Security and Safety Communications Intern

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Security and Safety Services team at UN Women Headquarters in New York seeks to enlist a full-time intern to support the section in the identification, coordination and educational development of communication strategies within the UN Security Management System. The position will utilize previously developed Strategic Communications Plan, to identify tangible deliverables, and develop an implementation strategy together with communications products, to increase security awareness among UN Women personnel.

The position is located within the UN Women Department of Management and Administration, Office of Security and Safety Services. The Security and Safety Communications Intern will report to the UN Women Regional Security Specialist for Americas and the Caribbean

Duties and Responsibilities

In line with the approved UN Women Security and Safety Services Biannual Work Plan (BWP) and under the guidance of the Regional Security Specialist for the Americas and the Caribbean, the Security and Safety Communications Intern will support the coordination and development of outputs, whilst also scoping internal UN Women programme delivery security requirements. They will support with security information and coordination requirements and explore how external interactions will benefit gender specific security and safety communication strategies.

The Intern will be responsible for the following:

Support the coordination of wider UN Security Management System (UNSMS) as an integral member of UN Women Security and Safety Services. The focus of which, will be toward facilitating the identification, development and delivery of specific gender orientated security information and coordination platforms.  

• Liaise with appropriate units, divisions and sections internally, utilizing all available mediums;
• Liaise with the UN Department of Safety and Security and UNSMS partners specializing in security information;
• Support the development of gender orientated security information, coordination and communication materials;
• Support the development of communication campaigns, establishing cohesive and coordinated channels of communication to reach and influence key audiences;
• Create Power Point Presentations;
• Create communication products (flyers, presentations, graphics, videos, multimedia materials);
• Actively participate in the UNSMS Strategic Communications Working Group on behalf of UN Women;
• Liaise with appropriate external bodies;
• Liaise with all interested parties with regard identified educational materials.

Learning Objectives

The internship programme offers unique learning opportunities for interns, exposing them to the work of the United Nations at HQ level, and enriching their educational experience through practical work in an international organization, with a focus on gender equality.

• Increased understanding of UN Women’s work and the UN system
• Increased understanding of UN Security Management System
• Learning different aspects of safety and security in an international environment
• Increased knowledge of issues related to security management
• Meeting and networking with UN Women colleagues in other units and other UN Security Management System organizations
• Work as a team member in a multicultural setting

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: 

Functional Competencies:

• Strong communication skills, both oral and written;
• Approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Offers new and different options to solve problems;
• Excellent IT skills and capability to prepare presentations;
• Graphic design and video editing skills are an asset;
• Familiarity with gender issues and the UN system is an asset;
• Self-starter; organized; able to multitask and balance multiple responsibilities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University studies in one of the following disciplines: security risk management, criminal justice systems, security information management, international relations or media/communications or other relevant subjects is required.
• Meet one of the following:

a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);

b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

c) Be enrolled in a mandatory national service programme of which the internship may form a part;

d) Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within two-years of graduation.

Language:

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English are required;
• Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

Renumeration:

Interns who are not in receipt of financial support from other sources such as universities or other institutions will receive a stipend from UN Women to partially subsidize their basic living costs for the duration of the internship.

Application Information:

• All applicants must submit a completed and signed with their application.
• Due to the high volume of applications received, UN Women can ONLY contact successful candidates.
• The successful candidate will be required to provide proof of enrollment in a valid health insurance plan at the duty station of the internship, proof of school enrollment or degree, a scanned copy of their passport/national ID and a copy of a valid visa (as applicable).  

Note:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need. 

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.  

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination.  All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)