Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is located in the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). The incumbent reports to the Director of UNICRI. For more information on UNICRI, please visit the website: www.unicri.it
Responsibilities
Within assigned authority, the Public Information Officer (Public Information and External Relations) will be responsible for the following specific duties:
Coordinate and guide the research, writing and editing of press releases and other strategic communications products for target audiences in English and in the language of the Host Country (Italy), when required.
Plan, coordinate and provide strategic oversight for the substantive preparation, implementation and follow-up of a wide range of departmental activities across the Institute, including conferences and meetings, institutional and programmatic documents, media relations, web and social media content management, presentations, strategic resource mobilization and fundraising actions, ensuring coherence, quality control and alignment with UNICRI priorities in all internal and external communication materials.
Coordinate, strategically develop, and ensure editorial authority over the content of the UNICRI website, including setting priorities, defining messaging and supervising updates in line with institutional objectives.
Review and, on behalf of the Director, approve UNICRI’s publications; advise colleagues and partners on critical issues related to content and publication processes; supervise the graphic design process to ensure coherence with UNICRI’s visual identity.
Drive the strategic expansion of UNICRI’s social media presence (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Flickr, Issuu, and YouTube), ensuring that the Institute’s vision, activities, and achievements are effectively communicated to global audiences.
Advise senior management by proactively monitoring the main issues facing UNICRI and identifying strategic reputational and policy-related matters requiring the Director's attention.
Guide the analysis, synthesis and validation of information in support of milestone activities, providing strategic inputs for decision-making and institutional positioning.
Collect and analyze data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
Provide media guidance, acting as a focal point for media relations, organizing press conferences and interviews, and guiding institutional messaging.
Together with senior management, deliver high-level briefings and presentations on UNICRI-related topics to audiences, including media, academic groups, diplomats, professional associations, NGOs and students. Serve as a key institutional interlocutor, responding to a wide range of general and substantive queries for information from governmental and non-governmental partners.
Strategically coordinate the exchange and dissemination of institutional information with experts, academic entities and governmental institutions.
Identify and establish partnerships to implement UNICRI's activities, including creating collaboration frameworks with United Nations entities, governmental institutions, academic entities and private foundations, with a particular focus on the Host Country.
Expand strategic relationships with donors, institutions and private foundations for project funding opportunities and keep donors updated on projects status and results achieved.
After obtaining prior clearances from substantive programme officers on all thematic areas, prepare substantive and strategic materials for new proposals to be discussed with donors. Provide substantive and strategic support to the Director in conceptualization, design, development, implementation and backstopping of new initiatives, in particular those focusing on knowledge sharing and awareness-raising.
Design, coordinate and oversee the implementation of UNICRI visibility programme, ensuring strategic positioning and coherence.
Provide support to high-level initiatives promoting UN goals and objectives in Italy.
Supervise a team of public information staff and affiliate personnel, including performance management, delegation and oversight of responsibilities; contribute to the recruitment and contracting processes of public information personnel; support the financial expenditures and budget of the Unit.
Coordinate the substantive delivery of the Unit.
Perform other work-related duties as assigned.
Competencies
Professionalism: Has significant knowledge and understanding of functional work and demonstrated professional competency in relation to the position objectives. Is able to identify issues, analyse and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Is able to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Has excellent problem-solving skills. Has ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources.
The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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.
Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
Communication: Has excellent writing and editing skills, is able to write journalistic texts and to edit the work of others. Is able to speak in public. 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.
Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, literature, international relations or related field is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in public information, external relations or fund-raising is required. Work experience in developing communication materials (e.g., communication campaigns, speeches, press releases, articles, audio-visual materials, or similar) is required. Work experience in editing and coordinating the production of publications, including substantive review, layout coordination and quality assurance, is required. Work experience in coordinating social media and content management systems (e.g. Drupal) is required.
Work experience within the United Nations system or similar international organizations is desirable. Work experience in the fields of crime prevention, criminal justice, security issues, or related areas is desirable. Experience in analysis of data or evidence or related areas is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Italian is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).
Required Languages
Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking
English | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III
Desirable Languages
Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking
Italian | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III | UN Level III
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is funded from extra budgetary resources. Filling of this position is subject to funding availability and the initial appointment will be for a period of one year and will be limited to UNICRI. Extension of the appointment will be subject to the availability of funding. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection.
At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.
Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Turin is classified in the H category (family duty station).
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts.
The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.
The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.
By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised.
This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening.
No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2
(a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2.
(c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.