UN Women - Communications & Editorial Specialist, IPPSA 10, New York, USA (12 months contract)

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

About the role

Reporting to the Editorial Manager, the Communications & Editorial Specialist will coordinate, research, write, and edit website content for the UN Women website. The role focuses on impact stories, thematic priorities, and thought leadership articles and campaigns, ensuring information about UN Women’s work and related news events is presented compellingly on the organization’s main corporate platform for public information. The Specialist also collaborates with regional, multi-country, and country office colleagues to support editorial content development and campaign content.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to developing and maintaining an editorial calendar for the website as part of the overall editorial planning of the Communications and Advocacy Section; identify potential material for further research and publishing.
• Attend relevant meetings to assess the potential of editorial features and brief the editorial team on content priorities.
• Contribute to gathering and analyzing website and search analytics to ensure UN Women editorial content is impactful.
• Collaborate with the editorial, multimedia, media, and social teams for innovative content that supports cross-platform storytelling for impact.
• Write, edit, and/or proofread stories, articles, and other web content and submissions by field offices and HQ sections for publishing.
• Work closely with the translation company and proofreaders to coordinate translation and upload translated content on the website; coordinate in-house translations with French- and Spanish-speaking colleagues, as required.
• Support the maintenance of the UN Women website, ensuring it informs convincingly about relevant news and events highlighting the organization’s work.
• Ensure all editorial content adheres to the UN style guide.
• Post content as needed, in coordination with the Editorial Manager.
• Lead the development and production of editorial packages for special projects, campaigns, and thematic priorities under the supervision of the Editorial Manager.
• Solicit inputs, content, and edit stories for In Focus packages and data-driven storytelling.
• Review and monitor content for repackaging and updating for relevant campaigns and moments.
• Collaborate with and develop strong working relationships with colleagues at HQ and in countries and regions.
• Provide writers with detailed advice on story ideas, treatment, and guidelines prior to coverage.
• Provide editorial feedback on drafts submitted from regional, country, and multi-country offices, including corrections for UN Editorial Style, political sensitivity, and editorial treatment as outlined in UN Women’s editorial guidelines.
• Proactively solicit submissions by field offices and HQ sections.
• Update website content regularly, including the home page, based on consultations with relevant sections and the Editorial Manager.
• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned to inform editorial practices and guidelines.
• Build synergies and creative collaboration for multi-platform storytelling, working with social media, multimedia, and campaigns teams.
• Provide training and workshops on communication and advocacy as appropriate.
• Perform other duties within the functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Requirements

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in communications, public relations, journalism, or a relevant field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in editorial planning, writing, and editing, preferably related to international development issues.
• Experience producing digital and web-based content for international and public-facing audiences.
• Experience using content management systems (CMS) and Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience applying SEO and AI search content optimization techniques to improve online visibility and reach.
• Experience working in multicultural and international environments is desirable.

Skills

• Excellent writing, editing, and content development skills for diverse digital and editorial platforms.
• Ability to communicate effectively and adapt messaging for different audiences and stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of international development issues and trends.
• Ability to apply editorial standards and consistently adhere to established style guides.
• Knowledge of digital content management systems and web-based knowledge management platforms.
• Knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) and contemporary content discoverability practices (including GEO/AIO).
• Strong analytical, advisory, and strategic communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal, networking, and collaboration skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across teams and offices.
• Knowledge of gender equality, women’s empowerment, and human rights issues is an asset.
• Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively, and creatively across different constituencies.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of another official UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.

Competencies

• Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity.
• Core Competencies:
  • Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
  • Accountability
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Effective Communication
  • Inclusive Collaboration
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Leading by Example

For more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework, visit this link.