Consultancy: Editor – Part-Time- Working Remotely

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.  Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

Background

The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) is a key component of UNICEF’s independent internal oversight system. It has two sections: The Internal Audit Section and the Investigations Section. The former helps UNICEF fulfill its mission by providing independent and objective assurance and advisory services designed to designed to add value and improve the adequacy, effectiveness and efficiency of UNICEF’s operations. OIAI reports to the Executive Director and independently to the Executive Board on the results of its work. 

In pursuit of its mandate OIAI is looking for an individual to assist in the editorial and quality assurance process for finalizing reports and other written outputs, including internal audit and investigative reports. The person will report to the Chief of Investigation – Strategy, Intake, Policy and Reporting Section.

Duration of the Consultancy: Part Time – 6 months with possibility for extension.

Estimated start date: 3 December 2020 to 31 May 2021

Purpose and objectives of the consultancy/contract

The Editor will be responsible for the following activities:

1. Review, edit and redraft as needed the written work product of internal auditors, investigators and other OIAI staff. Edit documents to the highest professional standards, including UN standards where required, ensuring clarity of language, readability, style, flow of logic, overall presentation and agreement with editorial policy and relevant style guides. Offer comments to improve the work with the intended audiences in mind.
2. Assist in the quality assurance of internal reports. Ensure that the content of reports is logical, well-structured and clear, adequately supported with appropriate analysis, and follows internal report writing procedures, including concerning citation and footnote formatting, as applicable.
3. Participate in the development and maintenance of a “style book” and templates for the formatting of reports.
4. From time to time, issue statistics on report finalization and advisories on commonly observed editing issues. Make presentations on these to staff.

Duty Station: New York Headquarters – In view of the Covid19 Global Pandemic this consultant assignment will start remotely.  The need to work from UNICEF. New York Headquarters will be reviewed based on evolving working modalities for Office of Internal Audit and Investigations.

Recruitment Qualifications

Education: Advanced university degree, preferably in English, communications, law, journalism, international relations social and economic development or related field.

Experience:  At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in writing or editing documents/publications, preferably related to legal activities, investigation and/or audit and assurance-related activities, international relations, or social and economic development.  Knowledge of the United Nations system and UNICEF is generally desirable.

Specific deliverable:  Edit and revise reports and other written work product, regularly making a variety of decisions to ensure that documents meet the needs of the Office, are produced by the deadlines and are edited to the highest standards.

Payment Terms: The consultancy fee will be paid per working days on a monthly basis.  Payment will be made upon submission of an invoice, specifying the number of days worked and completed tasks.

To apply, kindly include the Following:

• A cover letter which notes your understanding of the Terms of Reference and your relevant experience in a maximum of one page along with expected fees.
• Attach most recent CV.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.  

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages all candidates to apply to become a part of the organization, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.