Overview
The Senior Public Information Officer will conceptualize, design, and execute the overall public information strategy programme and activities for the section, serving as the Spokesperson for UNIFIL and providing strategic communication advice.
Tasks Summary
- Conceptualize, design, and execute the overall public information strategy programme and activities for the section.
- Serve as lead Chief of Strategic Communications and Public Information and Spokesperson for UNIFIL.
- Provide technical and policy advice on highly complex public information and communications issues.
- Develop and disseminate best practices.
- Use data-driven tools and techniques to monitor and test the efficacy of messaging.
- Develop and implement mission crisis communication activities.
- Oversee the Mission's social media presence and lead digital media campaigns.
- Formulate and update the substantive work programme of the Strategic Communications and public information section.
- Coordinate with various mission components, and with UN agencies, funds and programmes and partners.
- Advise mission leadership, senior staff, and other mission personnel on strategic communication matters.
- Ensure regular, timely, and professional communications on all traditional and digital media platforms.
- Provide pertinent communications advice and input for mission leadership interactions with key stakeholders.
- Develop and implement a regular system of media monitoring and bulletins.
- Oversee public information outputs to ensure high-quality standards.
- Maintain liaison and coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces at the Directorate of Orientation.
- Oversee the work and outputs of international military information officers.
- Oversee the work and outputs of an Integrated Outreach Unit and a Military Community Outreach Unit.
- Give press briefings, background briefings, and interviews to national and international media.
- Draft and/or edit and issue press releases, official statements, and communication materials.
- Interact with local, regional, and international media and establish and maintain cooperative relationships.
- Consult with and provide UN Headquarters communication entities with regular updates on mission activities.
- Maintain regular interaction and consult with public information personnel at UNHQ.
- Manage, guide, develop, and train staff under his/her supervision.
- Other related duties that may be assigned.
Experience Requirements
- A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in public information, external communications, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area is required.
- Experience in overseeing Strategic Communication coordination mechanism/s is required.
- Experience in media communications and outreach in Middle East region is required.
- Experience working closely with civilian and uniformed personnel is desirable.
- Experience working in an inter-State (across international borders) conflict environment is desirable.
- Experience working in a field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds and programmes, similar international organization or non-governmental organization) is desirable.
- Experience in managing multidisciplinary team is required.
Qualification Requirements
• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field; A first-level university degree with two (02) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
