LOCAL RECRUITMENT
Tokyo, Japan
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
MEDIA RELATIONS ASSOCIATE
(Personnel Service Agreement – PSA)
Organizational Unit
:
United Nations University Centre, Office of Communications
Reference Number
:
2015/UNU/HQ/OC/PSA/MRA/36
Applications to
:
[email protected]
Closing Date
:
Open until the position filled
United Nations University Objectives:
The United Nations University (UNU) is an international community of scholars, engaged in research,
postgraduate teaching and capacity development, and dissemination of knowledge in furtherance of the
purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through
research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of
the United Nations and its Member States. For more information please visit http://unu.edu.
United Nations University Office of Communications:
The United Nations University (UNU) Office of Communications in Tokyo is the gateway for disseminating
— to the media, academia, policymakers, the United Nations system and the general public — the
outcomes of UNU’s work as a think tank and a research, capacity-building and higher education
organization.
Responsibilities:
As a communications and media relations coordinator in the UNU Office of Communications, the Media
Relations Associate will work under the supervision of the Head of Communications, and in close
cooperation with other Office of Communications staff and with communication teams at UNU institutes
and programmes worldwide. The Media Relations Associate will be responsible for media-related activities,
including content creation and dissemination through traditional and digital media channels.
Responsibilities include the following duties:




Position UNU in the national and international media by presenting its work to journalists and media
agencies;
Conduct monitoring to highlight UNU’s media presence, identify upcoming media opportunities, and
respond to media coverage and inquiries in a proactive manner;
Arrange and facilitate media interviews with UNU staff members, and provide appropriate media
training to staff;
Organize UNU press conferences and develop related media kits;
Page 1 of 2





Write engaging communications materials such as press releases, fact sheets, website features and
other content, in both Japanese and English;
Coordinate English/Japanese translations, and draft/edit/proofread Japanese content;
Assist in developing content for and managing UNU’s web presence in English and Japanese;
Promote collaboration with and among media relations focal points at other UNU institutes;
Perform other duties as required.
Required Qualifications and Experience:











Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, political science/public policy, international
development or a related field;
Fluency in both oral and written English and Japanese;
Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a communications role with a focus on media relations;
Familiarity with the local and international media landscapes;
Experience with journalistic working practices and developing media relationships;
Fluent understanding of international development issues and topics;
Knowledge of social media platforms and familiarity with using web content management systems
(CMS);
Proven communication, interpersonal and networking skills;
Excellent writing and editing skills;
Time management, forward planning, and prioritization skills, with the ability to work under pressure
and meet tight deadlines;
Commitment to teamwork and the ability to work well in a diverse, multicultural environment.
Remuneration:
Remuneration will commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Duration of Contract:
This is full-time employment on a one (1) year Personnel Service Agreement (PSA) contract with UNU, with
the possibility for renewal subject to requirements and satisfactory work performance. The combined
duration of appointment shall not exceed six (6) years.
The successful candidate will be employed under a local contract and will not hold international civil service
status nor be a “staff member” as defined in the UN Staff Rules and Regulations.
Applications from suitably qualified women candidates are particularly encouraged.
Starting Date: As soon as possible.
Application Procedure:
Please submit your application by email to [email protected]. To expedite processing, the email subject line
should be in the format: Last Name_2015/ UNU/HQ/OC/PSA/MRA/36
Your application package should include the following (in English):
 a cover letter explaining how your qualifications and experience match the requirements of the
position
 a curriculum vitae (resume)
 a completed and signed UNU Personal History (P.11). Please avoid using similar forms provided by
other United Nations organizations.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Page 2 of 2