning/programme production desks and key influencers in the media world;
- Ensuring regular coordination among PI staff in the region, and coordinating closely with the Senior Regional Public Information Officer for Latin America and the designated Regional PI and Chief of Media and Content in Geneva;
- Ensuring the timely transmission of professionally written, edited and prepared news, features, information and photos to local, national, and international media within the region, as well as to the Communications Service at HQ in Geneva;
- Initiating and writing web stories, press releases, social media content, plus input for the twice-weekly Geneva briefings;
- Coordinating video and television coverage and speedy transmission of newsworthy operations in conjunction with the the Video Unit in Geneva.
- Developing and implementing, in coordination with colleagues in Public Information and Private Sector Fund-raising creative and innovative public/mass information campaigns and fund-raising initiatives targeted at specific audiences;
- Encouraging media interest in UNHCR¿s work in the field, arranging press briefings, and encouraging media coverage of missions undertaken by high level UNHCR officials;
- Monitoting media coverage of UNHCR operations throughout the region and keeping colleagues advised of content and context, and rapidly rebutting articles containing incorrect information about UNHCR.
- Monitoring and analysing national/regional policy and legislative developments impacting on refugee protection;
- Supporting the Goodwill Ambassador programme as required.

Authority (decisions made in executing responsibilities and to achieve results)
The postholder is expected to work in support of the Regional Representative and his senior staff , but also coordinating closely with the Communications Service at headquarters in Geneva. This is a position with responsibilities both for dealing with regional issues and for supporting global communications messaging and campaigns. The incumbent is expected to show a high degree of initiative at all times.

Job Vacancies MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Advanced university degree in Journalism or Communication or Political Science or International Relations or Economics or related field
Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience at professional level in media and/or media relations, including significant experience of working in an international capacity and in field locations.
First-hand experience in a related field situation is highly desirable.
Proven ability to deal with multiple tasks in a courteous manner in a demanding working condition that often has short deadlines;
Excellent English (writing and editing)

Job Vacancies DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:
Ability for analytical and creative thinking and rapid solution(s).
Strong news-judgment.
An affinity for working in both visual and text channels, including social media channels.
Articulate and good political awareness.
High ethical and professional standards.
A strong team player.
Wide-ranging, in-depth knowledge of the profession of journalism, particularly foreign correspondence and international media (print, radio, social media, photos, television)
Solid knowledge of UNHCR from both the Field and from Headquarters
Position Competencies
C001L3 – Accountability Level 3
C002L3 – Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 – Communication Level 3
C004L3 – Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 – Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 – Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 – Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M006L3 – Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 – Leadership Level 3
M002L3 – Managing Performance Level 3
M004L3 – Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X005L3 – Planning and Organizing Level 3
X001L3 – Analytical Thinking Level 3
X007L3 – Political Awareness Level 3
Closing Date
Please note that the closing date for vacancies advertised in the September 2011 Compendium is Thursday 6 October 2011 for internal vacancies and Thursday 20 October 2011 for external vacancies.




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