Public Information Assistant (PIA-II) job in New York, New York

Position description

These positions are located in the Guided Tours Unit, Visitors Services Section, Outreach Division within the Department of Global Communications at UN Headquarters in New York. Visitors Services encompasses guided tours, public inquiries and the speakers' bureau/briefings at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Each year nearly half a million people from around the world experience the UN Visitor Centre. The incumbent (Tour Guide) reports to the Chief of Unit and the Chief of the Section. This position is only temporarily available and subject to the availability of funding, with the possibility of an extension.

Within delegated authority, the Public Information Assistant (PIA-II) will be responsible for the following duties: • Conduct one-hour lecture tours on the history and work of the United Nations in the areas of peace and security, development, and human rights. This includes showing visitors the various Council Chambers and thematic exhibits while explaining the functioning of its Main Organs and recent developments in the field. • Participate in daily briefings, as well as special briefings on different topics, such as peacekeeping, disarmament and human rights. • Study and research UN materials in English, in order to stay abreast of current activities related to the UN system. • Use tact and diplomacy in handling probing questions or comments from visitors regarding politically sensitive issues involving the work of the organization and any other concerns related to the operation. Tailor language and information to different audiences (e.g. children, students, senior citizens, VIPs, UN Mission staff and media representatives) and respond to politically sensitive questions in an accurate and effective manner. • Plan, schedule, and dispatch tours daily, ensuring a smooth flow of all guided tours and the overall operation. • Ensure a fair and efficient distribution of the daily workload of the PIAs through assignment of tours and special duties. He/she checks and maintains records of the PIAs daily attendance, as well as their punctuality when starting and finishing tours, making sure primarily that all tours leave as scheduled. • Modify the pre-scheduled daily plan as needed, most often on short notice, to ensure a smooth running of the operation, bringing operational and recurring issues to the attention of the Senior Tour Coordinator and/or the Chief of Guided Tours to find appropriate solutions. • In the absence of the Briefing Assistant, and under supervision of the Chief of GTU, prepare and conduct daily morning briefings to Public Information Assistants (PIAs) on current UN activities and related world news, as required.

Qualifications

Professionalism: 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. Communication: 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 the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. 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.

At least one year of full-time experience as an official Tour Guide in an International Organization, providing an informative and educational experience to global visitors is required. Extensive work experience in public speaking and engaging diverse audiences in a customer service setting within an international organization is required. Prior experience conducting official tours for children and younger audiences is required. Experience working in a culturally diverse workplace is desirable. Previous experience with the United Nations system or another international organization is desirable.

Application instructions

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