Global Website Editor (French)

Global Website Editor (French)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

This position is in UNHCR¿s communications team, reporting to the Head, News & Media, working closely with the global editor for the English-language website, and liaising closely with colleagues handling press, TV, photos, and social media and electronic publishing. The incumbent is expected to provide editorial and writing advice and feedback to contributors, and to commission and edit articles, including from external writers. S/He is expected to work with colleagues, internal and external, at all levels of seniority.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- UNHCR's Global French website meets the organization's needs and those of its external audiences for a strong French-language online presence, with regularly updated news and features content and other advocacy and information.
- High quality content control of the Global French website is assured through careful attention to selection of articles, expert translations, re-writing of articles to meet requirements of UNHCR's news operations, timely updates, and keeping in mind the interests and needs of users.
- UNHCR Global French website audiences are maintained and continually grown.
- The website and the associated translation services necessary for its success are effectively managed year-round.

Responsibility
- Plan overall coverage and content for UNHCR¿s French-language Global website, and ensure its timely publication;
- Develop news and features packages, working with the Global Website Editors (English) and in close coordination with  UNHCR¿s TV, Photos, and Social Media channels;
- Ensure high journalistic and editorial standards of content, including content consistency and accuracy, across the site;
- Commission, write, re-write,  edit and self-edit articles;
- Translate, edit and self-edit contents (print and digital) for other DER Services and Sections: Campaigns and GWA, Strategic Communications, Fund Raising and Statistics (brochures, slogans, banners, posters, micro-websites, toolkits, Smartphone digital platform¿)
- Undertake reporting and interviewing assignments as required;
- Ensure that text articles are supported by video, photos, maps, and graphics content as required;
- Play an active role in on-going development and updates of the website;
- Liaise with other Divisions/Bureaux of UNHCR on content issues;
- Ensure the timely release of news items through the website;
- Coordinate closely with the editors of UNHCR¿s English language global website, and oversee translation and placement of articles that first appear on the English website;
- Work with PI officers to produce regular updates, information bulletins, and other spot news;
- Undertake other editing and writing assignments as requested;
- Use CMS for publication of content for websites and Smartphone digital platform.

Authority

- Manage work-flows and prioritize items requiring rapid turn-around.
- Exert editorial authority to ensure quality control and to maintain keeping with UNHCR protection needs.
- Manage placement of articles to maintain alignment with UNHCR editorial, advocacy, and fund-raising needs.
- Manage budgets for external translator services.
- Select photos and other multimedia content for the website in coordination with the relevant units.
- Make decisions about the website and content with a view to the needs and interests of website users.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- University degree in Journalism, Communications, Marketing, International Relations or a related field;
- Minimum 8 years (6 years with advanced university degree) of progressively relevant international environment working experience in communications and/or mainstream international journalism and editing, working with networks of writers and commissioning of articles;
- Excellent writing, editing, and news judgement skills;
- Excellent knowledge of French, with writing, translating, editing and self-editing skills;
- Fluency in English;
- - Knowledge of using CMS systems.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Editing and layout expertise, with good knowledge of graphics, including photo editing;
- Good knowledge of the UN and UNHCR, including its organization, structure and clearance mechanisms;
- Experience of having worked in a developing country/field locations;
- Knowledge of working in media relations, including media interview and spokesperson skills;
- Familiarity with UNHCR editorial style.