Director, Information and External Relations Division (IERD), New York

VACANCY NO.: UNFPA Job ID 1909

POST TYPE: Rotational

DURATION: One year fixed-term *

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Information and External Relations Division (IERD)

Organizational Setting:

The post of Director, IERD, is located in New York, and reports directly to the UNFPA Executive Director. The Director of the Information and External Relations Division is responsible for the overall management of UNFPA’s communication, external relations and resource mobilization efforts. The Director also serves as a member of the UNFPA senior management team. Major Activities/Expected Results:

• Plan, coordinate and direct the public information, web, media, publications, external relations, Executive Board, European Liaison, library, resource mobilization, knowledge sharing and public affairs activities of a resource-oriented organization.

• Provide direction and coherence to resource mobilization strategies and promote support from donor community for UNFPA’s goals and objectives.

• Provide advice and counsel to the executive head of the organization and other senior managers on matters pertaining to activities and services under the responsibility of IERD.

• Supervise and direct the Washington D. C., Geneva, Copenhagen, Brussels, and Tokyo offices, and liaisons with U. S. Committee and private foundations.

• Represent UNFPA within the U. N. with governments, NGOs and others as required at high-level meetings and major meetings and conferences organized by Governments, NGOs, etc. Undertake speaking assignments on UNFPA's behalf.

• Undertake contacts on regular basis with members of UNFPA's legislative bodies (General Assembly, ECOSOC, Executive Board), heads and other members of permanent missions, senior government officials, and senior officials of other UN organizations.

• Plan, coordinate and direct media liaison with print and electronic media, and with media groups around the world. Plan and direct production and distribution of radio, TV and film productions of interest to UNFPA.

• Direct commissioning of suitable material for and editing, production and distribution of UNFPA periodicals, regular and special publications, and to coordinating writing and production of UNFPA-sponsored publications.

• Plan and direct external relations activities relating to national population groups, NGOs, parliamentarians, media and public interest groups.

• Plan, organize and coordinate the arrangements of the annual UNFPA Population Award, including meetings of the Award Committee and the Award ceremony.

• Develop policy statements and speeches or coordinate preparation of such statements and speeches on UNFPA issues for major periodicals and publications.

• Supervise the overall planning, approval, monitoring and evaluation of projects relating to media, parliamentarians, NGOs, etc.

Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Executive Director.

Core Competencies:

• Values/Guiding Principles; • Performance Management; • Developing People/Coaching and Mentoring & Fostering Innovation and Empowerment; Working in Teams; • Self-Management/Emotional Intelligence; • Communication; • Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making; • Analytical and Strategic Thinking and Results Orientation/Commitment to Excellence; • Knowledge Sharing/Continuous Learning

Functional Competencies:

• Creating visibility for UNFPA/supporting UNFPA’s capacity to advocate • Global leadership and advocacy for ICPD goals • Resource mobilization • Promoting organizational learning and knowledge sharing • Organizational awareness • Job knowledge/technical expertise

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Journalism, Media or Communication or other relevant discipline. • 15 years of increasingly responsible and relevant professional experience in dealing with population and development issues and public affairs at the national and international level; experience in the United Nations system an asset; • Significant experience in writing and editing, demonstrated by published works, an asset; • Experience in advocacy, negotiations, communications, fundraising and programming at the international level; • Demonstrated leadership and managerial qualities • Outstanding communication skills; • Excellent command of English; fluency in another UN language an asset.

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender quality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. We offer an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the level of the position. The package includes a competitive salary plus housing allowance, home leave, health insurance and other benefits.

How to apply:

UNFPA has established an electronic application management system. This allows applicants to create a candidate profile, which can be updated regularly and submitted for more than one vacancy. Download the Step by Step Guide to Applying in the E-Recruit System of UNFPA at http://www.unfpa.org/employment/application_guide.doc. Please print out the Guide for your reference during the registration and application process. Notice: There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. In accordance with the rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, are required to renounce such status upon their appointment. Exceptions to this rule are very limited and can be made only for: (a) stateless persons; (b) newly appointed staff members who have applied for citizenship by naturalization, when such citizenship will be granted imminently; (c) acting staff members in the General Service and related categories with permanent residency status, on promotion to the Professional category; (d) staff members appointed under a temporary appointment. Please understand that UNFPA is not in a position to provide advice on or assistance in applying for any citizenship.

*No expectancy of renewal in accordance with UN Staff Regulations 4.5 In accordance with UNFPA's respect for the principle of rotation this post is subject to a term limit of 8 years.