National Public Information Officer at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: National Public Information Officer

Location: Abuja
Vacancy Type: Fixed Term
Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Africa

Key Duties and Responsibilities
Under the general supervision of the Head of Public Information Unit, the Public Information Analyst will be responsible for the following duties:

Communications Coordination:

• Provides secretariat support to the Humanitarian Communications Working Group (facilitates meeting schedules, follow-up on action points, drafts minutes of meetings, disseminates of key information, and maintains contact lists).
• Supports the development of country-level messaging under the guidance of the head of the Unit.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of joint communications strategies in coordination with the Head of Unit.
• Supports the Head of the Unit in the facilitation of engagements with working-level counterparts in relevant government ministries/authorities.
• Organizes media field trips, press events, interviews, and other outreach initiatives.

Media Relations:

• Monitors public opinion and media to identify issues and trends, and supports the Head of Unit in advising the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator and the OCHA Head of Office on appropriate approaches for media relations.
• Maintains productive working relationships with reputable national and international media.
• Builds and updates contact lists of leading national and international media and influencers.
• Supports initial drafts of communication materials such as press releases, statements, and news stories.
• Facilitates logistics for press briefings/interviews, ensuring the full participation of leading reputable media.

Content Production:

• The Public Information Analyst supports the development and dissemination of quality communications material to broaden public awareness of priority humanitarian issues and the response and the role of OCHA.
• Makes regular field trips to Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states to gather information from partners and affected people.
• Facilitates media missions to the BAY states to raise the visibility of the crisis.
• Supports the production or commissioning of quality multimedia content including written, photo, and audio-visual stories, infographics, social media graphics, and films.
• Manages local-language translations of key communications materials.

Digital Media:

• The Public Information Analyst supports the development and maintenance of OCHA web platforms and social media initiatives.
• Maintains social media accounts (corporate and for the Head of Office) at the country level.
• Produces engaging social media content, including awareness-raising campaigns, and identifies innovative ways to engage digital audiences.
• Monitors social media initiatives by other UN agencies, non-profit organizations at the country level, Governments, and other stakeholders, and looks for opportunities to collaborate, including with opinion influencers.

Corporate Communications:

• The Public Information Analyst supports internal and headquarter-led communications activities.
• Under the supervision of the Head of the Unit, supports the production of daily operational updates for sharing with headquarters.
• Proposes story ideas, undertakes research, and sources material for OCHA corporate communications.
• Supports the commemoration of OCHA corporate campaigns such as World Humanitarian Day (19 August) at the field level with local partners, media, the creative community, and humanitarian stakeholders.
• Promotes the visibility of the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund and supports advocacy, resource mobilization, and donor visibility efforts.

Competencies
Professionalism:

• Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief, and related human rights issues, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems.
• Capacity to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues that require a coordinated UN response.
• Ability to identify issues and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems.
• Ability to conduct research, including the ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess the impact on the humanitarian rights situation in assigned areas.
• Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment; ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff; ability to provide advice to senior-level officials.
• Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
• Provide support in organizing training, seminars, and workshops to build the writing/reporting capacity as well awareness of humanitarian advocacy priorities among colleagues and partners.

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others, and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
• Tailor’s language, tone, style, and format to match the audience;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others.
• Places team agenda before personal agenda.
• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position.
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings

Accountability:

• Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments;
• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within the prescribed time, cost, and quality standards;
• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules;
• Supports subordinates, provides oversight, and takes responsibility for delegated assignments;
• Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Qualifications
Education:

• An Advanced University Degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in International Relations, Communications, Journalism, or a related field.

OR

• A First-level University Degree with relevant academic qualifications with a combination of 2 years of relevant work experience may exceptionally be accepted in lieu of the Advanced University Degree.

Experience:

• Up to two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian/development, reporting, and communication work is required.
• Experience working in media and/or reporting, knowledge of social media is desirable
• Experience in the usage of graphic/layout and video software (Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and Premiere) is desirable.
• Experience in communication, drafting, and analytical skills, with attention to detail is desirable
• Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN common system or in a comparable international organization is desirable.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Fluency in oral and written Hausa is desirable.

Application Closing Date
28th October, 2023.