This position is located in the UN News Services Section I, which is part of the News & Content Branch of the News & Media Division of the Department of Global Communications (DGC). The incumbent reports to the Photo and Features Editor in News Section I. The News Section produces daily multimedia news and feature content, in 9 languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian, Hindi, Kiswahili and Portuguese).
Under the direct supervision of the Photo and Features Editor in News Section I, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:
• Works closely with the Photo and Features Editor and the Section Chief, provides assistance to the UN News teams with respect to visual elements of UN News products.
• Selects photographs and other visual graphics from across the UN system and approved sources in accordance with UN guidelines to illustrate stories for posting online, and prepares photos for publishing; curates and prepares graphics for use in stories based on verified UN materials; helps teams to produce photo essays, facilitating language versioning of visual content.
• Helps to curate a repository of approvals and agreements for the use of visuals by UN News; and updates guidelines with respect to UN system requirements on copyright and permissions.
• In order to ensure editorial consistency and accuracy, researches a broad scope of information sources, printed and electronic, as well as video and audio excerpts originating from meetings, press releases, official documents, press conferences, studio interviews, field recordings and live coverage of events related to the work of the UN.
• Assists in fact-checking and updating the main UN News and related web pages, ensuring hyperlinks are properly included, assisting with drafting and editing of content on a wide range of user-related information.
• Participates in editorial discussions and incorporates daily guidance into overall UN News photo editorial guidelines and helps maintain checklist to update and brief support staff.
• Assists, as required, the UN News focal points in carting out analytics and metrics, for performance analysis.
• Assists with promotion activities and outreach to partners. Assists with consistent practices across UN News teams in the management of audio/video archives, and the proper safekeeping/preservation of historical audio/visual materials.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.
Professionalism:
-Knowledge of current affairs, topics and issues; knowledge of news gathering, Knowledge of the UN system or that of a similar international organization and awareness of political sensitivities of the inter-governmental process; understanding of the media; ability to work to tight deadlines. 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. Shows commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
Planning and Organizing:
-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
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.
High school diploma or equivalent.
A minimum of five years of experience in an international, multilingual organization related to public information, communications, news or related area is required. Experience of Adobe Photoshop software and use of digital tools for creating visuals and graphics is required. Experience of fact-checking and editorial practices in a multilingual, digital global news environment is required. Experience in monitoring and reporting on news websites and social media platforms using analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, is required. Experience in a fast-paced multilingual news environment working to multiple deadlines is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test [in English] at the United Nations headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International criminal tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.
This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.
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.
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.