Assistant Public Information Officer / Translator

UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST – UNRWA   UNRWA is the United Nations agency responsible for the protection, care and human development of a population of some 4.6 millionPalestinerefugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank,Jordan,Lebanon, and theSyrianArabRepublic. The Agency is committed to assistingPalestinerefugees in maintaining a decent standard of living, acquiring appropriate knowledge and skills, enjoying the fullest possible extent of human rights, and leading a long and healthy life. UNRWA is by far the largest UN operation in theMiddle Eastwith over 29,000 staff. Most of the staff members are refugees themselves, working directly to benefit their communities – as teachers, doctors, nurses or social workers. Assistant Public Information Officer / Translator   Location Lebanon Field Office Type of Appointment Fixed Term – till December 2013 Deadline for Application 07 February 2013 Vacancy Announcement Number 10/2013 Grade 14 Department/Division Office of the Director – Public Information   MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES In accordance with Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent of the post assists the Field Public Information Officer in: (A)     Maintaining regular contact with the local and international media representatives to promote better understanding and coverage of  the  Agency’s work, and to encourage the media to use UNRWA as a source of information on registered Palestine refugees; (B)     Advising the Field Office Director through Public Information Officer and the Headquarters Public Information Office on local public relations and matters of interest to the Agency; (C)     Providing ideas for coverage of Field activities and researching material and drafting text in Arabic and English for Headquarters public information materials, including for the Agency web site and Agency-wide publications; (D)     Monitoring daily press and preparing daily/weekly press summaries and monthly reports; (E)     Translating documents from Arabic to English and vice versa, as required; (F)      Briefing and escorting visitors and journalists to the Field and interpreting when required; (G)     Acting for PIO in his/her absence; (H)     Performing other duties as may be assigned.   PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES (A)   Academic and Professional i)        University degree in journalism, communications, public relations or related discipline. ii)      Ability to translate and interpret accurately from and into Arabic and English.   (B)   Experience Five years experience in public information and public relations, including experience in writing publications in Arabic and English and in handling media inquiries.   (C)   Language        Excellent knowledge of written and spoken Arabic and English. Ability to interpret.   (D)   Computer Skills Knowledge and ability to use a variety of computer software such as Word, Power Point, Excel, In Design and Good knowledge of social media   DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS i)        Diploma in translation (Arabic/English and vice versa) ii)      Knowledge of Agency operations. iii)     Possession of a valid driving licence.   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The incumbent will be routinely required to work under pressure, at irregular hours when necessary, and to be able to travel to refugee camps and Agency installations in the Field and to other Fields in the Area of Operations. CONDITIONS OF SERVICE Salary: Monthly basic salary L.L. 2,008,599. - PLUS 20.66% SOA Contract Duration: Fixed term – till December 2013 Holidays: 30 days annual leave Dependency allowance: Dependent spouse: L.L 60,000 per month     Dependent child: L.L 33,000 per month Pension:  Provident Fund contribution   EQUIVALENCY Candidates with an equivalent combination of relevant academic qualifications, professional training and progressive work experience may also be considered.   RECRUITMENT PROCESS The Recruitment process is based on the Agency’s strategy to obtain the best qualified and suitable employees through a competitive recruitment process. After the deadline for receiving applications, all applications will be reviewed by the Human Resources Office and the Hiring Department.  Short-listed candidates who fully meet the required criteria shall undergo technical/practical tests and the candidates with the highest passing scores will then be invited to interview (see “Technical and Practical Tests Required” below). The final recommendation for selection is based on the test results, interview assessment, Agency priorities and needs and the candidates’ profiles. For all posts, the weight allocated for the technical/practical tests (listed below) is 60% and for the interview is 40%.    GENERAL INFORMATION UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications equally from men and women. It is Agency Policy to give full consideration to qualified disabled candidates whose disability does not impact their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the post.   As a member of the United Nations system, UNRWA maintains a close relatives’ policy.  In this regard, if a candidate has a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter) who is already employed by the Agency, he/she can only be employed if the Agency is unable to find another suitable candidate.   UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for human rights, for diversity, and for non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking working environment. الأونروا هي منظمة تابعة للأمم المتحدة، وهي منظمة تفترض من موظفيها الالتزام بأعلى معايير الاستقامة والحياد والنزاهة. ويشمل ذلك احترام مبادئ حقوق الإنسان واحترام التنوع وتبني الوسائل غير العنيفة في حل كافة أشكال النزاعات.  المتوقع من موظفي الأونروا أن يقوموا بدعم هذه القيم في كافة الأوقات، سواء في أماكن العمل أم خارجه. إن أولئك الأشخاص الذين يتمتعون بالالتزام الكامل وغير المشروط بهذه القيم هم فقط الذين ينبغي أن يتقدموا بطلباتهم للعمل لدى الأونروا. الأنروا هي بيئه عمل لا يسمح فيها بالتدخين.   Where there are two or more equally qualified candidates, selection preference will normally be given to internal candidates, Palestine Refugees and candidates of the under-represented gender. If the post is a project funded post (this will be indicated in the vacancy), an internal candidate with a temporary-indefinite or fixed-term appointment selected for this post will not retain his/her current contractual status and entitlements in accordance with current letter of appointment and applicable Area Staff Rules. The Agency maintains the discretion to fill future vacancies for this position from the roster without re-advertising the vacancy.   TECHNICAL & PRACTICAL TESTS REQUIRED: Short-listed candidates will sit for two tests: Computer based technical test (100%). Computer test (Pass/Fail), which includes (intermediate level: MS Word & MS Power Point) The top 5 scoring candidates in the Computer Based technical test given that (i) none have scored less than 50%, and (ii) none have failed the computer test, will be invited to interview.    HOW TO APPLY If you have the skills and experience required above, and want to make an active and lasting contribution to improving the lives of Palestinerefugees, then register on http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing the UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications received through this website will be considered and the system will not allow applications after the deadline. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Candidates may also be invited to take a technical exam in order further evaluate their qualifications for the post. Due to a high volume of applications received, only short-listed applicants will be contacted –“سيتم الإتصال فقط بالأشخاص الذين تنطبق عليهم متطلبات الوظيفة”. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information on bank accounts. For any queries, please send an email to recruitmentquestions@unrwa.org Date of issue: 25 January 2013