PROGRAMME SPECIALIST

Paris

Organization: UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Location: Paris
Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- Communication and Public Information
- Communication and Information
- Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: Closed

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, the incumbent will contribute to UNESCO's mandate of creating peace in the minds of women and men and to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, by coordinating, managing and implementing the Memory of the World (MoW) Programme. More specifically, the incumbent will implement UNESCO’s activities in the area of protection, safeguarding of and access to documentary heritage and\:

Streamline and monitor the implementation of the 2015 Recommendation concerning preservation of, and access to documentary heritage, including in digital form, at national, regional and international levels.
Build partnerships, develop and implement a new MoW resource mobilization strategy, including in close cooperation with international stakeholders for the safeguarding of documentary heritage, particularly documentary heritage at risk, with special focus on the needs of developing countries and in close cooperation with other UNESCO heritage programmes.
Manage the Memory of the World programme; Asses Member States’ specific needs and challenges related to preservation and access to documentary heritage and support them in developing concrete policies, measures and projects to address them; establish new synergies with governments, national and regional bodies and non-governmental organizations, national experts and other partners from the private sector.
Provide support and technical advice to Member States in the identification and preparation of appropriate proposals for inscription of documentary heritage items of world significance on the MoW Register.
Ensure the Secretariat of the Programme and facilitating the work of the International Advisory Committee and organize meetings and consultations with a view to increase the visibility and the global impact of the Programme.
Identify, negotiate and implement projects, research studies, contracts with appropriate professional organizations and/or individuals, and supervise their implementation. Evaluate programme results and final outputs of projects and make recommendations for improvements.
Contribute to the development of the Sector’s Workplans to achieve overall objectives regarding preservation of documentary heritage and ensure long-term accessibility.
Lead the development of UNESCO's strategy on digital heritage sustainability for the preservation and access to documentary heritage and cooperate with the private sector and major libraries of the world on digital library initiatives.
Manage MoW related information and knowledge, including by facilitating the sharing of information, templates and tools between field and headquarters colleagues and by promoting and updating the MoW websites and publications.
Prepare inputs to the biennial and medium-term programmes and reports; regularly update and control expenditures; prepare reports, notes, memoranda, briefings.

Education

Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent degree) in the field of communication and information/library and information sciences/archival studies/cultural heritage studies/political sciences/international relations or in a related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible relevant experience, of which preferably 3 years acquired at international level on information preservation and/or communication and information issues.
Experience and expertise in the interaction with Member States and high-level officials.
Experience in partnership-building with intergovernmental organizations, experts groups, the private sector, civil society and NGOs.

Skills/Competencies

Good knowledge and understanding of UNESCO’s Programmes in its various fields of competence.
Excellent programme and project management skills.
Good understanding of the work and general functioning of international organizations and/or knowledge of the United Nations Common System.
Proven fund-raising experience and/or other resource mobilization mechanisms.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, with proven ability to prepare and draft high quality documents and reports.
Ability to represent the Organization competently and convincingly and to participate effectively in high-level negotiations with internal and external partners.
Ability to lead, manage and motivate staff and teams and to maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural environment.
Sound judgement and decision-making skills.
Good IT skills, including knowledge of standard office software.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English or French and good/fair knowledge of the other working language.

Work Experience

Proven experience in developing proposals and agreements to external funders.
Experience within government or the private sector in the field of digital initiatives.
Experience in facilitating the work of an intercultural team, in driving and managing change, in leading and empowering others and managing performance.
Experience in implementing and managing programmes/projects in the areas of documentary heritage and preservation.

Skills/Competencies