Chief, Communication, Advocacy and Knowledge Management Section, P5

Job Opening number: 18-IST-UNISDR-96039-R-GENEVA (X)

Org. Setting and Reporting

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNISDR has over 100 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNISDR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyses action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with U.N. Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

The position is located in the UNISDR Headquarters in Geneva. The incumbent reports to the Director of UNISDR.

Responsibilities

The incumbent is responsible for the planning and implementation of the activities of the Section.

Leads and directs a team; plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors, and evaluates staff; Undertakes programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Section, including preparation of work plans and budgets, recruitment and promoting capacity development of staff, evaluation of staff performance (PAS) through regular dialogue and feedback, and monitoring and reporting on budget/programme performance in the context of results-based management. Manages procurements, including conducting needs assessments and benchmarks, preparing bid documents and arranging contracts; supervises, coordinates and negotiates the services required.

Conceptualises, designs and executes overall UNISDR strategies in communication and marketing, including comprehensive social media outreach, knowledge management, and a digital strategy. Ensures strategic management and integration between the different strategies. Coordinates closely with the Regional offices and other branches and sections in UNISDR to plan and deliver on the corporate strategies. Assesses the overall effectiveness of the corporate strategies and makes changes in approach and technique as needed.

Conceptualises, develops strategy for and oversees the design and implementation of major online systems initiatives including the PreventionWeb, disaster risk reduction (DRR) information platform; manages/oversees multiple, concurrent and often disparate tasks for projects that often involve innovative applications, dissimilar systems, as well as databases and highly complex system integration and linkages.

In collaboration with other agencies and partners of UNISDR, establishes DRR common data infrastructure by developing common standards, procedures and practices for data collection and exchange. Provides authoritative policy advice to senior managers on systems development in a changing business environment and the implications of various alternatives, on business applications and other related issues; identifies and plans for future needs; develops and disseminates best practices.

Oversees the preparation, from research to publication, of press releases, editorials, newsletters, periodicals, reports and publications. Oversees the provision of materials (briefings, speeches, questions and answers) for use by senior officials, develops or overall sees development of high profile multi-media communications campaigns; sets quality and production standards for information dissemination.

Maintains close contacts with all part of the Organization to have accurate and up-to-date information at UNISDR activities and priorities; oversees the creation and updates of a timeline of upcoming events and activities related to UNISDR and DRR; provides information on UNISDR and DRR to other UN entities, as required;

Oversees the implementation of the UN ICT strategy in collaboration with the established global, regional and local ICT authority. Ensures compliance with global, regional and local ICT policies, procedures and standards.

Actively contributes to the Communications Community of Practice and to the reinforcement of the capacities of External Relations Officers across duty stations.

Carries out other related duties as required.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

PROFESSIONALISM:

• Ability to think strategically about corporate communication, marketing and branding.
• Ability to advise on high profile and sensitive communication challenges.
• Ability to assess world-wide communication environments, develop communication and digital strategies and manage large-scale advocacy campaigns
• Ability to provides seasoned advice on knowledge management and information systems in a diverse universe of information needs and functions.
• Intellectual leadership and ability to integrate knowledge with the Organization’s broader strategic, policy and operational objectives.
• Ability to advise senior management on information systems development and related matters of significant importance to the Organization.
• Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity for relating knowledge management and information systems to the business process.
• Ability to analyse and evaluate critical systems matters; make recommendations for improving processes and approaches.
• 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.

CREATIVITY:

• Actively seeks to improve programmes or services;
• Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs;
• Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas;
• Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas;
• Thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments;
• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards;
• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules;
• Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments;
• Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

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.

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

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, information management, international relations, public or business administration or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in communication, marketing, public information, information management,or related area, of which a minimum of three in international organizations or companies, is required. Experience in developing global corporate strategies in communication, branding, advocacy and/or knowledge management is required, preferably for a minimum of three years. Experience in conceptualizing and implementing global social media strategies for large scale communication and advocacy campaigns and other communication purposes is required, preferably for a minimum of three years. At least two years of experience in communicating on disaster risk reduction, climate change or sustainable development is desirable. Experience in supervising teams in different geographical locations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English is required and knowledge of French is desirable; knowledge of other another UN official language is also desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

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.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.

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.

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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.

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.

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.