Org. Setting and Reporting
The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It is composed of 15 judges, elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council. The Court has a twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law, through judgments which have binding force and are without appeal for the parties concerned, legal disputes submitted to it by States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies. The Court is the only principal organ of the United Nations not serviced by the Secretariat and has its own Registry, which provides judicial support to the Court and acts as a permanent administrative organ. The Registry is headed by a Registrar, elected by the Court. The position is located in the Document Production Unit of the Publishing Division of the Registry. The incumbent reports directly to the Head of the Document Production Unit.
Responsibilities
Working under the direct supervision of the Head of the Document Production Unit, and under the overall supervision of the Head of Division, the incumbent will perform the following duties: Correction and finalization of English documents – organize, plan, co-ordinate and monitor the activities of the English pre-printing team of the Document Production Unit in order to achieve the timely production of official documents and publications; – distribute assignments in such a way as to ensure efficient and effective processing of documentation through an equitable division of tasks; – proofread, review and correct English documents, sometimes under considerable time constraints, in order to ensure compliance with the Registry’s editorial guidelines and quality standards; check quotations and references; review the alignment of English and French texts of Court decisions for accurate “en regard” presentation; finalize content for production and distribution; – independently liaise with and respond to queries from other departments and divisions concerning documents submitted for processing; – provide other departments and divisions with specific guidance on formatting and submission procedures as necessary; Production of verbatim records – co-ordinate the preparation of the English version of the verbatim records produced in connection with the Court’s hearings; – perform an initial proofread of texts submitted by counsel before delivery; check quotations and references to case law; – perform a final proofread of the English sections of the verbatim records; – prepare glossaries and materials ahead of public hearings to guide the team, which may include short-term staff members; Graphic design functions – participate in initial meetings with requesting parties to discuss the potential layout or design of projects, including design options, technical specifications and schedules/deadlines; – independently undertake design assignments; conceptualize and develop design proposals for submission to interested parties, including photographic, illustrative and more abstract graphic components as appropriate; – create approved designs in electronic format for final review and printing, and review colour and print proofs as required; – provide guidance and support to the project team throughout the production process, including the co-ordination and follow-up of tasks needed to ensure that each project remains on schedule; Co-ordination duties – train and guide junior staff members and temporary appointees; – perform supervisory functions in the absence of the Head of the Document Production Unit; – perform functions assigned to the Documents Management Assistant in his or her absence; – perform other related work as required. The incumbent is regularly required to work beyond normal working hours, especially during hearings.
Competencies
Professionalism: Has excellent grammar, spelling and punctuation skills. Has excellent knowledge of editorial practices, including typographic standards and publishing and graphic industry standards, and knowledge of electronic record-keeping systems. Has an expert command of the Microsoft Office and Adobe Suites, including Adobe Acrobat and InDesign. Has the critical ability to work as part of a team in a multicultural environment and to work under pressure, with attention to detail and complete discretion. 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. Planning and organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. Technological awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office. Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks. Shows willingness to learn new technology.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Job – Specific Qualification
Excellent grammar, spelling and punctuation skills are required. Excellent knowledge of editorial practices, including typographic operations and standards and publishing and graphic industry standards, is required. An expert command of the Microsoft Office and Adobe Suites, including Adobe Acrobat and InDesign, is required. Knowledge of electronic record-keeping systems is required. Training in proofreading, graphic design or a related area is desirable.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of experience in editorial services and/or publishing, including copy editing, proofreading, graphic design and typographical layout or related areas, is required. A first-level or higher university degree may substitute for two years of experience. Relevant experience within the United Nations, a similar organization, or a judicial environment is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the official and working languages of the Court. For this position, a perfect command of English and a full working knowledge of French are required.
Assessment
The assessment of qualified candidates will include written test(s) and a competency and/or knowledge-based interview.
Special Notice
The Court is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, to apply to become a staff member. This post is subject to local recruitment pursuant to United Nations Staff Rule 4.4. All staff in the General Service and related categories are in principle recruited in the country or within commuting distance of the seat of the Court, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment is not eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. Candidates living outside the Netherlands or beyond commuting distance of the seat of the Court may apply for the position but will be regarded as local applicants and be subject to the same conditions. Candidates meeting the requirements of the position may be invited for tests and interview remotely or at the seat of the Court in The Hague. In the latter case, those candidates will be required to cover their own travel, accommodation and subsistence costs. Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. If the selected candidate is a staff member from an organization applying the United Nations Common System of Salaries and Allowances, the provisions of the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan shall apply. The selected candidate may be subject to security clearance, including verification of the information provided and a criminal record check. All candidates should be able to submit an electronic copy of their passport, recent performance appraisal reports, and all diplomas listed on their profile when requested. The Registrar reserves the right not to appoint any candidate to the post, or to appoint one at a lower level or on the basis of a modified job description. Suitable candidates not selected for this position may be placed on a reserve list for consideration in case a similar vacancy arises in the future.
United Nations Considerations
In accordance with the ICJ Staff Regulations and Rules, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with ICJ if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, Inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the Inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances, and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in Inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision, or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised in Inspira will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
ICJ does NOT charge any fees or request money from candidates at any stage of the recruitment process, nor does it concern itself with bank account details of applicants. Requests of this nature allegedly made on behalf of ICJ are fraudulent and should be disregarded.