Senior Speechwriter, P-5

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Strategic Communication and Speechwriting Unit in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Speechwriting Unit. The EOSG, under the guidance of the Secretary-General (SG), work as a team pursuing in a cohesive and coherent manner, the SG’s vision, priorities and policies for his second mandate in office. It seeks alignment of the United Nations family with the SG’s vision, priorities and policies. It is guided by the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity and of achieving gender and regional balance among staff. All EOSG unit will support the EOSG senior officials, as appropriate, depending on the tasks at hand, regardless of which senior official they formally report to, and will work together through a matrix team approach, as necessary, to ensure EOSG leads by example on integration and cross-pillar work.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Speechwriting Unit, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

• Write and edit a wide range of materials for the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General and others, including speeches, remarks, op-ed articles, video messages, talking points, press statements, on issues that cover the full spectrum of the United Nations agenda;
• Consult with the Secretary-General and senior advisors on both the form and content of speeches and other materials, in line with the Secretary-General’s vision and the Organization’ s communications strategy;
• Liaise with Secretariat departments, UN agencies, members of civil society, the private sector and others to produce speeches and other materials that are persuasive, politically sound and factually accurate;
• Develop and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders throughout the United Nations system and beyond;
• Review and edit draft texts to ensure accuracy, clarity, and effectiveness;
• Support programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the well-functioning of the Unit (Unit workplan, staffing and recruitment etc.);
• Manage the performance evaluation of staff of the Unit (E-PAS); provides guidance and training and mentoring of staff.

Other duties:

• Contribute as required to the formulation of policy and communications advice, and to strategic decision-making around the Secretary-General’s communications;
• Liaise closely with the Department of Global Communications and the Office of the Spokesperson to ensure coordinated and relevant communications priorities.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has proven expertise and experience in researching, drafting, writing and editing speeches, talking points, toasts, messages and other spoken and written communications on behalf of senior international figures. Demonstrates strong knowledge and understanding of the United Nations’ role in international affairs. Knowledge of and a good understanding of multicultural and gender requirements and ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing;
• 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; tailors language, tone, style and format to match 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;
• Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

• Advanced university degree or equivalent degree in political sciences, international relations, journalism, public administration or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in drafting high-quality materials, including speeches, in English is required;
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in communications and public information or journalism is required;
• Knowledge of international political, economic and social affairs issues, including the work of the United Nations is desirable;
• Experience working with international organizations is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required, and a working knowledge of French is desirable.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on globalvacancies.org