National Public Information Officer at UNOCHA.

Job Identification : 1501

Locations : Gaziantep, Turkey

Posting Date : 11/09/2021, 11:31 AM

Apply Before : 11/24/2021, 04:59 AM

Job Schedule : Full time

Agency : UNOCHA

Grade : NOA

Vacancy Type : Fixed Term

Practice Area : Management

Bureau : Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS

Contract Duration : 1 Year with Possibility for extension

Education & Work Experience : Master’s Degree

Other Criteria : Bachelor Degree with 2 years experience

Required Languages : English

Desired Languages : Arabic language is desirable

Job Description

BACKGROUND

This position is located in the Public Information Unit, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Gaziantep. OCHA in Gaziantep coordinates the emergency response to save lives and protect people in north-west Syria.

This temporary job opening is being published for the position of National Public Information Officer with OCHA in Gaziantep, Turkey. Under the supervision of the Head of the Public Information Unit/Senior Public Information Officer, the incumbent supports the implementation of public information programs to publicize priority issues and/or major events and to support advocacy.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Results Expected:

•  Plans, manages and evaluates public communications campaigns that promote public understanding and media cover of OCHA activities, events and views on specific topics/issues in accordance with prevailing policy and practices.
•  Originates communications products that most effectively convey desired information/message to targeted audience(s).
•  Builds and facilitates strategic contacts and partnerships to ensure effective public communications.

Responsibilities:

•  Produce communications materials, including social media content, press statements and press kits, backgrounders, audio-visual materials, reports, and other public products for an international and Arabic speaking audience.
•  Monitor news, current events, public opinion from a broad scope of sources (Arabic and English) – print, TV, electronic, internet, etc.
•  Support media coverage of priority issues and/or major events by contributing to press briefings/interviews, disseminating materials.
•  Collaborate with OCHA offices in Damascus and Regional Office for Syria Crisis (ROSC) in Amman for the Whole of Syria (WoS) and public information officers across the UN.
•  Maintain databases on north-west Syria media contacts, social media outputs, photography, and video data base.
•  Support external communications under the Accountability to Affected People (AAP) strategy, including contributing towards key messages, social media and external media liaison, monitoring and evaluation.
•  Support Arabic speaking UN social media platforms, providing content that reflects programmes and activities through social media platforms, especially the accounts of the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator and OCHA and UN global Arabic sites.
•  Prepares, based on official UN documentation and other sources, initial drafts of articles or chapters for inclusion in UN newsletters, periodicals, reports and books.
•  Initiates and sustains professional relationships with key constituencies.
•  Acts as focal point on specific issues, monitoring and reporting on developments, responding to inquiries, etc.
•  Provide training opportunities for national staff and NGOs on media relations and other relevant skills.
•  Do other tasks as required by the office

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

•  Deputy Head of Office and Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator
•  Senior Public Information Officers and other specialists throughout the UN and in other UN organizations and missions, including OCHA offices in Damascus and Regional Office for Syria Crisis (ROSC) in Amman for the Whole of Syria (WoS).
•  Accountability to Affected People (AAP) officers in OCHA, Gaziantep.
•  Translators, designers, printers. cyYaSp7 CdogT8
•  UN agencies, International and national NGOs.
•  Relevant government departments.
•  Local media and news organizations.

COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies

Innovation

•  Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Leadership

•  Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

•  Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Communication

•  Ability to listen, adapt, persuade, and transform

Delivery

•  Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Technical / Functional Competencies

Media Relations

Ability to form and maintain meaningful working relationships with various members of the media

Multimedia writing/editing

Originating and/or editing written content for media and the general public to be disseminated through press or other online outlets

Public Relations

Ability to manage information sharing and parntership alliances between the UNDP and the public

Brief & Speech Writing

Ability to prepare quality briefs and/or speeches

RECRUITMENT QUALIFICATIONS

Education

•  Master’s Degree in communication, journalism, international studies, public relations, social science, international affairs or other relevant disciplines.
•  Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree, with two years’ experience in lieu of a Master Degree will be considered.

Experience:

•  Relevant experience in public information management journalism, international relations, public administration or related area.
•  Or programme support service (related to the activities described above); or 2 years of experience for Bachelor Degree
•  Experience with crisis communications.
•  Experience in working in social media.

Language Requirements:

•  Proficiency in English. Working knowledge of other UN language desirable

Other:

•  Humanitarian Experience of working in Middle East context
•  Arabic language is desirable
•  Familiarity with and good knowledge of the emergency operations is strongly desired.
•  Experience with the United Nations is preferable
•  Ability to prioritize multiple tasks within an environment where many interruptions occur.
•  Ability to work under pressure.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Candidates selected pursuant to this vacancy may be subject to UNDP’s policy on Probation upon assignment.