Senior Public Information Officer (Communication Deputy Director) at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate UNEP's global strategic communication at corporate and programmatic levels.
• Supervise the Communication Division's Section Chiefs, nurturing innovation, creativity and ambition to reach new audiences with world-class, science-based communication and advocacy.
• Supervise media engagement, speeches and other public-facing communication for the Executive Director.
• Oversee planning, implementation and monitoring of the Communication Division's work in the context of UNEP's Programme of Work and its Medium-Term Strategy.
• Oversee the Communication Division's work and budget in accordance with the organization's rules.
• Mobilize resources for the Communication Division and forge partnerships that amplify reach and impact.
• Lead team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Director.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Director.

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. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Ability to advise on high profile and sensitive communication challenges. Ability to assess world-wide communication environments, develop communication strategies and manage implementation of public information campaigns with various promotional and publicity techniques. Ability to produce a variety of written communications products in a clear, concise style. Ability to present and defend difficult positions to senior officials. 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.
• COMMUNICATION: 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.
• 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.
• 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. 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 or equivalent) in communications, public/business administration and management or in a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. S
• uccessful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in journalism, communication and/or public-facing advocacy is required.
• At least four (4) years of experience in managing communication teams is required.
• At least three (3) years of experience in writing and editing of speeches, talking points and managing media engagement at a senior level is required.
• A minimum of two (2) years of cumulative experience, in the last five (5) years, in producing content for media, reports, multimedia, social media and/or similar mass communication on environmental or related scientific issues is required.
• At least three (3) years of experience working for an international organization is desirable.
• Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.