Home Vacancies Under-Secretary-General for Public Relations and Engagement -Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Under-Secretary-General for Public Relations and Engagement -Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Closing Date: 30 November 2022

Job Description

Duration: Indeterminate appointment
Category and Level: M2, Step I (senior-level)

General Background

The OEC: The Organisation of Educational Cooperation (OEC) is an international intergovernmental organisation, founded in January 2020 by countries from across the Global South, to “contribute to the equitable, just, and prosperous social transformation of societies by promoting balanced and inclusive education, in order to attain the fundamental rights to liberty, justice, dignity, sustainability, social cohesion, and material and immaterial security for the peoples of the world”.

The main functions of the Department of Public Relations and Engagement (PURE) are to:

a. Democratise and disseminate the UDBIE and the programmatic activities of the OEC;
b. Bring attention to major issues of the OEC agenda, engaging with the general public to ensure its involvement and co-ownership through two-way communication channels;
c. Build a strong presence of the OEC on digital platforms and develop durable relations and partnerships with the news media;
d. Support other Departments to achieve their goals through strategic communication.

Role Summary

Under the authority and direct supervision of the Secretary-General, the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for PURE is responsible for the overall management, supervision, and administration of the Department, the development of its programme, and the execution of the vision and objectives set out by the Secretary-General, providing communicational support to the Secretariat. This position provides the unique opportunity of joining the senior management team of a new international organisation, contributing to its lasting construction and influencing its future trajectory.

Duties

  • Attend meetings with the Secretary-General with senior officials, representatives of Member States and external entities as requested, and represent the Secretary-General in such meetings that the Secretary-General cannot attend, as requested;
  • Support the Secretary-General in the preparation of biennia programme proposals to the General Assembly, in line with the 2022 – 2029 Strategic Plan: “Building the Education We Need, Shaping the Future We Want”;
  • Develop and maintain strong partnerships with the news media and other communication platforms;
  • Develop and maintain stakeholder-engagement;
  • Oversee and manage the Department’s staff;
  • Administer the Department’s budget in accordance with General Assembly resolutions;
  • Keep abreast of international developments in the fields of media and the digital communications;
  • Develop and implement innovative and effective communication strategies in further of the OEC mission and vision;
  • Develop and implement public outreach, sensibilization, and engagement campaigns, initiatives, and events;
  • Oversee and manage the accreditation to the OEC of press agencies, journalists, and other reporters;
  • In close collaboration with other Departments, disseminate and democratize the Universal Declaration of Balanced and Inclusive Education (UDBIE) and the activities undertaken by the Organisation;
  • In close collaboration with the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, liaise with Member States, academic institutions, NGOs, think tanks, youth organisations and other entities concerning the substance of the Secretary-General’s public appearances and activities;
  • Oversee the development and implementation of communications policies and the assessment of the overall effectiveness of communication strategies and campaigns;
  • Perform other duties as requested by the Secretary-General.

Competencies

  • Strong proven experience of liaising with stakeholders (i.e., journalists, bloggers, government officials, NGOs, community organisations etc.);
  • Extensive contact network of journalist, press agencies, bloggers, and other reporters and/or communicators;
  • Excellent interpersonal, diplomatic and cross-cultural communication skills with a proven track record;
  • Excellent networking skills;
  • Strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Strong methodical, innovative, and strategic thinking skills and ability to develop long-term strategies;
  • Ability to operate sensitively and effectively in a multicultural environment and deal with cross-cultural sensitivity;
  • Ability to withstand and work effectively within stressful situations.

Qualifications

  • At least 12 years of work experience in advocacy and communication, print and/or broadcast media or interactive digital media;
  • At least 3 years of high-level management work experience;
  • Master’s degree (or higher) in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations other related fields.

Language Requirements

Candidate must at least be fluent in English and additional knowledge of one or more other official languages (French, Arabic, Spanish) is an asset.

HOW TO APPLY

This position is open to international applicants.
All applications must be sent to HRE@OEC-OCE.ORG and must include:

  1. Subject line: “PURE USG – Application”
  2. Curriculum Vitae
  3. Letter of Motivation
  4. Any other relevant information