Public Information Officer

The Public Information Officer supports the Ebola response under the Crisis Response Division of OCHA in Bunia, DRC. The role involves implementing information programs, promoting media coverage, producing communication products, and analyzing data to support humanitarian action and advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Ensures implementation of information programs to publicize priority issues and/or major events, including drafting information strategies, coordinating efforts, monitoring and reporting on progress, taking appropriate follow-up action, and analyzing the outcome.
• Monitors and analyzes current events, public opinion and press, identifies issues and trends, and advises management on appropriate action/responses.
• Undertakes activities to promote media coverage (e.g. press conferences, interviews, press seminars and other special activities) of priority issues and/or major events, including development of a media strategy and action plan, initiating pro-active media outreach efforts, proposing and arranging press conferences/media coverage, disseminating materials and consulting with press on approach/story angle and other information requests, undertaking appropriate follow-up action and analyzing and reporting on the impact of coverage.
• Produces or oversees production of a specific type or types of information communications products (e.g. press kits, press releases, feature articles, speeches, booklets, brochures, backgrounders, audio-visual materials, radio spot program, etc.), including proposing topics, undertaking research, determining appropriate medium and target audience, preparing production plans, writing drafts, obtaining clearances and finalizing texts, editing copy, and coordinating design approval, printing procedures and distribution.
• Prepares, on the basis of 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.
• Participates in selecting the information transmitted to key constituencies.
• Provides guidance to, and may supervise, more junior staff.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area is required.
• Experience in managing and generating content for social media platforms is required.
• Experience working in a UN or other comparable international organization communication environment is desirable.
• Experience in engaging with the media and writing professionally on humanitarian crises and issues is desirable.
• Experience in communications in aid operations in the field is desirable.
• Experience in a health emergency is desirable.
• Experience in the West and Central Africa Region is desirable.
• English and French are required at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Skills

• Public Information Management
• Journalism
• International Relations
• Public Administration
• Data Analytics
• Business Analytics
• Data Science
• Social Media Management
• Content Generation
• Media Engagement
• Humanitarian Communication
• Health Emergency Communications
• Communication Product Production
• Data Analysis
• Humanitarian Advocacy
• UN Communications Environment

Languages

English, French