Public Information Officer

The Public Information Officer supports media relations, develops and implements social media strategies, produces communication materials, and promotes media coverage for the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic. The role involves monitoring public opinion, advising management, and managing communication campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Supports media relations for the Independent Institution through organizing media interviews, preparing talking points and devising communications plans for high-level missions.
• Leads strategy, planning, development and implementation of the social media strategy, evaluates results and impact of social media activities, reports on developments, trends and attitudes.
• Ensures implementation of information programs to publicize priority issues and/or major events, including drafting information strategies, coordinating efforts, monitoring and reporting on progress, and analyzing outcomes.
• Monitors and analyzes current events, public opinion and press, identifies issues and trends, and advises management on appropriate action/responses.
• Promotes media coverage of priority issues and/or major events through press conferences, interviews, press seminars and other activities, including development of media strategy and action plan.
• Produces or oversees production of information communications products such as press kits, press releases, feature articles, speeches, brochures, audio-visual materials, and radio spot programs.
• Prepares initial drafts of articles or chapters for inclusion in UN newsletters, periodicals, reports and books.
• Initiates and sustains professional relationships with key constituencies and acts as focal point on specific issues.
• 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 data visualization methods.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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 two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area is required.
• Experience managing social media accounts for a large global organization is required.
• Experience in engaging with the media and writing on human rights or humanitarian crises is desirable.
• Experience with maintaining and editing content of websites is desirable.
• English and Arabic language proficiency at UN Level III in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Skills

• Public Information Management
• Journalism
• International Relations
• Public Administration
• Social Media Management
• Media Engagement
• Human Rights Communication
• Humanitarian Communication
• Website Content Management
• Communication Campaigns
• Media Relations
• Content Editing
• Social Media Strategy
• Communication Materials Development
• English Language Proficiency
• Language Proficiency in Arabic
• Public Opinion Research

Languages

English, Arabic