Org. Setting and Reporting

This post is located in the Guided Tours Unit, Visitors Services Section, Outreach Division, Department of Global Communications. The objective of the Outreach Division is to enhance understanding of the role, work and mandate of the United Nations and to encourage the exchange of ideas, information and knowledge in support of the goals of the Organisation. The Guided Tours Unit is part of the Visitors Services Section in the Outreach Division of the Department of Global Communications. Guided tours are conducted to visiting groups and the general public, and cover the history, work and current topical issues on the UN agenda. As part of Visitors Services, the Chief of the Guided Tours Unit manages the workflow of the operation, including the performance of the tour guides, the tour coordinators, the briefing assistant and the reservationists. Guided tours are conducted to visiting groups, as well as the general public, to explain the work and history of the Organisation, its structure, and current topical issues on the UN agenda. The Chief of the Guided Tours Unit reports to the Chief of the Visitors Services Section. The incumbent of the post will report to the Chief of the Visitors Services Section in New York.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of the Guided Tours Unit is responsible for the following duties: Public information and public relations: • Designs and structures the guided tour experience so that information is conveyed in a manner that is easily understood by the public and tailored to different groups. • Keeps abreast of current UN issues and advises the guiding staff on how to incorporate UN-related news and developments in their presentations. • Ensures displays on the tour route are current and appealing. • Controls the quality of the guided tour experience by regularly conducting tour checks and soliciting feedback from customers. • Produces promotional material aimed at attracting visitors to the UN, including feature articles for trade magazines and other media outlets to promote the UN as a tourist and educational destination in NYC, including on social media platforms. • Initiates and oversees special tour-related events, including with internal and external partners. Staffing: • Recruits staff for the operation – taking due account of geographical and gender balance and other institutional values – and manages their performance. • Plans and executes training and briefing programmes for the guiding staff. • Carries out human resources activities for the Unit, such as work force planning, placement, staff selection, training, etc., ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures. Budget: • Plans and manages the guided tours operation as a self-sustaining activity under the Income Section of the budget. • Prepares the budget narrative for the guided tours operation, and reports on budget/programme performance. • Prepares and implements the work programme for guided tours, monitoring and reviewing expenditures and income to ensure the efficient use of resources.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to plan, execute and monitor public communication campaigns, e.g. campaign management, market research, message targeting, impact evaluation. Ability to research and analyze issues and topics related to current events. Ability to draft and compile a variety of written communication products in a clear, concise style. Ability to interact with the public to build and maintain effective business connections. 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. PLANNING&ORGANIZING: Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. 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.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in communications, management, international relations or related field is required. A first-level university degree with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree in the specified fields of studies.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in public information or public relations in an international environment is required. Experience serving as an official full-time tour guide within an international organisation is required. Experience in managing the individual and collective performance of a team of more than twenty (20) multinational staff is required. Experience in producing public information materials, such as key messages, press releases or articles for publication is required. Experience with conflict resolution between diverse members of a large team is desirable. Experience in marketing and advertising, as well as in partnering with external stakeholders is desirable. Experience in formulating and implementing results-based budget management is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French 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

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level III

Desirable Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingFrenchUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2026. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. • Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. • 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.

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.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.