Public Information Officer

The Public Information Officer at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva is responsible for overseeing and editing communications related to UN human rights treaty bodies and other intergovernmental meetings, developing multimedia content for social media platforms, planning and implementing communications campaigns, and providing advice on public information issues. The role also involves managing publications, organizing events, supervising junior staff, and serving as officer-in-charge in the absence of the Chief of Section.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and edits summaries of meetings of United Nations human rights treaty bodies, the Human Rights Council, press briefings, credentials of Permanent Representatives of Member States and Permanent Observers, press releases and other information products, ensuring accuracy, clarity, coherence and conformity with United Nations editorial standards, policies and practices.
• Ensures correct terminology, grammar, punctuation and style appropriate to the intended audience, while meeting production deadlines and quality standards.
• Promotes the effective use of modern editorial and digital tools to enhance efficiency, consistency and workflow.
• Oversees the development and delivery of high-impact multimedia content for UN Geneva's social media platforms to inform and engage external audiences.
• Provides editorial guidance, exercises sound journalistic and political judgment, and ensures content aligns with Department of Global Communications priorities and UN standards.
• Monitors performance and adapts strategies to maximize reach and engagement.
• Plans, develops and implements communications campaigns; works with departments, funds and agencies to develop ways to implement campaigns system-wide and to incorporate the campaign message and themes into all relevant events and products.
• Identifies sources and seeks funding and other assistance for major campaigns.
• Provides advice and expertise to managers, senior officers and other public information staff on a range of public affairs, editorial and communications issues, methods, and approaches; anticipates and resolves communications/public relations issues/problems.
• Develops strategic partnerships with key constituencies to elicit support for and maximize impact of promotional objectives.
• Prepares, drafts, edits or oversees preparation of a diverse range of information communications and outreach products in support of major campaign initiatives.
• Evaluates results and impact of communications activities; reports on developments, trends and attitudes regarding the UN.
• Represents the institution in meetings; fulfills speaking engagements and makes presentations to groups on UN activities and advocate issues of concern; organizes seminars, lectures, conferences, public events on major issues and events concerning the organization.
• Builds information networks; plans and oversees maintenance of publicly accessible information materials on the United Nations; plans and develops outreach activities.
• Manages publications programme; produces materials for print/electronic/voice/visual media.
• Assists in the day-to-day operation of the unit to include participating in coordination of substantive and administrative activities of the unit, interpreting and disseminating policy, providing procedural advice, improving reporting systems, handling operational and administrative queries, preparing budget submissions, establishing and/or coordinating training programmes and monitoring and evaluating results.
• May coordinate and direct a team of public information staff and/or mentor and supervise the work of junior officers and interns on specific projects.
• 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.
• Serves as officer-in-charge in absence of the Chief of Section.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area is required.
• Experience in editing and developing communications products for human rights intergovernmental bodies and other intergovernmental meetings, as well as translating complex policy discussions into clear and accessible content for diverse audiences, is required.
• Experience in social media strategy, content development and platform management across multiple themes and complex campaigns is required.
• Supervisory experience overseeing a team of at least 2 staff is desirable.
• English and French are required; either Arabic or Spanish or Chinese (Mandarin) or Russian is desirable.

Skills

• Public Information
• Journalism
• International Relations
• Public Administration
• Communications Editing
• Content Development
• Social Media Strategy
• Social Media Management
• Communication Campaigns
• Multi-media Content Development
• Policy Communications
• Event Organization
• Team Supervision
• Public Information Advice
• Publication Management

Languages

English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin), Russian