TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR ASSOCIATE EXPERT
UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE, VIENNA
INT-090-2-P-136-01-V (revised Oct 2008)
General information
Title: Associate Expert/Fellow at UN Information Service
Duration of appointment: 1 year (with possible extension for another year)
Expected start date: 1 January 2009
Sector:
Location:
Public Information
United Nations Information Service (UNIS), Vienna
Supervision
Direct supervision:
Methodology:
Director, UN Information Service (UNIS) Vienna
The Associate Expert will be working directly with the Director and
Information Officers of UNIS, Vienna. The supervisor will distribute work assignments in line with the job description and based on the Service ’ s mandate. Work progress will be monitored on a continuous basis. Performance will be evaluated half-yearly based on the Associate ’ s work plan.
Duties, responsibilities and output expectations
The Associate Expert will carry out the following work assignments:
Contributing to the press clippings service for UN headquarters, the Director-General and UNOV senior officials, by
- screening the UNIS client countries’ (Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia) press, radio/TV for commentaries, articles and reports of interest and relevance to UN activities and programmes;
- producing English summaries, translations and analyses of press comments;
Translations of English texts into client countries’ national languages of:
- Information material produced by UNOV offices, i.e. Centre for International Crime
Prevention, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Office for Outer Space Affairs;
- Press releases from DPI/New York and Geneva;
- Statements of the Secretary-General;
Coverage of UN conferences and meetings:
- Drafting press releases on conference and session proceedings in English and drafting press
cables to local and international news media in English and national languages of client countries on an ad hoc basis;
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Daily maintenance of webpage chapters:
- translating and entering latest news highlights;
Liaise with journalists covering the United Nations, both inside and outside the Vienna
International Centre as instructed by senior information staff;
Lectures/briefings:
- After gaining some in-house experiences give lectures to general audiences on basic UN issues in English and national languages.
Qualifications and experience
Qualifications:
Advanced university degree in public information, mass communication, journalism, international relations or related field. Excellent spoken and written English and one or more national languages of UNISD client countries (Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia required). Knowledge of other UN languages an asset.
UN competencies:
- Meeting core values such as integrity, professionalism, respect for diversity.
- Meeting core competencies such as communication, teamwork, planning and organization, accountability, creativity, technological awareness.
Working experience:
- A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience.
- Drafting texts, outreach and public relations activities, media liaison.
- Knowledge of the policies and procedures of international organizations.
- Experience in covering intergovernmental meetings.
Learning elements
After the assignment with the Service, the Associate Expert
- is able to produce information materials such as press releases and brochures;
- gained insight in the functioning of the United Nations system;
- will be familiar with the complexity of managing the public relations/public information work
of a major international organization; and
- acquired special knowledge as regards the specific programmes of the UN in Vienna.
Background information
The UN Information Service in Vienna serves as the UN Information Centre for Austria, Hungary,
Slovakia and Slovenia and provides support to the Director-General, UNOV/Executive Director,
UNODC with regard to information services for international conferences, intergovernmental meetings and media relations.
UNIS Vienna provides public information support and promotion services to the Office of the
Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Office
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for Outer Space Affairs, the International Trade Law Branch and other Vienna-based organisations. Promotional activities include development of media strategies for specific events;
production of feature stories, background information, press kits, pamphlets, booklets and posters.
The Service liaises with educational institutes and non-governmental organizations to solicit support in promoting broader public awareness of the programmes carried out by the Vienna-based
UN units. UNIS also provides services to visitors and administers the guided tour and lecture programme at the Vienna International Centre.
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