DIRECTOR, INFORMATION CENTRE, P5

Org. Setting and Reporting

The Department of Global Communications (DGC) is responsible for informing the public, civil society and Member States with trusted information and communicating the UN story around the world through its global networks and United Nations Information Centres and Services. This position is located in the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Pretoria, within the Information Centres Service (ICS), Outreach Division (OD) of DGC. The UNIC Pretoria is integrated with the Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in South Africa since the operationalization of the United Nations development system reform on 1 January 2019. The UNIC is part of the global network of United Nations Information Centres (UNICs), and UNIC Pretoria is the principal source of information about the United Nations system in South Africa and is responsible for promoting public understanding and support for the aims and activities of the United Nations by disseminating UN information materials to a local audience in local languages; engaging local and regional partners; and, overall, bringing the United Nations closer to the people it serves. The incumbent is under the general supervision of the Chief of ICS and reports directly to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties: • Lead, supervise and carry out the work programme of the centre; undertake or oversee the programmatic and/or administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Information Centre, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, recruitment of staff and evaluation of staff performance. • Manage, guide, develop and train staff under his or her supervision in South Africa and the work region; foster teamwork and communication among staff in the Information Centre and across organizational boundaries. • In line with the Global Communications Strategy for the United Nations, conceptualize, design and execute the programmes and activities in South Africa; promote information integrity; lead and supervise the development and implementation of high profile multimedia strategic communications campaigns as well as oversee digital and social media content and activities in multiple languages and in coordination with DGC UNHQ teams as needed; develop a network of effective digital influencers and opportunities for cross promotion on issues of common interest; develop outreach to key target audiences, including youth; set quality and production standards for information dissemination; approve the preparation, from research to publication, of UN information products; supervise the creation and maintenance of networks of high level communications contacts with members of the media, governmental agencies, international organizations, civil society, educational institutions, and members of the creative community in the work region; and lead and supervise the assessment of the overall effectiveness of the communications strategy and programmes. • Provide substantive support to the Resident Coordinator in South Africa in adapting and localizing UN global communications and thematic advocacy priorities. • Provide substantive support to the Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team (UNCT) in South Africa in designing, implementing and monitoring the UN joint communications strategy, promoting the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) as a key instrument for planning and implementing UN development activities, in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. • May serve as UN spokesperson in South Africa on highly complex communications issues in coordination with the Resident Coordinator; liaise with national and international media on UN activities and programmes related to South Africa as well as on global UN issues and campaigns; organize and chair press briefings and media stakeouts; issue press releases and media statements; assist the Resident Coordinator and UN Country Team members with their media engagements. • Plan and facilitate the development and implementation of a digital content strategy for UNCT South Africa website and social media and contribute to the development of key UNCT communications and advocacy products. Oversee the UNCT South Africa digital communications platforms such as the website and official social media accounts. • Provide diverse materials (briefings, speeches, questions and answers, etc.), technical and policy advice on highly complex communications issues related to the operation of the Information Centre and/or related to the work region to the Resident Coordinator and the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications and other UN senior officials; provide UN Headquarters with media reports regarding highly complex conditions and public attitudes towards the UN in the work region; ensure that the policies and activities of the UN are communicated accurately and promptly, within highly complex political, substantive and/or operational situations, to the national authorities. • In close coordination with the Resident Coordinator, may liaise with government authorities in South Africa and the work region; lead and supervise activities to promote and coordinate the communications aspect of visits by the Secretary-General, UN senior officials, and/or UN delegations to South Africa and the work region. • Ensure that the outputs produced by the Information Centre maintain high-quality standards and comply with the relevant mandates of DGC and that reports are clearly written, timely, objective and based on comprehensive data; report to intergovernmental bodies on programmatic and/or substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in annual reports; and contribute to position papers and reports to intergovernmental bodies, as appropriate. • Lead coordinated UN system communications by serving as Chair of the UN Communications Group (UNCG) in South Africa; manage the promotion of joint communications activities between DGC and UN System entities in South Africa and the work region; and conceptualize a strategy for strengthening the communications impact of the UN in South Africa; as well as monitor and address information integrity risks. • In coordination with the Resident Coordinator, lead and provide crisis communications support to the RCO, the UNCG and other UN system entities in South Africa. • Supervise the organization of meetings, seminars, and other fora related to the communications aspects of thematic issues in the work region; in matters related to communications, lead international, regional or national meetings, supervising programmatic and/or substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions; represent the Information Centre at international, regional or national meetings and at UN interagency meetings, seminars on thematic issues. • Ensure appropriate tools and methods are in place and used to measure and evaluate the impact of communications activities with timely reports to UN Headquarters. • Build and strengthen synergies with other DGC field offices, RCOs and UNCTs in the sub-region. Upon request, and in consultation and coordination with the respective Resident Coordinator, provide policy advice on complex communications issues, conduct sensitive political liaison, provide crisis communications support and support the communications aspect of UN high-level visits. • Perform other duties and special functions, as required by UN Headquarters and the Resident Coordinator in South Africa.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrated knowledge of communications, including audience-focused strategic communications and crisis communications; proven ability to implement effective media campaigns and to develop traditional and digital media products and activities targeting the media; a