United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan Spokesperson - Temporary Jobs in South Sudan

United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan Spokesperson - Temporary Jobs in South Sudan

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in the Communications and Public Information Section. The Spokesperson will be based in Juba under the overall guidance of the Chief, Communications and Public Information.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Spokesperson will be responsible for the following duties:

Serve as lead spokesperson for UNMISS; provide technical and policy advice on highly complex public information and communications issues; develop and disseminate messages, press lines and press releases on specific occasions, events, crises, and all other opportunities identified by mission leadership to express its views and share its opinions, including combatting misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.

Facilitate and anchor UNMISS press conferences from Juba, and elsewhere when required, and oversee the production and distribution of a near verbatim transcript of the press conference.

Makes official statements on behalf of the mission and provides information on the mission to the UN Office of the Spokesperson, Departments of Public Information, Peacekeeping Operations, Field Support and other entities in the UN as required;

Conceptualize, design and execute the media driven information strategy, programme and activities to support the mission concept and mission objectives within the context of the overall mission public Information strategy.

• Lead and direct a team of Media relations and public information officers; plan and allocate work assignments; coach, mentor, and evaluate staff; participate in recruitment and selection of new staff and in the development of training programs.

Oversee the preparation, from research to publication, of UN newsletters, periodicals, and reports within the context of the overall mission public information strategy.

Conduct sensitive political liaison work; create and maintain networks of high level communications contacts with broadcast media, the press, governmental media related agencies, international institutions and other groups and organizations in civil society (non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses, community organizations, women’s groups, etc.); represent the organization in important meetings, conferences, events, etc.; promote joint public relations ventures.

Contribute to development of institutional public relations policies within the United Communication Group (UNCG) when required.

Assess the overall effectiveness of the public information media strategy and programmes and make needed changes in approach and technique if necessary.

Provide diverse materials (talking points, briefings, speeches, questions and answers) for use by senior officials develop or overall see development of high-profile multi-media communications campaigns; set quality and production standards for information dissemination.

Maintain daily relations with local and international media arrange for media representatives to meet with senior mission officials and facilitate the daily work of journalists covering the mission, and facilitate visits by media within the mission area;

Maintain collaborative working relations with Mission components and the Head of Mission and to have accurate and up-to-date information on mission activities and priorities; working with UN and non -UN partners, national authorities and representatives, regional and international organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders;

Advise the Head of Mission on public relations and dealing with the media;

Ensure that all components of the mission, as well as other UN actors on the ground coordinate their communications messages;

Oversee the monitoring of the media for coverage of the mission and other relevant news, identifies trends, and provides advice to the Mission leadership in this regard, including cooperation with Mission, UN and external stakeholders in countering

disinformation.

Contribute to the Section’s efforts in planning, organizing, and reporting on section activities in support of the implementation of the UNMISS mandate.

Act as Officer-in-Charge of the Section in the absence of the Chief of Communication and Public Information.

Competencies

Professionalism: 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.

Communications: 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

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 improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands.

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.

Education

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

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area is required.

Experience working as a journalist is required.

Experience as a Spokesperson for an international organization is required.

Experience managing engagement with international media outlets is required.

Languages

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

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan Spokesperson - Temporary Jobs in South Sudan

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