Media & Communications Intern

Vacancy code VA/2012/B5004/1565
Position title Media & Communications Intern
Department/office NAO, UNDG
Duty station New York, United States of America
Contract type Other
Contract level Other
Duration 3-6 months
Application period 07-Dec-2012 to 07-Jan-2013
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
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Background Information - UNOPS

“UNOPS plays a critical role in providing management services for our life-saving, peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. I have seen many examples of how these activities help suffering people in troubled parts of the world.”
-Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General...
UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

By assisting UN organizations, international financial institutions, governments and other development partners, UNOPS makes significant, tangible contributions to results on the ground.

UNOPS employs more than 6000 personnel and on behalf of its partners creates thousands more work opportunities in local communities. With its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, a network of five regional offices and a further 20 operations and project centres, UNOPS oversees activities in more than 80 countries.

UNOPS is committed to achieving a truly diverse workforce.
Background Information - NAO

North America Regional Office
The UNOPS North America Regional Office provides services that help implement projects for a range of partners, and support operations run by the UNOPS Mine Action Cluster, Small Grants Cluster and Development Group Cluster. In addition, the office serves as a liaison between UNOPS headquarters and its Executive Board, which supports and supervises UNOPS activities globally.
Background Information - Development Group Cluster

Development Group Cluster

The UNOPS Development Group Cluster is based in the North America Office and supports a diverse and complex portfolio including partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (the Bureau for Development Policy, the Human Development Report Office, and the Special Unit for South-South Cooperation), the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Capital Development Fund, the United Nations Secretariat and a broadening community of primarily New York-based UN partners in the delivery of project management, implementation and administration services.
Background Information - Job-specific

Global Pulse is a United Nations innovation initiative harnessing new digital data to help the public sector understand sooner how communities are coping with the impacts of global crises. To this end, Global Pulse is developing a twenty-first century approach to impact monitoring, building social software for evidence-based decision making, and establishing a network of “Pulse Labs” to mainstream the use of real-time data analysis into development policy. Pulse Labs are national facilities established to support the public sector by developing analytical and technological capacity for harnessing real-time data to strengthen social protection. The overarching objective of Global Pulse is to mainstream the use of data mining and real-time data analytics into development organizations and communities of practice.

This vacancy is for a full-time internship. Interns not receiving any funding through an internship programme, or from a specific institution, will receive a stipend at the end of each month to contribute to the cost of daily expenditures. Aside from this stipend, Interns are responsible for any expenses they may incur as a result of partaking in this internship programme (inclusive of travel/visa expenses where applicable).
Functional Responsibilities

1. Duties and Responsibilities

    Assist the Communications Team with the production of regular blogs, articles, press releases, brochures and other web and print content as necessary. Responsibilities will include research, writing and editing, as well as assistance with managing editorial schedules and proposing content.
    Assist the Communications Team, and the Data & Analysis Team, with condensing research findings into accessible articles, blog posts, and presentation materials.
    Assist the Communications Team with media relations, including monitoring Global Pulse references in media and blogs, tracking and summarizing relevant trends and articles of interest to Global Pulse.
    Provide event planning and community outreach support for special projects as needed by the Communications Team.


2. Training components and learning elements

The candidate will be joining a multidisciplinary team benefiting from rich interaction with experts in different fields, including development, data analysis and visualization, technology and communications. Throughout the internship, the intern will be exposed to many different aspects of the project.

3. Participation in missions or training courses

None.

4. Additional comments

The internship duration would be for a 3 to 6 months period, starting as soon as possible. The intern would be working with the Global Pulse Team in New York, full time.
Competencies

Required competencies and knowledge:

    Excellent and effective writing skills, with experience in writing for different audiences and mediums.

Valuable competencies and knowledge:

    Clear, persuasive writing skills both for classic media (journalistic articles or press releases) as well as writing for web and blogs.
    Experience with science, innovation or technology writing. Interest in data journalism strongly favorable.
    Skilled in interviewing and research; comfortable condensing and translating complex ideas.


Education/Experience/Language requirements

EDUCATION:
            
All applicants must be studying for a university degree such as Bachelor's, Master's, Ph. D. (or the equivalent), or have graduated from such studies within three years prior to the application date of the internship.

Area of study should be preferable be in one of the following:

Journalism, Strategic Communications or Public Relations, with some related background in online media, writing for the web, and/or copywriting.

If needed, the work done during the internship can serve as part of a Master thesis or portfolio. An interest in technology, innovation, data visualization, or ‘data journalism’ a plus.


EXPERIENCE

    Excellent and effective writing skills, with experience in writing for different audiences and mediums.
    Bachelor’s or Graduate degree in Journalism, Strategic Communications, Public Relations, or related subject. An interest in technology, innovation, data visualization, or ‘data journalism’ a plus.
    Candidates must submit a portfolio (links or attachments) of diverse articles, blogposts and/or written collateral samples with application.

LANGUAGE:

    Fluency in English required.
    Spanish or French a plus.


Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: Internship letter of agreement.
Contract level: N/A
Contract duration: TBC
Additional Considerations

    Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time (CET)
    Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
    Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
    Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
    The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS. 

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