Head, Strategic Communications and Public Information Unit (P-4)

Organisational Context

The Immediate Office of the Prosecutor (IOP) provides support to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the day-to-day fulfilment of his functions and the overall administration of the Office.

The Public Information Unit (PIU) works closely with the IOP but is a separate Unit that reports directly to the Prosecutor and is in charge of the following functions:

• Advising the Prosecutor and the Office on information and communication strategies and media relations;
• Disseminating information and handling public and media queries;
• In cooperation with the IOP and the Office of External Affairs, promoting greater awareness and understanding of the work of the Office among the media, general public, affected communities, and other stakeholders of the Rome Statute system, thereby facilitating the conduct of investigations and trials, as well as support for the OTP’s activities;
• Coordinating the information efforts of the Office to certify that the public message is consistent with the strategy and policy of the Prosecutor.

The PIU achieves its objectives through the use of a variety of communication means including granting interviews to media, facilitation of media projects, press releases, production of various publications and audio-visual materials as well as through the information provided through OTP pages of the Court’s official website and social media platforms.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Prosecutor, and in close collaboration with the IOP, the incumbent will act as Head of the Public Information Unit in charge of strategic communications to manage the OTP’s public image and reputation, and will provide leadership to a diverse team of communication experts.

The incumbent will be responsible for the following:

• Safeguard the integrity and enhance the positive reputation of the OTP through cutting-edge, creative, cohesive and effective external communication activities;
• Develop a distinctive OTP voice within the Court’s external communication activities through the design and implementation of an integrated OTP public information strategy, with components including media, digital, audio-visual, dis- and misinformation countering, and crisis communication strategies;
• Initiate, plan and lead new campaigns to raise OTP’s profile, highlight its mission and achievements;
• Advise the Prosecutor on the strategic direction of OTP’s external communications, reputational risks and opportunities, key messaging, and value of various public engagements;
• Manage media relations and cultivate relationships with media professionals to maximise media opportunities for an informed, positive and high-impact coverage of OTP’s work, with full consideration for judicial independence and the strict confidentiality rules of the Office;
• Draft and ensure the highest editorial and substantive quality of all communications material produced by PIU, including press information, official statements and editorials on behalf of the Prosecutor, social media, and audio-visual content, and analysis and background reports;
• Provide statements and interviews to media outlets, attend public speaking engagements, and host/moderate events, if requested;
• Monitor benchmarks for measuring the impact of communication efforts across all platforms and target areas and report on results and their contribution to the OTP public information strategy;
• Build clear work procedures and solid working relationships to coordinate with various OTP components and the Public Information and Outreach Section of the Registry;
• Provide leadership, support, and managerial oversight to a diverse team of communication experts and cultivate an environment of integrity, respect, and professional excellence;
• Manage all administrative aspects of PIU functioning, including financial, reporting, Training, and human resources-related aspects;
• Liaise with counterparts in the Registry of the Court, Government and diplomatic community, local authorities, civil society, media associations and other key constituencies to ensure key messages are conveyed and support communications campaigns.
• Perform other duties, as assigned.

Essential Qualifications

Education:

• An advanced university degree in communications, international relations, international law, broadcasting, social sciences or other related fields, is required;
• A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience is accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of seven years (nine years with a first level university degree) of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public information, and media relations in large multicultural institutions, including three years in a similar role leading external communications;
• A minimum of three years of experience in social media analysis is required.
• A minimum of five years of leadership and managerial experience is required, including programme planning and related management practices;
• Experience with managing public information efforts of judicial institutions and those dealing with conflict situations is desirable.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of workings of national and international media, communications planning models, public relations and campaigning strategies media relations techniques, etc.;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to effectively and accurately disseminate and present information;
• Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency with communications technologies including social media platforms;
• Discretion, ability to apply sound judgement and respond quickly to changing circumstances;
• Strong planning and organisational skills, with flexibility and ability to adjust in a highly dynamic environment;
• Excellent diplomacy and negotiation skills, ability to interact effectively with senior officials, internal partners and media representatives;
• Ability to work effectively under strict deadlines;
• Excellent project management, supervisory and teamwork skills;
• Demonstrated ability and experience working in an international, multi-cultural environment and to maintain effective, constructive and positive working relationships with people of different backgrounds;
• Ability to keep strict standards of confidentiality;
• Professional integrity.

Knowledge of languages:

• Proficiency in one of the working languages of the Court, English or French, is required. Working knowledge of the other is considered a strong asset.
• Knowledge of another official language of the Court (Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Spanish) would be considered an asset.

ICC Leadership Competencies
Purpose
Collaboration
People
Results

ICC Core Competencies
Dedication to the mission and values
Professionalism
Teamwork
Learning and developing
Handling uncertain situations
Interaction
Realising objectives

Learn more about ICC leadership and core competencies.

General Information
– In accordance with the Rome Statute, the ICC is committed to achieving geographical representation and gender equality within its staff as well as representation of the principal legal systems of the world (legal positions). Nationals from the list of non-represented and under-represented States are strongly encouraged to apply. In addition, applications from women are strongly encouraged for senior positions at the Professional (P) and Director (D) levels. Posts shall be filled preferably by a national of a State Party to the ICC Statute, or of a State which has signed and is engaged in the ratification process or which is engaged in the accession process, but nationals from non-state parties may also be considered, as appropriate.

– The selected candidate will be subject to a Personnel Security Clearance (PSC) process in accordance with ICC policy. The PSC process will include but will not be limited to, verification of the information provided in the personal history form and a criminal record check.
– Applicants may check the status of vacancies on ICC E-Recruitment web-site.
– The Court reserves the right not to make any appointment to the vacancy, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.